ESTABLISHMENT OF QUALITY PARAMETERS TO DETECT SUBSTITUTION OF SHATAVARI BY SAFED MUSALI

摘要

Objectives: Shatavari (tuberous roots of Asparagus racemosus, family Liliaceae) is traditionally used as diuretic, tonic, antidiabetic, in gout, female genitourinary tract disorders, as styptic, anti-ulcer, intestinal disinfectant and astringent in diarrhea, nervine tonic, in sexual debility for spermatogenesis, lactic disorders, haemat uria, bleeding disorders and hyperacidity. Safed Musali (tuberous roots of Chlorophytum arundinaceum, family Liliaceae) is also used traditionally, though only as tonic and aphrodisiac, thereby making it a drug of limited use c ompared to Shatavari. However, the market samples of Shatavari are often substituted by Safed Musali, though only Shatavari is official in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Also, there is a risk of hormonal imbalance in geriatric and female patients consuming Shatavari if is substituted by Safed Musali. This makes a comparative study of the roots of both these species necessary. Methods: A detailed study of Shatavari and Safed Musali roots has been performed here, including morphological study, qualitative and quantitative microscopic evaluation, phytochemical screening and Thin-layer Chromatography (TLC) studies. Results: Morphologically, the two roots show significant differences. Shatavari roots are cylindrical, thicker, almost straight, creamish-white to pale brown in color whereas Safed Musali roots are curved and tapering at both ends, thinner, creamish-white to yellowish-white in color. Microscopically, absence of collenchymatous cortex and absence of lignified endodermis distinguishes Safed Musali from Shatavari. Powder of both Shatavari and Safed Musali show the presence of almost similar characters. However, quantitative microscopy can be useful in distinguishing the powder of the two species. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of saponin glycosides, carbohydrates, mucilage and steroids and triterpenoids in both species. The TLC of both roots is most crucial as the alcoholic extract of Safed Musali reveals the presence of a yellowish spot at Rf0.35 upon plate development using the mobile phase n-Butanol : Acetic acid : Water (4:1:5) and spraying with 5% Methanol-Sulfuric acid reagent. Such a spot is absent in the TLC of alcoholic extract of Shatavari roots developed using the same system. Conclusion: The present work can serve as a very useful phytopharmacognostical tool in the standardization of the raw material and prepared formulations of Shatavari and detection of its substitution by Safed Musali. This study can prove to be very useful for herbal industries, traditional healers and for the general public who consume Shatavari