Phytochemical analysis of Asparagus racemosus germplasm to check presence of secondary metabolites & minerals

Abstract

Asparagus racemosus (Shatavari) is an important medicinal plant in India. It has been used in various medicinal formulations because of its medicinal value which in turn is because of presence of saponins (major bioactive compound present in roots). A. racemosus are suggested in nervous disorders, dyspepsia, diarrhoea, dysentry, tumors, inflammations, hyperdipsia, neuropathy, hepatopathy, cough, bronchitis, hyperacidity and certain infectious diseases. Saponins are present in all species of Asparagus, but variations are found, in different species from different parts. Sitosterol, stigmasterol and their glucosides, sarsasapogenin and their glucosides, sarsasapogenin and two spirostanolic and two furostanolic saponins are also reported in various studies. The Asparagus germplasm in the present study was screened for the presence of various secondary metabolites like terpenoids, saponins, flavonoids, tannins, cardiac glycosides, phlobatannins and reducing sugars. This study also revealed the metal ion concentrations of Ca (17.92-37.22 mg/100 g), Mg (67.92-293.4 mg/100 g), Fe (19.92-105.72 mg/100 g), Cu (0.08-0.56 mg/100 g) and Zn (2.18-16.86 mg/100 g), Co (0.14-6.66mg/100 g), Mn (18.28-49.36 mg/100 g) in A. racemosus.