Asparagus racemosus Willd.

Systematic Classification:

Division   : Angiospermae 
Class      : Monocotyledons
Order      : Asparagales
Family     : Asparagaceae
Genus      : Asparagus
Species    : racemosus

Common Name:

Satawar, Satamuli, Satavari.

General Information:

Asparagus racemosus (satavar, shatavari, or shatamull, shatawari) is a species of asparagus common throughout India and the Himalayas. It grows 1–2 m (3 ft 3 in–6 ft 7 in) tall and prefers to take root in gravelly, rocky soils high up in piedmont plains, at 1,300–1,400 m (4,300–4,600 ft) elevation. It was botanically described in 1799. Because of its multiple uses, the demand for Asparagus racemosus is constantly on the rise. Because of destructive harvesting, combined with habitat destruction, and deforestation, the plant is now considered “endangered” in its natural habitat.Shatavari has small pine-needle-like phylloclades (photosynthetic branches) that are uniform and shiny green. In July, it produces minute, white flowers on short, spiky stems, and in September it fruits, producing blackish-purple, globular berries. It has an adventitious root system with tuberous roots that measure about one metre in length, tapering at both ends, with roughly a hundred on each plant.

Economic Importance:

• Shatavari is the most important herb in Ayurvedic medicine for dealing with problems connected women’s fertility..
• The rhizome is a soothing tonic that acts mainly on the circulatory, digestive, respiratory and female reproductive organs.
• The root is alterative, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, demulcent, diuretic, galactagogue and refrigerant.
• It is taken internally in the treatment of infertility, loss of libido, threatened miscarriage, menopausal problems, hyperacidity, stomach ulcers and bronchial infections.
• Externally it is used to treat stiffness in the joints.
• The root is used fresh in the treatment of dysentery. It is harvested in the autumn and dried for use in treating other complaints.