Shatavari: Plant Profile, Traditional Use, and Modern Research
The 30-second answer
Shatavari is the dried root of Asparagus racemosus, a climbing perennial plant in the Asparagaceae family – the same family as the asparagus you eat, but a different species. It has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for over 2,000 years, traditionally in formulations for women’s health across life stages. Modern research has investigated its phytochemistry and explored a range of physiological endpoints, though the human clinical evidence base is smaller than for ashwagandha or brahmi. As a food supplement in the UK, it is regulated under food law, not as a medicine.
Key facts
- Plant family: Asparagaceae (asparagus family)
- Parts used: dried roots (tuberous, finger-like)
- Active compounds: shatavarins (steroidal saponins), polysaccharides, isoflavones, sarsasapogenin
- Sanskrit meaning: “she who possesses 100” (referring to traditional reproductive associations)
- Traditional context: Rasayana, Stri Rasayana (women’s rejuvenative)
- Doses studied: 250mg–1.5g standardised root extract daily, 4–12 weeks
- Should not use: hormone-sensitive conditions, asparagus allergy, oestrogen-modulating medication without GP guidance
What is shatavari?
Shatavari is the root of Asparagus racemosus, a climbing perennial plant native to India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and parts of the Himalayas. The plant has small white flowers and reddish berries, and grows up to two metres tall, often climbing over neighbouring shrubs. Its most distinctive feature, however, is below ground: a cluster of finger-like tuberous roots that grow in radial bundles around the base of the plant, sometimes numbering 100 or more on a single mature specimen.
The Sanskrit name shatavari translates literally as “she who possesses one hundred” – a reference both to the dense root cluster and, in classical interpretation, to traditional associations with reproductive vitality. The plant has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for over 2,000 years and is one of the most prominent herbs in the Stri Rasayana (women’s rejuvenative) category.
The dried tuberous roots are the medicinal part.
Which parts of the plant are used?
The tuberous roots are the only medicinal part. They are harvested from mature plants (typically two to three years old), peeled, dried, and either ground into powder or extracted into standardised forms. The roots are pale white to pale yellow when dried, with a faintly sweet, slightly mucilaginous taste – traditional Ayurvedic preparations often combine them with milk or ghee to draw out the mucilaginous quality.
The leaves, stems, and berries are not used medicinally. The plant is not the same species as edible asparagus (Asparagus officinalis), although they are botanical cousins.
Did you know?
The genus name Asparagus comes from a Greek root meaning “sprout.” Edible green asparagus and shatavari belong to the same botanical family but are different species – so eating asparagus does not provide the active compounds found in shatavari.
Active compounds
Shatavari’s primary active compounds are the shatavarins – a group of steroidal saponins found in the roots. Shatavarin IV is the most studied of these, alongside shatavarins I, II, V, VI, VII, and VIII. The roots also contain sarsasapogenin and other steroidal sapogenins, polysaccharides that contribute to the herb’s mucilaginous quality, isoflavones (compounds with a similar structure to oestrogen, sometimes described as phytoestrogens), and a range of vitamins and minerals.
Modern standardised extracts are typically characterised by their saponin content, expressed as a percentage of total shatavarins. Most clinical research uses extracts standardised to between 5% and 20% saponins.
2,000+
Years of documented use
8
Identified shatavarin saponins
100s
Tuberous roots per mature plant
A brief history of shatavari
Shatavari’s journey through Ayurvedic medical history is closely tied to women’s health traditions, though its applications were always broader than that single category.
c. 600 BCE – 600 CE
Classical Ayurvedic period
Shatavari is described in the Charaka Samhita and the Sushruta Samhita, the foundational Ayurvedic texts. Charaka classified it among Rasayana herbs and as a key ingredient in formulations for women’s health and post-illness recovery. The Sushruta Samhita described both internal and topical uses.
c. 600 – 1700 CE
Medieval Ayurvedic period
The 16th-century Bhavaprakasha described shatavari in granular detail, listing dozens of formulations combining it with milk, ghee, honey, and other herbs. It was a standard ingredient in classical women’s health preparations and in general Rasayana formulations.
1700s – 1947
Colonial era
British colonial botanists catalogued Asparagus racemosus in flora records, including in Sir George Watt’s Dictionary of the Economic Products of India (1889–1893), which noted its widespread traditional use. As with most Ayurvedic herbs, however, it received little Western pharmacological attention.
1950s – 1990s
Chemistry and early research
The shatavarins were isolated and structurally characterised through the 1960s, 70s, and 80s by Indian chemists. Animal studies investigated effects on lactation, immune function, and gastrointestinal contexts, building the foundation for human research.
2000s – present
Modern revival
Comprehensive reviews – including Bopana and Saxena’s 2007 paper in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology and Singh’s 2016 review in Pharmacognosy Reviews – pulled together the available pharmacological and clinical evidence. Shatavari has become an established ingredient in Western Ayurvedic supplement ranges, particularly those marketed to women’s health audiences.
Traditional Ayurvedic context
In classical Ayurveda, shatavari is described as sweet, bitter, cooling, and unctuous. It primarily balances pitta and vata doshas. Classical texts placed it within the Rasayana (rejuvenative) and Stri Rasayana (women’s rejuvenative) categories, alongside its broader applications.
Shatavari is described as cooling, nourishing, and supportive of the natural processes of life.
— traditional Ayurvedic categorisation, derived from Bhavaprakasha
Traditional Ayurvedic descriptions of shatavari’s role include use as a Stri Rasayana (women’s rejuvenative), inclusion in formulations associated with reproductive health across life stages, use in classical preparations for digestive comfort, traditional pairings with milk, ghee, and honey for absorption and palatability, and use as a daily rasayana tonic. These descriptions reflect classical Ayurvedic categorisation and historical use; they do not constitute claims about the effects of any modern food supplement.
Modern research
Shatavari’s clinical evidence base is smaller than that of ashwagandha or brahmi. Most published research is in vitro or animal-based, with a smaller number of human trials of varying design quality. The studies described below are reported here as published research; the descriptions are not statements about the effects of any r‑veda product.
| Topic | Study | Participants | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lactation markers | Sharma 2011 | 60 | 30 days |
| Menopausal symptoms | Pandey 2018 | 117 | 12 weeks |
| Phytochemistry / pharmacology | Onlom 2014 | In vitro | – |
| Comprehensive review | Singh 2016 | Multiple trials | – |
| Comprehensive review | Bopana & Saxena 2007 | Pharmacology | – |
| Gastric mucosa (animal) | Bhatnagar 2005 | Animal model | – |
| Immunomodulation (in vitro) | Sharma 2014 | In vitro | – |
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See full study details
Lactation-related research
Sharma et al. (2011, Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research) studied 60 lactating mothers given shatavari root powder over 30 days, measuring prolactin levels and infant weight gain. The study reported changes in measured endpoints in the treatment group compared to placebo. Sample size was small and replication has been limited; this remains an under-investigated area in the human literature.
Menopausal-symptom research
Pandey et al. (2018, Journal of Mid-Life Health) studied 117 perimenopausal women given a polyherbal Ayurvedic formulation containing shatavari over 12 weeks, with menopausal symptom scores as primary endpoint. Because the formulation contained multiple herbs, attribution of effects specifically to shatavari is limited.
Phytochemical and pharmacological research
Onlom et al. (2014, Phytochemical Analysis) characterised the binding of shatavarins to oestrogen receptors in laboratory studies, providing mechanistic context for the herb’s phytoestrogenic classification. Bhatnagar et al. (2005) examined gastric mucosal effects in animal models. Sharma et al. (2014) studied immunomodulatory activity in cell-based assays.
Reviews
Bopana and Saxena (2007, Journal of Ethnopharmacology) and Singh (2016, Pharmacognosy Reviews) provide the most comprehensive published syntheses of shatavari pharmacology and the available clinical evidence to date.
How to read this evidence base
Shatavari’s human trial base is smaller than ashwagandha’s or brahmi’s, and many of the published clinical studies use polyherbal formulations rather than shatavari alone, which limits attribution of measured effects. The strongest body of work is phytochemical and animal-pharmacological. Larger, longer, single-herb human trials – particularly in Western populations – would significantly clarify what is currently a traditional-evidence-led picture.
Forms and preparations
Shatavari has historically been consumed in several forms.
- Churna–dried root powder, traditionally taken with milk, ghee, or honey
- Decoction (kashayam)–root simmered in water or milk
- Shatavari ghrita–root infused into clarified butter, used in classical preparations
- Tincture–alcoholic extract
- Capsule–standardised root extract; the most dose-accurate option for daily use
Doses used in clinical research range from 250mg of standardised extract to 1.5g of dried root powder per day, taken with food, over study periods of 4 to 12 weeks. These figures describe what has been studied in research – they are not dietary recommendations.
Suitability and cautions
Shatavari’s phytoestrogenic profile means caution is warranted in several groups:
- People with hormone-sensitive conditions (including hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids) should consult a GP before use.
- People taking hormone replacement therapy, oral contraceptives, or other oestrogen-modulating medication should consult a GP before use.
- People with a known asparagus allergy should avoid shatavari.
- People with diuretic-sensitive conditions or taking diuretic medication should consult a GP before use.
- Pregnancy: shatavari has a long traditional history of use during pregnancy in Ayurveda; the modern Western evidence base on safety in pregnancy is limited. Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner before use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
As with any food supplement, stop use and consult a healthcare professional if you experience any adverse effects.
