Antioxidant and Free Radical Scavenging Efficacy of Novel Shatavari Saponins

Shatavari ( Asparagus racemosus ) is one of the most important medicinal herbs mentioned as a Rasayan in Ayurvedic literature. The drug has a wide range of therapeutic activities, according to ancient Ayurvedic texts. It is also called as Satavari, Satawar, Satmuli in Hindi; Toala-gaddalu in Telegu; Inli-chedi in Tamil; Shatamuli in Bengali; Norkanto or Satawar in Rajasthan, Satawari in Gujarati; Narbodh or Satmooli in Madhya Pradesh. This plant is a significant source of steroidal saponins, flavonoids, polysaccharides, steroids, tannins, anthraquinones, cyclic hydrocarbons, oligospirostanoside, vitamins, alkaloids, essential oils, minerals, dihydrophenanthrene derivative, and derivatives of furans. Therefore, Shatavari offers a wide spectrum of phytopharmaceutical effects such as neuroprotective, antidiabetic, antidiarrheal, antioxidant, antitussive, antiulcer, aphrodisiac, immunomodulatory, cardioprotective antidepressant, antiparasitic, anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, hypocholestrimic, antiurolithiatic, and anti-abortifacient effects. Its antioxidant properties are mainly due to the presence of saponin, racemofuran, aspargamine A, racemosol, and racemoside content. To meet consumer demand for herbal medicine alternatives, Shatavari is immensely preferred due to its diverse therapeutic potential. In addition to this, Shatavari extract is also incorporated to produce functional foods to improve shelf life and health benefits. The present chapter highlights the plant profile, phytoconstituents, pharmacological actions, and therapeutic and food industrial applications.