Indigenous knowledge of Ethnic community on usage of Satavari (Asparagus racemosus Willd) and its preliminary screening

Abstract

Satavari (Asparagus racemosus) is a herb of medicinal importance found in Indian subcontinent and traditionally used by ethnic community to treat multiple ailments. It has roughly a hundred tuberous roots with tapering at both ends which are mainly used in indigenous medicine. Satavari was identified as flagship species for conservation of medicinal plants in Mayurjharna forest of Paschim Medinipur district. The traditional usage of Satavari roots were captured through interaction with the local tribes. The roots were collected from the wild and a preliminary phytochemical analysis was conducted in methanolic, aqueous and alchoholic extraction by following standard methodology. The local tribes reported that the most common use of roots were to treat blood dysentery and bloody urine. They also use the leaves to treat night blindness and rhizomes to treat piles. The other use of Satavari includes the address of general pain, stomach pain, waist pain, leucorrhea and constipation as reported by the local Santhal, Munda and Lodha community. The preliminary phytochemical screening reveals that the roots of Satavari contains glycosides as responded in methanolic extraction, carbohydrate in both methanolic and aqueous extraction, steroids and triterpenoids in all methanolic, aqueous and alchoholic extraction. Satavari is overexploited for its high medicinal properties by the local and surrounding community, which needed adoption of scientific harvesting and sustainable conservation needs to be promoted by controlling illegal harvesting.