Eth Opharmacology, Phytochemistry a D Bioactivity of Asparagus Racemosus: a Update

Asparagus racemosus is an herbaceous perennial plant. It is the most important rasayana herb in Ayurvedic medicine which grows in low forest areas throughout India. Their medicinal usages have been reported in indigenous systems of medicine, Indian and British Pharmacopoeias. In Ayurveda, A. racemosus has been used extensively as an adaptogen to increase the non-specific resistance of organisms against a variety of stress. A. racemosus plant contain steroidal saponins, isoflavones, asparagamine and polysaccharides, which play a major role in treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery. Roots and rhizomes of A. racemosus has potent antioxidant, antitussive, antidyspepsia, antiulcer and anticancer activity. A. racemosus is also useful as immunostimulant, galactogogue. The present article gives the detailed exploration of phytochemistry, ethnopharmacology and bioactivity of A. racemosus, in an attempt to give a direction for further research.