Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E
Asparagus root
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Latin Name: Asparagus officinalis
Pharmacopeial Name: Asparagi rhizoma
Other Names: parrowgrass
Overview
Asparagus, brought to the United States by Eurasian colonists and commonly called sparrowgrass, is widely cultivated as a food crop. Its medical applications are less well known, despite Commission E approval of root use to irrigate the urinary tract. The perennial can produce edible shoots for up to 30 years (Stephens, 1994). These shoots provide fiber and vitamins A and C (Hamilton and Whitney, 1982). There is also a peculiar urinary odor following ingestion, that can be detected only in individuals who have inherited a particular autosomal dominant trait (Mitchell et al., 1987). Shoots are harvested in the spring for a few months and then left to develop into a fern-like plant, which prepares the roots for the next year's production. Female plants produce red berries that turn black in the fall. In the United States, in which 90% of commercial production occurs in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Washington, and California, both a dark green and a light green-to-whitish variety are cultivated (Stephens, 1994). Rarely does this production result in a medicinal preparation. In Europe and Asia, however, all parts of the asparagus plant, the shoots and in particular the roots, or crowns, as they are called, have a medicinal history. Root preparations are diuretic and laxative. Folk medicinal use of asparagus root includes treatment of heart disease, hypertension, and rheumatism (Leung and Foster, 1996; Wren, 1988). Home skin formulas reportedly employ asparagus shoots to rid the face of dirt and acne. The red berries (on female plants) were regarded as a contraceptive (Leung and Foster, 1996). India's Asparagus species, A. racemosus, or shatavari, which means 'she who has a hundred husbands,' is used to strengthen the female reproductive system, and is also administered for diuretic and anti-inflammatory purposes by traditional Ayurvedic practitioners (Lad and Frawley, 1986). The fructo-oligosaccharides, the most frequently studied constituents in asparagus, alter fecal microflora beneficially, particularly in elderly patients (Mitsuoka et al., 1987). Shoot saponin constituents have been found to have some activity against human leukemia HL-60 cells in vitro (Leung and Foster, 1996; Shao et al., 1996). Immune stimulant effects of roots may benefit cancer patients receiving chemotherapy (Thatte and Dahanukar, 1988). Root constituents may be found, as were those in Chinese asparagus, A. cochinchinensis, to inhibit SA (Boik, 1995) and mouse S-180 leukemia cells (Huang, 1993). In other studies, Indian shatavari root was found to reduce gastric emptying time comparably to metoclopramide (Dalvi et al., 1990), an effect that may relieve heartburn. Animal studies show that shatavari increases macrophage activity and prevents intraperitoneal adhesions in laboratory animals, an effect that may prevent postoperative intraperitoneal adhesions (Rege et al., 1989).
Description
Asparagus root consists of the rhizome of Asparagus officinalis L. [Fam. Liliaceae], as well as its preparations in effective dosage. The rhizome contains saponins.
Chemistry and Pharmacology
The main constituents include inulin, asparagusic acid, and eight fructo-oligosaccharides (Leung and Foster, 1996). The two glycosidic bitter principles, officinalisnin-I and officinalisnin-II, are isolated from the dried root and yield b-sitosterol, sarsasapogenin, and nine steroidal glycosides (named asparagosides A to I, in order of increasing polarity) (Leung and Foster, 1996). Other constituents include asparagine, tyrosine, succinic acid, arginine, a-aminodimethyl-g-butyrothetin (a methylsulfonium derivative of methionine), fat, and sugar (Stecher, 1968). The roots are thought to possess diuretic and hypotensive properties, and to enhance the renal elimination of water (Bruneton, 1995; Leung and Foster, 1996). The Commission E reported a diuretic effect in animals.
Uses
The Commission E approved the use of asparagus root in irrigation therapy for inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract and for prevention of kidney stones. Traditionally, the root has been used as diuretic, laxative, and to treat neuritis and rheumatism (Leung and Foster, 1996).
Contraindications
Inflammatory kidney diseases. Note: No irrigation therapy if edema exists because of functional heart or kidney disorders.
Side Effects
In rare cases, allergic skin reactions.
Use During Pregnancy and Lactation
No restrictions known.
Interactions with Other Drugs
None known.
Dosage and Administration
Unless otherwise prescribed: 45-60 g per day of cut rhizome. Infusion: 45-60 g of cut herb in 150 ml water. Fluidextract 1:1 (g/ml): 45-60 ml. Tincture 1:5 (g/ml): 225-300 ml.
References
Boik, J. 1995. Cancer and Natural Medicine: A Textbook of Basic Science and Clinical Research. Princeton, Minnesota: Oregon Medical Press. Bruneton, J. 1995. Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants. Paris: Lavoisier Publishing. Dalvi, S.S., P.M. Nadkarni, K.C. Gupta. 1990. Effect of Asparagus racemosus (Shatavari) on gastric emptying time in normal healthy volunteers. J Postgrad Med 36(2):91-94. Hamilton, E.M.N. and E.N. Whitney. 1982. Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies, 2nd ed. New York: West Publishing. Huang, K.C. 1993. The Pharmacology of Chinese Herbs. Boca Raton: CRC Press. Lad, V. and D. Frawley. 1986. The Yoga of Herbs. Sante Fe, N.M.: Lotus Press. Leung, A.Y. and S. Foster. 1996. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics, 2nd ed. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Mitchell, S.C., R.H. Waring, D. Land, W.V. Thorpe. 1987. Odorous urine following Asparagus ingestion in man. Experientia 43(4):382-383. Mitsuoka, T., H. Hidaka, T. Eida. 1987. Effect of fructo-oligosaccharides on intestinal microflora. Nahrung 31(56):427-436. Rege, N.N. et al. 1989. Immunotherapeutic modulation of intraperitoneal adhesions by Asparagus racemosus. J Postgrad Med 35(4):199-203. Shao, Y. et al. 1996. Anti-tumor activity of the crude saponins obtained from asparagus. Cancer Lett 104(1):31-36. Stecher, P.G. (ed.). 1968. The Merck Index: An Encyclopedia of Chemicals and Drugs, 8th ed. Rahway, N.J.: Merck & Co., Inc. Stephens, J.M. 1994. AsparagusAsparagusofficinalis L. Fact Sheet HS-546, Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extention Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Thatte, U.M. and S.A. Dahanukar. 1988. Comparative study of immunomodulating activity of Indian medicinal plants, lithium carbonate and glucan. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol 10(10):639-644. Wren, R.C. 1988. Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations. Essex: The C.W. Daniel Company Ltd.
Additional Resources
Jiangsu Institute of Modern Medicine. 1977. Zhong Yao Da Ci Dian (Encyclopedia of Chinese Materia Medica), Vols. 13. Shanghai: Shanghai Scientific and Technical Publications. This material was adapted from The Complete German Commission E Monographs—Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. M. Blumenthal, W.R. Busse, A. Goldberg, J. Gruenwald, T. Hall, C.W. Riggins, R.S. Rister (eds.) S. Klein and R.S. Rister (trans.). 1998. Austin: American Botanical Council; Boston: Integrative Medicine Communications.
1) The Overview section is new information. 2) Description, Chemistry and Pharmacology, Uses, Contraindications, Side Effects, Interactions with Other Drugs, and Dosage sections have been drawn from the original work. Additional information has been added in some or all of these sections, as noted with references. 3) The dosage for equivalent preparations (tea infusion, fluidextract, and tincture) have been provided based on the following example: - Unless otherwise prescribed: 2 g per day of [powdered, crushed, cut or whole] [plant part]
- Infusion: 2 g in 150 ml of water
- Fluidextract 1:1 (g/ml): 2 ml
- Tincture 1:5 (g/ml): 10 ml
4) The References and Additional Resources sections are new sections. Additional Resources are not cited in the monograph but are included for research purposes. This monograph, published by the Commission E in 1994, was modified based on new scientific research. It contains more extensive pharmacological and therapeutic information taken directly from the Commission E.
Excerpt from Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs
Copyright 2000 American Botanical Council
Published by Integrative Medicine Communications
Available from the American Botanical Council.
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