Asparagus adscendens (Shweta musali) stimulates insulin secretion, insulin
action and inhibits starch digestion.

Mathews JN, Flatt PR, Abdel/​Wahab YH.

School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, UK.

Diabetes mellitus is a complex metabolic disease characterised by glucose
overproduction and under/​utilisation. As the incidence of diabetes expands
rapidly across the globe there is an urgent need to expand the range of
effective treatments. Higher plants such as Asparagus adscendens provide
therapeutic opportunities and a rich source of potential antidiabetic agents. In
the present study an aqueous extract of Asparagus adscendens was shown to induce
a significant non/​toxic 19/​248 % increase in glucose/​dependent insulinotropic
actions (P < 0.001) in the clonal pancreatic beta cell line, BRIN/​BD11. In
addition, the extract produced an 81 % (P < 0.0001) increase in glucose uptake
in 3T3/​L1 adipocytes. Asparagus adscendens also produced a 21 % (P < 0.001)
decrease in starch digestion in vitro. The present study has revealed the
presence of insulinotropic, insulin/​enhancing activity and inhibitory effects on
starch digestion in Asparagus adscendens. The former actions are dependent on
the active principle(s) in the plant being absorbed intact. Future work
assessing its use as a dietary adjunct or as a source of active components may
provide new opportunities for the treatment of diabetes.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16512944 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

2: Microbios. 2000;102(403):165/​73.

Antifungal potential of some higher plants against Fusarium udum causing wilt
disease of Cajanus cajan.

Singh R, Rai B.

Soil Microbiology and Ecopathology Laboratory, Centre of Advanced Study in
Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.

The fungitoxic effects of different plant extracts on Fusarium udum, which
causes wilt disease of Cajanus cajan in vitro and in vivo, were examined. The
complete arrest of the radial growth of the pathogen occurred at a 10%
concentration of leaf extract from Adenocallyma alliaceum. A leaf extract of
Citrus medica, a root extract of Asparagus adscendens, rhizome extracts of
Curcuma longa and Zingiber officinale, and a bulb extract of Allium sativum
inhibited up to 100% growth at higher concentrations. A. alliaceum controlled
the disease up to 100% by amending its 4% powder in unsterilized soil and 2% in
sterilized soil. The population of F. udum was found to be markedly reduced
following treatments with plant powders.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 10955831 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

3: Indian J Exp Biol. 1997 Feb;35(2):168/​72.

Potential antifilarial activity of roots of Asparagus adscendens Roxb, against
Setaria cervi in vitro.

Singh R, Khan NU, Singhal KC.

Department of Pharmacology, J N Medical College, Aligarh, India.

Effect of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of the roots of A. adscendens was
studied on the spontaneous movements of whole worm and nerve muscle (n.m.)
preparation of S. cervi and on the survival of microfilariae in vitro. Aqueous
as well alcoholic extracts caused inhibition of spontaneous motility of whole
worm and n.m. preparation of S. cervi characterized by initial, short lasting
small increase in amplitude and tone of contractions followed by paralysis. The
initial stimulatory effect was not observed by aqueous extract on n.m.
preparation. The concentration required to inhibit the movements of n.m.
preparation was 1/4th for aqueous and 1/3rd for alcoholic extract suggesting a
cuticular permeability barrier. The effect of acetylcholine on n.m. preparation
was concentration related being more with a concentration of 5 micrograms/ml as
compared to 1 microgram/ml. Both alcoholic as well as aqueous extracts caused
death of microfilariae in vitro, LC50 and LC90 being 8 and 16 ng/ml for aqueous,
3 and 12 ng/ml for alcoholic extracts respectively.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 9315227 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]