Anticancer Properties of Asparagus racemosus (Shatavari)

Asparagus (Shatavari) is an economically important perennial horticultural crop. It is grown worldwide in a variety of climatic conditions and is consumed as a nutritious vegetable. Asparagus officinalis and Asparagus racemosus are well known and the most cultivated and consumed species of asparagus among the close to 300 species belonging to Asparagus family. These are also the most investigated members of the Asparagaceae family. Asparagus, due its rich content of bioactive, secondary metabolite compounds like saponins and polyphenols and also due to high fiber content, is considered a functional food due to its potential to promote health and well-being beyond basic nutrition. Phytochemicals, which is also true for bioactive chemicals from asparagus, can exhibit anticancer characteristics by modulating single or multiple unique or interacting biological processes and pathways. These include antioxidant activity; anti-inflammatory effects; inhibition of tumor growth; and modulation of cellular pathways such as apoptosis, autophagy, and cell cycle progression. An important new development cancer treatment procedure is the use of phytochemicals as adjuvant in cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Asparagus compounds are also being investigated for their adjuvant activity, with promising findings. The aim of this chapter is to review current research and recent advancements to provide a status update on the anticancer properties of asparagus and provide researchers with relevant and recent information on the use of asparagus as a therapeutic option or adjunct. In this chapter, the term asparagus (Shatavari) is used to discuss the properties of different species of asparagus (mostly Asparagus officinalis and Asparagus racemosus ), which are the most investigated species for their anticancer properties.