International Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Health Care
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Review on medicinal plant: Asparagus adscendens Roxb.
S Thakur@ and D R Sharma
School of Biotechnology, Shoolini University, Solan-173229, HP.
ABSTRACT
The use of medicinal plants is as old as human civilization. About 1,100 plants species are
frequently used in Indian system of healthcare and medicines for preparation of ayurvedic, unani
and homeopathic drugs. One of those plants is Asparagus adscendens Roxb, this herb is usually
found in Himalayan mountain ranges. Naturally occurs in forests of western Himalya, Gujarat,
Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra states that are listed in the endangered species of India. Roots
of this plant are used for the preparation of nutritive tonics. This plant is a source of a nutritious
starch and low in calories and is very low in sodium and good source of vitamins also. Active
compounds present in asparagus are well known for their multiple health benefits because of
presence of ingredients like proteins, alkaloids, saponins and tannins. This in turn helps in
improving fertility and vitality in women and men. Active composition enriched in asparagus
calms down nerve cells and prevents the risk of nervous disorders like depression, anxiety and
stress. These days, there is a very vast demand from all over the world. However, because of
indiscriminate use of these natural resources overtime and fragmentation of habitats, many of
these species are increasingly threatened and face the risk of becoming genetically impoverished.
Any further ecological change and disturbance can cause their extinction. So it is a matter of
urgency, considering the medicinal importance of this species to protect it in its natural
population.
Key words: Asparagus adscendens Roxb, medicinal plant, phytochemicals, Genetic variability.
Corresponding Author@Email id- [email protected],
Phone no +919459506118
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INTRODUCTION
Plants have been the basis for life saving drugs for medical treatment in human history and
medicinal plants are the most exclusive source for the majority of the world’s population and the use of plants as
a medicine is as old as human civilization. In the world population man has traditionally needed these plants to
cure diseases and knowledge of the medicinal plants and practiced for regular uses, extends to several parts of
the world. Thus mixture of magic, necessity, error and culture has created knowledge of medicinal plants;
which has formed the base of modern medicine and preserved from a long time all over the world. These are
not only used for primary health care not just in rural areas in developing countries, but also in
developed countries as well where modern medicines are predominantly used. The herbal drugs
are prepared from medicinal plants only; while the traditional medicines are derived from
medicinal plants, minerals, and organic matter. India is the traditional most medico-culturally diverse
country in the world where the uses of medicinal plants is part of a time-honored tradition that is in regular uses
and respected even today by various indigenous healthcare systems of medicine include ayurveda, unani and
siddha [1]. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 25% of modern
drugs used in the United States have been derived from medicinal plants in practice today. At
least 7,000 medical compounds used in drug industry in the modern pharmacopoeia are derived
from plants and widely used in modern medicine today, 80% show a positive correlation
between their modern therapeutic use and the traditional use of the plants from which they are
derived [2].
The connection between man and his search for plant derived drugs from nature continue
to the far past, of which clearly evidenced from various sources: preserved monuments, written
documents, and even original plant medicines practiced now a day’s also. The knowledge of the
development of ideas and evolution of awareness related to the usage of medicinal plants in
traditional healthcare systems is a result of the many years of struggles against diseases due to
which man learned to use plant mediated drugs from roots, leaves, barks, seeds, fruit bodies, and
other parts of the plants. It increased the ability of pharmacists and medical industry to respond
to the challenges comes with the spreading of professional services in facilitation of society [3].
India has been identified as one of the top twelve mega diversity centers in the world having 45,000
species of floral diversity and 6,500 species of faunal diversity; out of these approximately 70% of India’s
medicinal plants have been found to be in tropical regions, where as less than 30% in temperate and alpine areas
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their occurrence, but they include species of high medicinal value in drug industry [4]. Recently ministry of
environment through a co-ordination research project on ethno botany has succeeded in getting
the local uses of about 7,500 species documented. About 1,100 plants species are frequently used
in Indian medicinal system and out of these, 500 plants are commonly used in preparation of
different drugs [5]. Himachal Pradesh is sighted between 30°22’40” to 33°12’40” North latitude
and 75°47’55” to 79°4’20” East longitude responsible for its unique climatic conditions and
geographical positions. The plats used for various therapies are variably available and easy to use
also having long shelf life also having minimal side effect ad low cost as compare to
homeopathic drugs [6].
However, because of regular and indiscriminate use of these plant resources overtime and
fragmentation of habitats, many of these species become endangered and threatened and some of
them face the risk of becoming genetically impoverished from their natural habitat. About 12.5%
of the 422000 plant species documented worldwide are reported to have medicinal values; but
only a few hundred are known to be in cultivation. With dwindling supplies from natural sources
and increasing global demand, the medicinal and aromatic plants will need to be cultivated to
ensure their regular supply as well as conservation [7].
It is imperative to give emphasis on viable strategies to conserve and save the surviving
population of genetically impoverished plants and their genetic resources in natural form are
formulated. The initial step towards this approach is to identify the habitat sites with the viable
populations followed by studying their genetic diversity as plants grow in population in different
situations along temperature gradients, geographical variation in longitudinal, latitudinal sites
and therefore variation within and between populations. The problems of variations along
populations are further compounded in medicinal plants which also synthesize and accumulate a
diversity of plant specific compounds called metabolites (primary and secondary metabolites).
Currently, most of these secondary metabolites are isolated from wild or cultivated plants
because their chemical synthesis is either extremely difficult or economically infeasible [8].
Asparagus plants native to the western coasts of Europe (from northern Spain north to
Ireland, Great Britain, and northwest Germany) and is native to most of Europe, northern Africa
and western Asia, and is widely cultivated as a vegetable crop. About 300 species of asparagus
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are known to occur in the world. Some of the European species to be mentioned are Asparagus
officinalis, Asparagus sprengeri and Asparagus acutifolius. Asparagus officinalis is reported to
be a popular vegetable consumed in many parts of the world [9]. Out of several species of
'Asparagus' grown in India, Asparagus racemosus, Asparagus gonaclades and Asparagus
adsendens are most commonly used in indigenous medicine [10]. Already about 20,000 years
ago, Asparagus officinalis was eaten near Aswan in Egypt and it has been used as a vegetable
and medicinal plant, due to its flavor, diuretic properties, and more. It is pictured as an offering
on an Egyptian frieze dating to 3000 BC; Still in ancient times, it was known in Syria and in
Spain [11]. Asparagus racemosus became available to the New World around 1850, in the
United States and has been used for centuries for the preparation of unani, siddha and ayurvedic
medicines.
Figure 1: Image of Asparagus adscendens
roots
Asparagus adscendens
is
a
Figure 2: Image of Asparagus adscendens
leaves
flowering perennial,
spring plant
species
in
the
genus Asparagus [11]; Which is a large genus of herbs and under shrubs with stout, tuberous
roots and erect or climbing stems. It was once classified in the lily family, like
its Allium cousins, onions and garlic, but the Liliaceae has been split and the onion-like plants
are now in the family Amaryllidaceae and asparagus in the Asparagaceae family [9]. Plant
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grows one to two metres tall and prefers to take root in gravelly, rocky soils high up in piedmont
plains, at 1,300 - 1,500 metres elevation and it was botanically described in 1799.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Asparagoideae
Genus: Asparagus
Species: A. adscendens
Asparagus adscendens Roxb. is known by various common names i.e. Shatawari, Safed
musli, Shatavar, Shatamuli, Sahasrapal, Sainsarbuti. It was initially grown in thick forest in
natural form, and is a customary medicinal plant; is an herb with sub-erect lanceolate leaves and
tuberous root system. The plant form of Asparagus adscendens is a shrub of struggling nature
much branched, spines with woody stem, It can grow up to an utmost height of 1.5 feet.
Cladodes are 0.6-1.2 cm long linear in shape but stout, straight, bear spines (Figure 1). Flowers
are small, white, 3-4 cm across, solitary or fascicled with copious racemes. Fruits are 0.8 cm in
diameter, globes, 3 lobed berries with only one seed [12]. Tubers can grow up to a depth of 10
inch (Figure 2). Asparagus is a sub-erect prickly shrub with white tuberous root that grows well
in tropical and sub-tropical climates with heights up to 1,500 meters. Asparagus adscendens is
usually found throughout India and Himalayan Mountain ranges. Naturally occurs in forests of
western Himalaya, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra States that are listed in the
endangered species of India. In Himachal Pradesh it is found growing sporadically in districts of
Una, Chamba, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Solan [12]. It was initially grown in thick
forest in natural form, and is a customary medicinal plant.
The plant is a source of a nutritious starch that can be used. Asparagus is low in
calories and is very low in sodium. It is a good source of vitamin. The shoots are prepared and
served in a number of ways around the world, typically as an appetizer. The part of the plant that
is used is not specified but is mostly to be the root. Steroidal glycosides are identified in tuberous
roots. Active compounds present in asparagus are well known for their multiple health benefits.
The powdered dried root exhibits galactogogic properties. It is reported to be useful against
diarrhoea, dysentery and in general debility.
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The uses of the medicinal plants are found in Rig Veda, perhaps the oldest repository of
human knowledge. Charka Samhita (1000 B.C.) records the use of over 340 drugs of plant
origin. There are two basic uses of medicinal plants: direct use as dietary supplement or as
chemical factories for the production of plants derived drugs. Growing genetically defined plant
material improves biomass quality and helps to protect the world germplasm from extinction as
there are few breeding programs for medicinal plants [13]. Therefore, it is prudent to study
Asparagus adscendens at genetic and molecular levels for efficient conservation and
management of its genetic diversity.
Review of Literature
Asparagus adscendens is initially grown in thick forest in natural form, and is a
customary medicinal plant. Mostly its tuberous roots are used in Ayurvedic medicines. To make
salep, the root is dried and ground into a powder and the powdered dried root exhibits
galactogogic properties; used for the preparation of nutritive tonic used in general sexual
weakness. These roots hold spermatogenetic, spermatorrhoea and chronic leucorrhoea due to
some chemical content. This plant is a source of a nutritious starch and low in calories and is
very low in sodium. It is a good source of vitamin also. Steroidal glycosides are identified in
tuberous roots. Active compounds present in asparagus are well known for their multiple health
benefits. It is reported to be useful against diarrhea, dysentery and in general debility.
Sarsasapogenin, diosgenin and sitosterol have been isolated earlier from the fruits. Whereas
some steroidal saponins were reported from roots and leaves and several lipid constituents has
identified from the roots. The presence of key ingredients in asparagus like proteins, alkaloids,
saponins and tannins enhance the production of estrogen. This in turn helps in improving fertility
and vitality in women and men. Active composition enriched in asparagus calms down nerve
cells and prevents the risk of nervous disorders like depression, anxiety and stress. These days,
there is a very vast demand from all over the world (Especially gulf countries and cold countries)
and due to its vast demand it is extremely costly (Figure 3).
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Antiinflamma
tory activity
Anticancero
us activity
Antioxidant
activity
Natural
diuretic
Regulate
blood sugar
Asparagus
adscendens
Digestive
support
Nutrient
dense food
Improve
fertility
Prevent
nervous
disorders
Rejuvenatin
g female
tonic
Figure 3: Medical applications of Asparagus adscendens
Among the estimated 250,000-500,000 plant species, only a small percentage has been
investigated phytochemically and the fraction submitted to biological or pharmacological
screening is even smaller. Thus, any phytochemical investigation of a given plant will reveal
only a very narrow spectrum of its constituents. Historically pharmacological screening of
compounds of natural or synthetic origin has been the source of innumerable therapeutic agents.
The hemi-celluloses of the tubers of Asparagus adscendens Roxb have been isolated and
chemically examined. They are composed of two fractions, A2 and B2 of Norris and Preece
designation. Both the fractions are constituted from the same sugars and uronic acid, viz., xylose,
glucose and glucuronic acid but in different proportions. In hemicellulos A2 the ratio of these
components is 2:1:1, while in B2 it is 1:1:2 [14]. The Asparagus adscendens plant stem is used as
an aphrodisiac and root bark as a tonic for promotion of strength and longevity in Kumaon
region of Uttar Pradesh. Stem is eaten as a vegetable also in traditional dishes [15].
The methanolic extract of the defatted roots of Asparagus adscendens Roxb. yielded
beta-sitosterol beta-D-glucoside, two new spirostanol glycosides (asparanin C and asparanin D)
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and two new furostanol glycosides (asparoside C and asparoside D) [16]. The leaves of musli are
used for the treatment of dysentery in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat. The roots are
used for preparing veterinary medicines in Morni and Kalesar district of Haryana [17]. Two new
oligofurostanosides
Adscendosides
A
(3)
and
B
(4)
and
two
spirostanosides
Adscendins A (1) and B (2) are reported from the methanol extract of the leaves of Asparagus
adscendens [18]. The protein content is significantly high in the roots and steroidal glycosides
are identified in tuberous roots. Several compounds like 3-heptadecanon, 8-hexadecenoic acid,
methyl pentacosanoate, palmitic acid, stearic acid are identified. The saponin mixture from the
dried roots yield glycosides,O-[β-D-2 tetracosylxylophyranosyl]-stigmasterol, and 3-β-O-[β-Dglycopyranosyl (12) –a-L-arabinopyranosyl] stigmasterol [19].
Three medicinal plants namely Asparagus adscendens, Chlorophytum arundinaceum
(both known by common name safed musli) and Curculigo orchioides (kali musli) were
analyzed
for
pharmacognosy,
chemistry
and
pharmacological
properties.
Different
phytochemicals like steroids, triterpenoids, glycosides, saponins, phenolic compounds, aliphatic
compounds and nitrogenous constituents reported in these plants [20]. Effect of aqueous and
alcoholic extracts of the roots of Asparagus adscendens was studied on the spontaneous
movements of whole worm and nerve muscle preparation of Setaria cervi and on the survival of
microfilariae in vitro. Aqueous as well alcoholic extracts caused inhibition of Setaria cervi
characterized by initial, short lasting small increase in amplitude and tone of contractions
followed by paralysis [21].
The traditional uses of plants for food, shelter, fodder, health care and other cultural
purposes were documented, based on interviews with some 100 informants. The need for such
documentation, useful findings concerning medicinal plants, pressure on fuelwood species, use
of fodder species, and beekeeping as a useful incentive for protecting the local flora. Asparagus
adscendens, Berberis lycium and Viola canescens were identified as being vulnerable to over
harvesting. Acacia modesta, A. nilotica, Buxus papillosa and Dodonaea viscosa are under
pressure due to collection as fuelwood. Grewia optiva(used as fodder and for rope making) was
the most sustainable species as it grows quickly and regenerates within a year [22].
In 1996-99 a field experiment was conducted on the root yield of Asparagus racemosus
and Asparagus adscendens to determine the effect of plant density in Uttar Pradesh, India (1.11,
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0.5, 0.28 and 0.12× 103 plant/ha). The results shows that Asparagus racemosus produced about
1.6 fold higher yields than Asparagus adscendens and the highest root yield was obtained with a
plant density of 1.11× 103 plant/ha [23]. The physicochemical characteristics of powdered tubers
of Asparagus adscendens collected from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India, were studied. The
extractive values were 12.52, 12.97, 10.42, 39.98 and 59.20% (w/v) using petroleum ether, ethyl
acetate, chloroform; water-soluble ash and sulfated ash were 5, 2.3 and 5.0% respectively found
[24]. A very high rate of multiple shoots was obtained from nodal explants of Asparagus
adscendens Roxb. on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with α-napthaleneacetic acid,
Kn and agar. Good rooting response was observed when individual regenerated shoots were
inoculated on to Murashige and Skoog medium with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), ancymidol and
sucrose. Such plantlets were successfully transferred to soil after hardening with a high rate of
survival [25].
Spirostanol glycosides (asparanin A and asparanin B) and two furostanol glycosides
(asparoside A and asparoside B) have been isolated from the methanol extract of the roots of
Asparagus adscendens [26]. Asparagus adscendens shown a significant non-toxic increase in
glucose-depedent isuliotropic action in the clonal pancreatic β cell line, and it revealed the
presence of insulinotropics, insulin-enhancing activity and inhibitory effects on starch digestion
[27]. A protocol for isolating genomic DNA from fresh and dry roots of medicinal plants was
developed. It involves a modified cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) procedure and
extraction was carried out at 70°C. A slight increase in the concentrations of the chemical
components helped in the removal of secondary metabolites from the DNA preparation. The
quantity and purity of isolated DNA was higher when compared with DNA extracted by other
methods. The DNA yield ranged from 33 to 68 μg per g of root samples and it was 1.47 times
greater in dried than fresh samples. The DNA samples were found suitable for analysis with
restriction enzyme digestion and random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD). The total
duration for DNA extraction from roots of medicinal plants using this protocol was 135 min as
compared to 225 min with existing protocols [28].
Essential and non-essential heavy metals like Mn, Zn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Cr, Pb and Cd were
quantified in selected medicinal plants including Artemisia vulgaris L., Asparagus adscendens
Roxb, Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L., Galium aparine L., Mucuna pruriens L., Stevia rebaudiana
and Withania somnifera L., by using atomic absorption spectrometry. The main purpose of this
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study was to document evidence of essential and non-essential heavy metals in these herbs,
which are extensively used in the preparation of herbal products and standardized extracts. High
iron contents were observed in W. somnifera 206.69 ppm, S. rebaudiana 201.38 ppm, G. aparine
180.91 ppm, C. tetragonoloba 87.14 ppm, A. adscendens 85.27 ppm, A. vulgaris 81.39 ppm and
M. pruriens 33.21 ppm. The concentration of other heavy metals particularly manganese and
zinc was also found on the higher side in the selected herbs [29].
The effects of the methanol and aqueous extracts of the tuberous roots of these plants
were examined in an experimental mouse model of stress, induced by swimming. The extracts
were shown to exert an inhibitory effect on pro-inflammatory cytokines, namely interleukin 1β
and tumour necrosis factor α, and on the production of nitric oxide in mouse macrophage cells
stimulated by lipopolysaccharide in vitro. Similar inhibition was also observed in the production
of interleukin 2 in lymphoma cells stimulated by concanavalin [30].
Asparagus adscendens studied for its phytochemical compounds and reported the
presence of insulinotropic, insulin-enhancing activity and inhibitory effects on starch digestion.
Conypododiol
exhibited
significant
inhibition
of
both acetylcholinesterase and
butyrylcholinesterase, having the IC(50) values 2.17 ± 0.1 μM and 11.21 ± 0.1 μM, respectively,
Conypododiol was found safe against monkey kidney epithelial cells and mice hepatocytes [31].
The cancer chemopreventive efficacy of the roots of Asparagus adscendens, evaluating using
different doses in a test diet examined on 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene induced skin and
benzo(a)pyrene-induced for stomach papillomagenesis in mice. The result exhibited a significant
reduction in the skin and the fore stomach tumor incidence with respect to all the three (2, 4 and
6%, w/w) doses as compared with control. Further, the roots of Asparagus adscendens inhibited
phase I, and activated phase II system and antioxidant enzymes in the liver especially with 4% of
test diet. Together, these results suggest the cancer chemopreventive potential of Asparagus
adscendens which could be mediated through drug-metabolizing phase I and phase II enzymes as
well as free radical scavenging antioxidant enzymes [32].
Analysis of saponins by thin layer chromatography (TLC) is reported. The solvent system
was n-butanol:water:acetic acid (84:14:7). Detection of saponins on the TLC plates after
development and air-drying was done by immersion in a suspension of sheep erythrocytes,
followed by washing off the excess blood on the plate surface. Saponins appeared as white spots
against a pink background. The protocol provided specific detection of saponins in the saponins
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enriched extracts from Aesculusindica (Wall. ex Camb.) Hook.f. , Lonicera japonica Thunb.
, Silene inflata Sm. , Sapindusmukorossi Gaertn., Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau
Fernandes, Asparagus
adscendens Roxb.,
Asparagus
&
racemosus Willd., Agave
americana L., Camellia sinensis [L.] O. Kuntze. The protocol is convenient, inexpensive, does
not require any corrosive chemicals and provides specific detection of saponins [33].
The traditional Indian system of medicine can be classified into the forms of folk
medicine which are village based, region-specific, indigenous herb based, local resources based
and in many cases, community-specific. Musli (Asparagus adscendens) is useful as aphrodiasic
and nervine tonic. It is a sub erect prickly shrub, with white tuberous roots. It is distributed in
West Himalayas and Punjab to Kumaon [34]. The species of Asparagus are traditionally used in
medicines, vegetables and as ornamental plants. Here RAPD markers are used to evaluate the
genetic diversity among 9 species of Asparagus and 6 cultivars of Asparagus officinalis L. using
7 random primers yielded total amplification of 245 bands, among 220 were polymorphic bands
with an average of 31.4 bands per primers [35].
Asparagus adscendens root extract (200 and 300 mg/kg doses) caused a significant
increase in body (p < 0.02 and p < 0.001) and testes (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, control versus
treated) weights. Reproductive activity showed significant a increase in testicular tubular
diameter (p < 0.005–0.001), the number of round/elongated spermatids (p < 0.02–0.001), DSP,
and ESC (p < 0.05–0.001). The sexual behavioral parameters including mounting/intromission
frequency (13.0 ± 0.32/11.8 ± 0.37 and 18.2 ± 2.12/14.8 ± 1.15 versus 11.2 ± 0.66/8.2 ± 1.16),
ejaculation latency (187.4 ± 1.91 and 191.4 ± 1.72 versus 180.0 ± 3.47), and penile erections
(13.5 ± 0.3 and 14.5 ± 0.5 versus 8.5 ± 0.2) showed a significant increase at 200 and 300 mg/kg
doses (ED50 300 mg/kg), but less than a standard control. There was increased anabolic,
reproductive, and sexual activities by Asparagus adscendens root extract treatment [36] (Table
1).
Table 1: Represented Asparagus adscendens reported work
Plant
Fraction used
Work done
References
S. No.
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1
2
3
parts
Tubers
Whole
plant
Roots
5
Leaves,
root
Leaves
6
Roots
7
Roots,
leaves
8
Roots
9
Whole
plant
Whole
plant
4
10
11
Tuberous
roots
12
13
Nodal
explants
Roots
14
Roots
15
16
17
Root
Leaves
Roots
18
Roots
Roots
Tuber
hemicellulos
Methanol
extract
Methanol
extract
HemicellulosA2, hemicellulos B2
Rao and Gakhar
1952
Herbal folk medicines in Northern Shah and Joshi, 1971
India
spirostanol
glycosides
and Sharma et.al.1982
furostanol glycosides
Medicinal uses
Jain, S.P. 1984
oligofurostanosides Adscendosides Sharma and Sharma
and
spirostanosides 1984
Adscendins
Methanol
glycosides,O-stigmasterol, and 3- Tandon, Shukla et al.
extract
β-O-stigmasterol
1990
Aqueous and Medicinal and aromatic plants
Tandon and Shukla.
Alcoholic
1995
extracts
Aqueous and Inhibition of S. cervi
Singh et al. 1997
Alcoholic
extracts
Medicinal uses
Shinwari et al. 1999
-
Effect of plant density on the root Singh, Kumar et al.
yield
2001
Aqueous and Physicochemical characteristics
Alcoholic
extracts
Methanol
Direct in vitro propagation and
extract
HPLC
Methanol
Spirostanol glycosides and two
extract
furostanol glycosides
Aqueous
stimulates
insulin
secretion,
extract
insulin action and inhibits starch
digestion
Isolated DNA
RAPD and Restriction digestion
extract
Profile of heavy metals
Aqueous and Effects
of
Chlorophytum
Alcoholic
arundinaceum
extracts
Chloroform
Conypododiol
as
a
dual
fraction
of cholinesterase inhibitor
Methanolic
extract
Different test Chemomodulatory
potential
Zafar, G. S. et al.
2005
Mehta
and
Subramanian 2005
Jadhav and Bhutani
2006
Mathews, Flatt et al.
2006
Khan et al. 2007
Khan et al. 2008
Kanwar and Bhutani
2010
Khan, Nisar et al.
2010
Singh, R. K. et al.
19
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Issue 5, Vol.3.May-June 2015
ISSN 2249 – 5738
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diets
20
Roots
extract
21
-
22
Whole
plant
Leaves
23
Roots
extract
Isolated DNA
against
murine
skin
and 2011
forestomach papillomagenesis
Thin layer
chromatographic Sharma et al. 2012
analysis
Sharma and Kumar
Herbal medicinal plants
2012
Genetic
diversity
among Irshad et al. 2014
Asparagus species
Anabolic, reproductive, and sexual Bansode et al. 2014
behavioral activity
CONCLUSION
As of today, genetic conservation in medicinal and aromatic plants has become of
paramount importance because of ruthless extraction by upcoming biotechnology and
pharmaceutical industry. For efficient conservation and management of medicinal plant
diversity, the genetic composition of species collected from different phyto-geographical regions
has to be assessed well in time. This review summarizes researches conducted on Asparagus
adscendens specifically in medicinal field. Numerous studies have been conducted on different
parts of Asparagus adscendens, this plant has developed as a drug by pharmaceutical industries.
However, because of indiscriminate use of these resources overtime and fragmentation of
habitats, many of these species are increasingly threatened and face the risk of becoming
genetically impoverished. It is imperative that viable strategies should be adopted to conserve the
surviving population and their genetic resources. This species has very small population and
specific habitat and due to deforestation, forest fires, habitat fragmentation and human
interference the population of this rare, endangered plant is on the decline. Any further
ecological change and disturbance can cause their extinction. A detailed and systematic study is
required for identification, cataloguing and documentation of plants, which may provide a
meaningful way for promoting traditional knowledge of the medicinal herbal plant. So it is a
matter of urgency, considering the medicinal importance of this species to protect it in its natural
population and this review is a good source of literature survey for researchers who intended to
do studies in this particular field.
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