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Name
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Part used |
quantity
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Price : USD 14
30
capsules |
Shatavari (Asparagus
recemosus)
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Roots
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500 mg
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Indication:
Amlapitta (Hyperacidity), Sutikaroga (Post
partum disorders), Kshaya (General debility),
Parinama shoola (Peptic ulcers), Stanyvardhaka
(Galactogogue) and as Rasayana. (anti oxidant)
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Dosage:
2 capsule thrice a day or as per the
direction of physician. Allow several weeks for
benefits. The use of natural products provides
progressive but long-lasting results.
Side Effects:-
None, Drug Interactions:- None,
Contraindications:-
None.
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Asparagus is the Greek word for �stalk� or �shoot�.
About 300 species of Asparagus are known to occur in the
world.
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. Out of
several species of 'Asparagus' grown in India, A.
racemosus, A. gonaclades and A. adsendens are most
commonly used in indigenous medicine. A. racemosus is
commonly mentioned as a rasayana in the Ayurveda.
Rasayanas are those plant drugs which promote general
well being of an individual by increasing cellular
vitality or resistance.
Beneficial effects of the root of A. recemosus are
suggested in nervous disorders, dyspepsia, diarrhoea,
dysentry, tumors, inflammations, hyperdipsia,
neuropathy, hepatopathy, cough, bronchitis, hyperacidity
and certain infectious diseases.
A study of ancient classical Ayurvedic literature
claimed several therapeutic attributes for the root of
A. racemosus (Hindi:-Shatavari) and has been specially
recommended in cases of threatened abortion and as a
galactogogue.
Root of A. racemosus has been referred as bitter-sweet,
emollient, cooling, nervine tonic, constipating,
galactogogue, aphrodisiac, diuretic, rejuvenating,
carminative, stomachic, antiseptic and as tonic.
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Alcoholic
extract of root of A. racemosus has been shown to
significantly reduce the enhanced levels of alanine
transaminase, aspartate transaminase and alkaline
phosphatase in CC14-induced hepatic damage in rats,
indicating antihepatotoxic potential of A. racemosus.
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The powdered dried root
of A. racemosus is used in Ayurveda for dyspepsia. Oral
administration of powdered dried root of A. racemosus
has been found to promote gastric emptying in healthy
volunteers. Its action is reported to be comparable with
that of the synthetic dopamine antagonist
metoclopromide.
In Ayurveda, A. racemosus has also been mentioned for
the treatment of ulcerative disorders of stomach and
Parinama Sula, a clinical entity akin to the duodenal
ulcer diseases. The juice of fresh root of A. racemosus
has been shown to have definite curative effect in
patients of duodenal ulcers.
A. racemosus along with Terminalia chebula reported to
protect gastric mucosa against pentagastrin and
carbachol induced ulcers, by significantly reducing both
severity of ulceration and ulcer index. Decreased volume
and increased pH of the secretions in drug treated rats
suggest a reduced responsiveness of the gastric parietal
cells to secretogogues and narcotizing agents.
Cytoprotective effect has been suggested to be due to
increased output of mucus.
Singh et al showed that
Shatavari promptly and persistently relieve the pain and
burning sensation as well as other dyspeptic symptoms
due to duodenal ulcer. Since Shatavari did not have
antacid and anti-secretory properties, the observed mild
reduction in acid secretion may be due to some changes
in gastric mucosa.
Shatavari has been suggested to heal the ulcers by
potentiating defensive factors and many hypothesis have
been put forward for its possible mechanism:
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It may prolong the life span of mucosal cells, increase
the secretion and viscosity of mucus and strengthen the
mucosal barrier and thus reduces H+ ion back diffusion
into the mucosa.
- Shatavari may form a complex with mucus of other
substances at the base of ulcer which may protect the
ulcer from the corrosive and proteolytic effects of
acid-pepsin.
- It may have cytoprotective action like that of
prostaglandins. Other possible mechanism may be
deactivation and binding of pepsin or of bile salts.
In addition to antiulcerogenic activity of A. racemosus in clinical trials, De
et al demonstrated similar effects of fresh root juice of A. racemosus in rats,
using cold stress and pyloric-ligation induced gastric ulcer. In contrast to
previous report these workers suggested a reduction in acid and pepsin contents
(aggressive factors) and increase in mucin-bicarbonate secretions and life span
of the mucosal cells (defensive factors). Anti-ulcerogenic effect is suggested
to be due to the regulation of the above two factors.
Various extracts from the root of A. racemosus have been shown to cause
contraction of smooth muscles of rabbit's duodenum, guinea pig's ileum and rat's
fundal strip without affecting peristaltic movement. These actions were found to
be similar to that of acetylcholine and were blocked by atropine, suggesting a
cholinergic mechanism of action. However, no effect was observed on isolated
rectus abdominus.
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Inspite of cholinergic activity of A. racemosus on
guinea pig's ileum, ethyl acetate and acetone extracts
of the root of A. racemosus blocked spontaneous motility
of the virgin rat's uterus. These extracts also
inhibited contraction, induced by spasmogens like
acetylcholine, barium chloride and 5-hydroxytryptamine
whereas alcoholic extract was found to produce a
specific block of pitocin induced contractions. On the
other hand petroleum ether as well as ether extracts of
the powdered roots did not produce any uterine activity.
It indicates the presence of some particular substance
in the alcoholic extract which specifically blocks
pitocin sensitive receptors though not other receptors
in the uterus,[13] confirming that Shatavari can be used
as uterine sedative. Further, a glycoside, Shatavarin I,
isolated from the root of A. racemosus has been found to
be responsible for the competitive block of
oxytocin-induced contraction of rat, guinea pig and
rabbit's uteri, in vitro as well as in vivo.
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The root
extract of A. racemosus is prescribed in Ayurveda to
increase milk secretion during lactation. A. racemosus
in combination with other herbal substances in the form
of 'Ricalex' tablets (Aphali pharmaceutical Ltd.
Ahmednagar) has been shown to increase milk production
in females complaining of deficient milk secretion.
Gradual decrease in milk secretion, on withdrawl of the
drug suggested that the increase in milk secretion was
due to drug therapy only and not due to any
psychological effect. Systemic administration of the
alcoholic extract of A. racemosus in weaning rats
increased weight of the mammary glands, inhibited
involution of lobulo-alveolar tissue and maintained milk
secretion. The same extract in estrogen-primed rats
showed well developed lobulo-alveolar tissue and
lactation. Increase in mammary gland weight and growth
of the lobulo-alveolar tissue may be due to the action
of released corticoids and prolactin.
In an another study, A. racemosus alongwith some other
herbal substances in the form of a commercial
preparation, lactare (TTK Pharma, Chennai) is reported
to enhance milk output in women complaining of scanty
breast milk, on 5th day after delivery. A significant
increase in milk yield has also been observed in guinea
pigs and goats after feeding lactare which also
increased growth of the mammary glands, alveolar tissues
and acini in guinea pigs.[18] Patel et al have also
shown galactogogue effect of roots of A. racemosus in
buffaloes. However, Sharma et al did not observe any
increase in prolactin levels in females complaining of
secondary lactational failure with A. racemosus
suggesting that it has no lactogenic effect.
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Intra-abdominal sepsis are major causes of mortality
following trauma and bowel surgery. Immunomodulating
property of A. racemosus has been shown to protect the
rat and mice against experimental induced abdominal
sepsis. Oral administration of decoction of powdered
root of A. racemosus has been reported to produce
leucocytosis and predominant neutrophilia along with
enhanced phagocytic activity of the macrophages and
polymorphs. Percentage mortality of A. racemosus treated
animals was found to be significantly reduced while
survival rate was comparable to that of the group
treated with a combination of metronidazole and
gentamicin. Since A. racemosus is reported to be devoid
of antibacterial action, so protection offered by A.
racemosus against sepsis by altering function of
macrophages, indicates its possible immunomodulatory
property.
Further, oral administration of
total extract of A. racemosus has been shown to reduce
all the three attributes of adhesions viz number,
character and area markedly in an animal model of
intraperitoneal adhesions.
Dhuley has reported the revival
of macrophage chemotaxis and interleukin-I (IL-I) and
tumor necrosis factor a(TNFa) production by the oral
treatment of A. racemosus root extract in ochratoxin A
treated mice.
Alcoholic extract has been found to enhance both,
humoral and cell mediated immunity of albino mice
injected with sheep red blood cells as particulate
antigen.
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Chloroform/methanol (1:1)
extract of fresh root of A. racemosus has been reported
to reduce the tumor incidence in female rats treated
with DMBA (7,12�dimethyl benz (a) anthracene). This
action is suggested to be mediated by virtue of
mammotropic and/or lactogenic influence of A. racemosus
on normal as well as estrogen- primed animals, which
renders the mammary epithelium refractory to the
carcinogen.
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Alcoholic extract of the
root of A. racemosus has been reported to produce
positive ionotropic and chronotropic effect on frog's
heart with lower doses and cardiac arrest with higher
doses. The extract was found to produce hypotension in
cats which was blocked by atropine, indicating
cholinergic mechanism of action. The extract also
produced congestion and complete stasis of blood flow in
mesentric vessels of mice and rat. Slight increase in
the bleeding time and no effect on clotting time was
observed on I.V. administration of the extract in
rabbits.
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Higher doses of the
alcoholic extract of root of A. racemosus are reported
to cause dilatory effect on bronchial musculature of
guinea pigs but failed to antagonise the histamine
induced broncho-constriction. The extract has also been
reported to produce depression of respiration in cat.
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Neither stimulant nor
depressant action of lactare on central nervous system
has been reported in albino mice.[18] Shatavari did not
produce catalepsy in experimental rats even with massive
oral doses suggesting that its action may be outside the
blood-brain barrier, similar to that of metoclopromide.
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Alcoholic extract of root of A. racemosus was found to
have slight diuretic effect in rats and hypoglycemic
effect in rabbits, but, no anticonvulsant and
anti�fertility effect was observed in rats and rabbits
respectively. However, it did show some anti-amoebic
effect in rats.
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In Ayurveda, A. racemosus has been
described as absolutely safe for long term use, even
during pregnancy and lactation. Systemic administration
of higher doses of all the extracts did not produce any
abnormality in behaviour pattern of mice and rat. LD of
the product lactare has not been assessed since it did
not produce mortality even upto the oral dosages of 64
gm/kg.
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- Oketch-Rabah HA. Phytochemical Constituents of the
Genus Asparagus and their biological activities. Hamdard
1998;41:33-43.
- Shao YU, Poobsasert O, Kennelly EJ, Chin CK, Ho CT,
Huang MT, Garrison sA, Cordell GA. Steroidal saponins
from Asparagus officinalis and their cytotoxic activity.
Planta Medica 1997;63:258-62.
- Rao SB. Saponins (Sapogenins) from Indian Medicinal
Plants:- Part I Sapogenins from Asparagus. Indian J
Pharmacy 1952;14:131-2.
- Nadkarni AK. Indian Materia Medica. Bombay: Popular
Book Depot; 1954. Vol I. pp.153-5.
- Chopra RN, Chopra IC, Handa KL, Kapur LD.Indigenous
drugs of India. Calcutta: Academic Publishers; 1994. pp.
496.
- Sharma PC, Yelne MB, Dennis TJ. Data base on
medicinal plants used in Ayurveda. Delhi: Documentation
& publication Division, Central Council for Research in
Ayurveda & Siddha; 2000. Vol I. pp. 418-30.
- Dalvi SS, Nadkarni PM, Gupta KC. Effect of Asparagus
racemosus (Shatavari) on gastric emptying time in normal
healthy volunteers. J Postgrad Med 1990;36:91-4.
[PUBMED] [FULLTEXT]
- Kishore P, Pandey PN, Pandey SN, Dash S. Treatment
of duodenal ulcer with Asparagus racemosus Linn. J Res
Indian Med Yog Homeo 1980;15:409-15.
- Dahanukar SA, Date SG, Karandikar SM. Cytoprotective
effect of Terminalia chebula and Asparagus racemosus on
gastric mucosa. Indian Drugs 1983;21:442-5.
- Singh KP, Singh RH. Clinical trial on Satavari
(Asparagus racemosus Willd.) in duodenal ulcer disease.
J Res Ay Sid 1986;7:91-100.
- De B, Maiti RN, Joshi VK, Agrawal VK, Goel RK.
Effect of some Sitavirya drugs on gastric secretion and
ulceration. Indian J Exp Biol 1997;35:1084-7. [PUBMED]
- Goel RK, Bhattacharya SK. Gastroduodenal mucosal
defense and mucosal protective agents. Indian J Exp Biol
1991;29:701-14. [PUBMED]
- Jetmalani MH, Sabins PB, Gaitonde BB. A study on the
pharmacology of various extracts of Shatavari- Asparagus
racemosus (Willd). J Res Ind Med 1967;2:1-10.
- Joglekar GV, Ahuja RH, Balwani JH. Galactogogue
effect of Asparagus racemosus. Indian Med J 1967;61:165.
[PUBMED]
- Sabins PB, Gaitonde BB, Jetmalani M. Effect of
alcoholic extract of Asparagus racemosus on mammary
glands of rats. Indian J Exp Biol 1968;6:55-7.
- Meites J. Proceedings of the first international
pharmacology meeting. London: Pergamon Press; 1962. Vol
I. pp. 151.
- Sholapurkar ML. Lactare-for improving lactation.
Indian Practitioner 1986;39:1023-6.
- Narendranath KA, Mahalingam S, Anuradha V, Rao IS.
Effect of herbal galactogogue (Lactare) a
pharmacological and clinical observation. Med Surg
1986;26:19-22.
- Patel AB, Kanitkar UK. Asparagus racemosus Willd.
Form Bordi, as a galactogogue, in buffaloes. Indian Vet
J 1969;46:718-21. [PUBMED]
- Sharma S, Ramji S, Kumari S, Bapna JS. Randomized
controlled trial of Asparagus racemosus (Shatavari) as a
lactogogue in lactational inadequacy. Indian Pediatr
1996;33:675-7. [PUBMED]
- Joshi J, Dev S. Chemistry of Ayurvedic crude drugs:
Part VIIIa-Shatavari-2: Structure elucidation of
bioactive Shatavarin-I & other glycosidesb,c. Indian J
Chem 1988;27B:12-6.
- Dahanukar S, Thatte U, Pai N, Mose PB, Karandikar
SM. Protective effect of Asparagus racemosus against
induced abdominal sepsis. Indian Drugs 1986;24:125-8.
- Thatte U, Chhabria S, Karandikar SM, Dahanukar S.
Immunotherapeutic modification of E. coli induced
abdominal sepsis and mortality in mice by Indian
medicinal plants. Indian Drugs 1987;25:95-7.
- Regh NN, Nazareth HM, Isaac A, Karandikar SM,
Dahanukar SA. Immunotherapeutic modulation of
intraperitoneal adhesions by Asparagus racemosus. J
Postgrad Med 1989;35:199-203.
- Dhuley JN. Effect of some Indian herbs on macrophage
functions in ochratoxin A treated mice. J Ethnopharmacol
1997;58:15-20. [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT]
- Muruganadan S, Garg H, Lal J, Chandra S, Kumar D.
Studies on the immunostimulant and antihepatotoxic
activities of Asparagus racemosus root extract. J Med
Arom PI Sci 2000;22:49-52.
- Rao AR. Inhibitory action of Asparagus racemosus on
DMBA-induced mammary carcinogoenesis in rats. Int J
Cancer 1981;28:607-10. [PUBMED]
- Roy RN, Bhagwager S, Chavan SR, Dutta NK.
Preliminary pharmacological studies on extracts of Root
of Asparagus racemosus (Satavari), Willd, N.O.
Lilliaceae. J Res Ind Med 1971;6:132-8.
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