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A. racemosus is used since Pre-vedic times and remarkably mentioned in our natural herbal system i.e. ayurvedic literatures. It grows 1-2 m long and its roots goes in gravelly, rocky soils high up in piedmont plains, at 1300-1400 m elevation [4]. Some of the medicinal properties of A. racemosus are antispasmodic, antiallergic, anti-neoplastic activities, anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-malarial, hepatoprotective, enhance immune responses, antiarthritic, anti-inflammatory, anti-periodic, Anti-ulcerogenic action, immunomodulatory, antistress, Anti-diarrhoeal, Antidepressant, anti-leprotic, anti-abortifacient activity, antibacterial, antipyretic and analgesic. Saponins are mainly present in its roots, for example, shatavarin I-IV, the glycosides of sarsasapogenin [5]. It has secondary metabolites which includes steroids, alkaloids, dihydrophenanthrene derivatives, flavonoids, furan derivatives and essential oils (Tables 1 and 2).

Table 1: Scientific classification [6]

Table 2: Vernacular names

Geographical Source: It is widely spread across the earth and found in tropical Africa, Australia, Sri Lanka and South of India, but India is highest producer of Shatavari. This plant is counted in one of the endangered species.

Cultivation and Morphology: Crops mainly require the tropical, hot and humid climate. Black soil is preferred for cultivation. Minimal irrigation is required. Harvesting can be started from 1.5-2 years till 10- 15 years. A. racemous plant usually blooms in June to July. Morphology of A. racemous is:

Roots: 5-15 cm long, 2 cm thick, externally silvery white (ash color), internally white, longitudinal wrinkle upon drying, 18-24 layer cortex, 42-47 middle tuberous root, turns brown on drying [7].

Seeds: Hard and brittle, black color.

Fruit: Small, round, globular, 3-lobed, purplish black pulpy berries, turn from raw green to ripened blackish purple.

Flower: Small and uniform in size, white flower having spikes with pink tinge, pollinated by bees, aromatic, unisexual.

Phytochemicals: A. racemosus consists of wide variety of chemicals in which major component is steroidal saponins along with alkaloids,flavonoids, dihydrophenanthrene derivatives, furan derivatives and some of the volatile components (Tables 3, 4 and Figure 1).

Table 3: Chemical constituents

Table 4: Medicinal Effects of Plant parts

Figure 1: Compound Structure of Shatavarin IV [16].

Galactogogue effect: Root extract of this plant in Ayurveda prescribe to increases milk secretion during lactation [17-20]. Tablets like Ricalax and lactare having A. racemosus shown to increase in milk and growth of mammary gland in females complaining about milk deficit during lactation. In other study, the alcoholic extract of roots at 250 mg/kg administered intramuscularly shown high yield and increase in mammary gland lobuloalveolar tissue in primed rats. This is due to promote action of released corticosteroids and increase in prolactin [20].

Antioxidant effect: In lab [12-21], the mitochondrial membrane of the rat liver shows the antioxidant effect induced by the free radical generated on exposure to gamma rays in plant extract of A. racemosus. GPX and GSH enzyme activity enhanced so protein oxidation and lipid peroxidation is inhibited.

Diuretic effect: Diurectic property highlighted by Ayurveda is proven in vitro by aqueous extract of roots having 3 dose vials 800 mg/ kg, 1600mg/kg and 3200 mg/kg conducted on rats after acute toxicity tests. Diuretic property by observed in extract at 3200 mg/Kg without any acute toxicity [21].

Antiparasitic and Antibacterial effect: Alcoholic extract of roots has antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli whereas aqueous solution [22] does not have any impact. Fungitoxicity against three plant fungi viz., Helminthosporium sativum (60.7%) [23] Colletotrichum falcatum (58.2) and Fusarium oxysporum (60.7%) is shown by root juice. The methanol fraction of the leaves using the disc diffusion test at a concentration of 4000 and 5000 ppm [24] inhibits Proteus vulgaris. Antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus is shown by the fresh plant juice. The extract of the plant showed moderate toxicity against Rhizoctonia solanil [25].

Antilithiatic effect: A. racemosus ethanolic extract reduce oxalate, calcium and phosphate ions in urine which are the main cause of renal stone formation. Christina et al studied antilithiatic effect of A. racemosus Wild on ethylene glycol induced lithiasis in male albino Wister rats [26].

Adaptogenic and anti-ulcer activity: A. racemosus induce a property to enhance the ability to changes according to environment. It belongs to rasayana herbs hence increase the cellular immunity. The extract of A. racemosus when compared with the Ranitidine then reduced gastric secretion, low ulcer patches and free acidity was observed. Satavari mandur, formulation of A. racemosus given in the dose of 1.5 g, twice daily for a month displayed noteworthy improvement in symptoms of peptic ulcer [27] and healing of peptic ulcers was endoscopically verified.

Antifertility: A. racemosus is known as female tonic in Ayurveda. It increases the libido, cure inflamed and dry tissues in sexual organs, ovulation and folliclegenesis enhancement, conception preparation of womb, miscarriages prevention. It also treats leucorrhoea and menorrhagia.

Cytotoxicity, analgesic and antidiarrheal activities: In acetic acid induced writhing in mice, the ethanol extract possess noticeable inhibition of writhing reflex 67.47% (P<0.01) with 500 mg/kg body weight. The plant extract showed antidiarrheal activity in castor oil induced diarrhoea in mice. It increased mean latent period and decreased the frequency of defecation with number of stool count at dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight, respectively comparable to the standard drug Loperamide at dose of 50 mg/kg body weight. Also, the brine shrimp lethality test showed significant cytotoxic activity of the plant extract (LC50: 10 μg/mL, LC90: 47.86 μg/mL) (Tables 5 and 6) [28].

Table 5: Biochemical activities [8-15]

Table 6: Trace Elements in A. racemosus [30]

Anti-cancer property: The protective effect of mammary cell carcinoma is exhibited by the root extract of the A. racemosus. The tumor cell death is inferred by the sterioidal component of A. racemosus which is investigated for its apoptotic activities. In Vivo an experimental model of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma [29] tumor bearing mice was evaluated to check the anticancer activity of Shatavarins (shatavrin IV) and same has been evaluated by MTT assay using MSCF-7 (human breast cancer), A-498 (Human Kidney carcinoma) cell lines and HT-29 (human colon adenocarcinoma). The above experiments showed that the extracts are having potential anti-cancer activities (Table 7).

Table 7: Formulae Containing A. racemosus

A. racemosus (Shatavari) ayurvedic indications: Shatavari also known as Shatapadi, Dveepika, Satamuli, Satavirya, Vari, Sukshmapatra, Indavari, Peevari, Madabhanjani, Bahusuta, Rushyaprokta, Narayani, Atirasa, Dveepishatru, and Urdhavakantaka.

Ayrurveda’s has mention shatavari in many medical remedies like Deepana, Pachana, Rochana, Anulomana, Vamana, Vayasthapana, Jvara, Kasahara, Shwasha, Amahara, Dahahara, Prameha, Trutahara, Mehahara, Rasayani, balya, gulmajit, hikkanigrahana, kantya, triptighno, hridaya, chakusya, garbhaprada, Vamanopaga, shonitasthapana, pandu, sangrahini, kustha, kamala, medhya, varnya,kshyajit, krimihara, kanthya, arsha, krichra, pushtida.

Shatavari Guggulu

Guggulu pacifies Vata doshas, stimulates neuromuscular actions, muscles strengthening, nerve revitalization and treats condition like paralysis and hemiplegia. It has shatavari, giloy, ashwagandha, padmaka, pippali, saunf, ajwain, sonth, gandha prasarni, gokshura, rasna, kachur, shuddha guggulu, cow’s ghee. Small Vatakam of all ingredients (fine powdered mixture with ghee) can be stored in a glass jar as medicine. 1-2 Vatakam with water/warm milk can be taken twice a day in empty stomach or 1 hour before a meal or 2 hours after a meal.

Shatavari Kalpa

Shatavari Kalpa is amalgamation of shatavari and elaichi to enhance breast milk production and reduce pain and fatigue. It balances the vatta and pitta dosha. It improve immunity and stamina in menstruation, during pregnancy and post-natal. 4g shatavar, 0.05g elaichi, 5.95g sugar in each 10 gm formulation. Sieve the sun dried grinding powder of sugar and elaichi and mix with melted sugar. Cooled solution can be rolled into small granules and stored in container. It is used as antiinflammatory, antioxidant, carminative, estrogenic, galactagogue. Dose is 1-2 tsf two times a day with warm milk.

Effect on Doshas

Shatavari have Snigdha (oily) and Guru (heavy) guna which leads to appeases the pitta (fire and air) doshas. It has Madhur (sweet) and tikta rasa (bitter). It has shit viraya (cold potency) and Madhur vipaka (sweet metabolic taste) which often aggravates kapha (earth and water) doshas (Table 8).

Table 8: Shatavari Ayurvedic dosages

A. racemosus is an important medicinal plant from ancient times. It is used for making allopathic, ayurvedic and homeopathic medicines. In this review a brief evaluation of Shatavari properties are discussed to explain the practical clinical applications of various parts of the plants. Considerable work has been done to explore the biological activity and medicinal applications of the plant and major studies were reported using root extracts of the plant; still the active principle involved behind these activities needs to be explored. There are several therapeutic applications viz. antioxidant, diuretic, antidepressant, antiepileptic, antitussive, anti-HIV, immunostimulant, hepato-protective, cardioprotective, antibacterial, anti-ulcerative, neurodegenerative. Several studies have been conducted on different parts of A. racemosus, this plant has developed as a drug by pharmaceutical industries. The uniformity of quality and quantity both are prime important for this medicinal plant as it depends on active principle in it.

Acknowledgement

Not applicable.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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