A Review of the Magical Indian Shrub Asparagus Racemosus

Asparagus racemosus a climbing Ayurvedic plant which is most an important medicinal plant of tropical and subtropical India. The name “Shatavari” means “a woman who possess 100 children”, referring to the shatavari rejuvenation effect in female reproductive organs.. Aromatic and medicinal plants have played significant role in the lives of humans by providing products for both food and medicine.Shatavari has been described to use as antioxidant, immune stimulant, and anti tussive effects. It is also very useful and effective in the treatment of cancer, kidney disorder, chronic fevers,ulcers, chronic fevers etc.Main use of this drug is in female disorders and several menstrual disorders.The present article explores the taxonomy, morphology, cultivation, harvesting and biological properties of A. racemosus.


Introduction
Medicinal plants are the nature"s gift to human being to make disease free healthy life.India is one of the most medico-culturally diverse countries in the world where the medicinal plant sector is part of a time-honored tradition that is respected even today.Owing to the global trend towards improved "quality of life", there is considerable evidence of an increase in demand for medicinal plant.The Asparagus genus is considered to be of medicinal importance because of the presence of steroidal saponins and sapogenins in various parts of the plant.A. racemosus is frequently used in ayurvedic drug preparations as it is known to treat conditions such as ageing, to boost immunity, improve longevity, vigor, mental function.A. racemosus also finds its application in curing neurological disorders, hepatopathy, tumors and dyspepsia1.Various therapeutic propertyof root of A. racemosus is well documented in ancient ayurvedic literature.In India, it is one of the 32 plant species identified as priority species for cultivation and conservation by theNational Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB).The genus Asparagus consisted of about 300 species around the world, out of which 22 species are recorded in India.A. racemosus is widely distributed across the globe and its distribution ranges from tropical Africa, Java, Australia, Sri Lanka, Southern parts of China and India, but it is mainly cultivated in India.

Fig. 1 Pictures of Asparagus racemosus
A. racemosus is an important medicinal plant which is regarded as a "rasayana" which means plant drugs promoting general well-being by increasing cellular vitality and resistance.Use of A. racemosus is mentioned in the literature of Ayurveda (Charaka samhita).Traditionally, A. racemosus is indicated in epilepsy, vata disorders, brain tonic, helps in regulating cardiac disorders and hypertension.
It is extensively used inmale genital dysfunctions, oligospermia, spermatogenic irregularities and other male disorders such as painfulmicturition.It is also explored in Ayurveda formulations for digestive discomfort, indigestion, amoebiasis,piles and debility.In females, prescribed by the doctors in habitual abortions, weakness of the uterus,excessive bleeding during menstruation.Recent reports and experiments disclosed Shatavari asantidiarrheal, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, antidysentery, demulcent, diuretic,galactagogue nutritive, mucilaginous, refrigerant, stomachic properties and works as a tonic for human beings.It is also known to reinforce the immune system and protect vital organs like heart,brain and other organs of the body.

Taxonomy
A. racemosus is plant with a woody stem and has needle like leaves with small white flowers.Tuberous roots 30-100cm thick leaves reduced to minute chaffy scales & spines.The plant is a climber growing to 1-2m in length found all over India.

Cultivation Soil And Climate
Plantusually grows in a variety of soils including medium black having pH 7-8, electrical conductivity 0.15,organic carbon 0.79% and phosphorus 7.3 kg/acre.It can be easily grown in sub-tropical & Subtemperateagro-climatic regions up to 1400 m.

Land Preparation
Thesoil is given 10-30 cm deep ploughing followed by 1-3 harrowing after few days.Grasses and weeds areremoved.The land is properly levelled and 40-45 cms broad ridges are prepared for plantation, leaving 15-10cms furrow space as a channel for irrigation.

Nursery Raising And Planting
Seedsare sown in April in raised beds at 5 cms apart to facilitate decay of its hard seed coat by the timemonsoon commenced.Germination start in 8 to10 days after the first shower of monsoon in June.Theseedlings were transplanted on ridges at 60 x 60 cms apart and provided bamboo stakes when the plantsattained a height of 45 cms.Vegetative propagation is by division of rhizomatous disc present at thebase of the aerial stem.The rhizomatous disc develops several vegetative buds around the aerial shoots.Thedisc is divided in such a way that each piece possessed at least two buds along with 1-3 tuberous roots.Thesepieces are planted conversing the buds with 1cm of soil followed by irrigation.The sprouting commenced in8-10 days after plantation.

Weeding
Two weeding"s are carried out during the rainy months, thereafter one in next 1-3 months.

Irrigation
Irrigationis given after the rain season is over, at the rate of two irrigations in winter season and one per monthin summer season.

Manures, Fertilisers And Pesticides
Themedicinal plants have to be grown without chemical fertilizers and use of pesticides.Organic manureslike, Farmyard Manure (FYM), Vermicompost, and Green Manure etc. May be used as per requirement ofthe species.To prevent diseases, bio-pesticides could be prepared (either single or mixture) from Neem(kernel, seeds & leaves), Chitrakmool, Dhatura, Cow's urine etc.

Morphology
Shatavari is a highly branched, consisting of thorn under shrubs.It is a woody climber plant which is 1-1 m indistance and readily grows up a documentation or over other plant.The leaves of the Shatavari looks like pineneedles, uniform and small in size.The roots of the plant have a finger like structure and are clustered innature.It has a tiny white colored flower while the plant itself is bittersweet in taste.VAishali

Harvest
Month of May and June is suitable for plantations.Generally Shatavari crop does not affect with pest and diseases.Once harvesting 1.5-2 years after transplanting, this continues for 10-15 years .

Biological Activities
Asparagus racemosus(Shatavari) is used by ayurvedic doctors for the prevention and treatment of gastric ulcers, dyspepsia, galactogogue, nervous disorders, inflammation, liver diseases and many other purposes.Double blind trial suggested it can worked as a good galactogogue agent.A.racemosus is having anti ulcerogenic activity so working in peptic ulcer conditions in volunteers.In females Shatvarichurna and Shatavari taila is very useful for use in panchkarmafor Uttarbastiin Atyartva (Menorrohea) conditions.In modern era Shatavari very useful in aschyotan of eye conditions of computer related vision syndrome.Inflammation is the body"s defense against infection.Before startingtreatment for any type of infection, inflammation need to be reduced in order to treat better and to reduce pain in patients.Intra-abdominal sepsis is key causes of mortality following trauma and bowel surgery.Immunomodulatingproperty of A. racemosus has been revealed to defend the rat and mice against experimental induced abdominalsepsis.

Discussion And Conclusion
Asparagus racemosus is an important medicinal plant of Indian flora.This plant is used for many purposes and show many biological activities in Ayurveda.Presently it is used in many ayurvedic medicines and as syrup especially for female as a tonic.Due to this, alternative strategies for propagation and conservation are urgently required to prevent the species being threatened.This review is prepared with the help of literature survey and some previously published articles.Shatavari raise the chances of involvement of Ayurvedic doctors, Pharmacologists, Biotechnicians, and other related research field related personnel for vast research on this commercially valued plant.