Pharmacognostical and physicochemical analysis of Asparagus adscendens Buch. Ham. ex Roxb. (Shweta musali)

Asparagus adscendens is a sub-erect, prickly medicinal plant used as aphrodisiac, antifilarial and against abdominal troubles in Indian System of Medicine. The pharmacognostic parameters were studied for identification of species through macro and microscopical, physicochemical, phytochemical, biochemical analysis and HPTLC fingerprinting. The plant is characterized by sub-erect struggling habit, 30-100 cm long roots and presence of sclerenchymatous fibres outside endodermis, presence of single parenchymatous layered pericycle inside the endodermis, tracheids having thin pointed ends and completely or partially lignified wide pith are important markers for anatomical identification. Tuberous root powder showed 2% of total ash, maximum extractive value 41.25% in ethanol. Powder is also characterized by presence of acicular raphides and raphide bundles. Saponins, flavonoids and glycosides are the main active phytoconstituents present in root and HPTLC fingerprint shows 11 bands in methanolic extract. The study reveals some diagnostic indices for identification of genuine ‘safed musli’.