Immunomodulatory active steroidal saponins from Asparagus racemosus

Asparagus racemosus is used in the Indian traditional system of medicine for improving the general state of health and stress-related immune disorders. Most of the synthetic chemotherapeutic agents available today are immunosuppressants and exert variety of side effects. To overcome these undesired effects of chemotherapeutic agents, botanical-based immunomodulators are often employed as adjuvant therapy. In the present study, immunomodulatory activity of two steroidal saponins shatavaroside A (1) and shatavaroside B (2), isolated from Asparagus racemosus, have been evaluated using polymorphonuclear leucocyte function test. The activity was further confirmed using more sensitive assays such as nitroblue tetrazolium, nitrous oxide, and chemiluminescence assays. Both steroidal saponins were found active at nano concentration (5 ng/ml) and can act as potent immunostimulants.