Shatavari - a famous Ayurveda materia medica used mainly as a tonic for women - is distributed in health food products all over the world. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India identifies the botanical origin of shatavari as the tuberous root of Asparagus racemosus. We recently investigated by DNA analysis the botanical origin of shatavari products on the Japanese market. The results suggested that their botanical origin was Asparagus; however, species identification was difficult. In this study, we analyzed steroidal saponins, including those specific to this plant, in these products and confirmed their origin as A. Racemosus.

Antioxidants help prevent free-radical cell damage. They also battle oxidative stress, which causes disease. Shatavari is high in saponins. Saponins are compounds with antioxidant abilities. Shatavari is used in ayurveda as an immunity booster. Animals treated with shatavari root extract had increased antibodies to a strain of whooping cough when compared to untreated animals. The treated animals recovered faster and had improved health overall. This suggested an improved immune response.