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Immunomodulatory active steroidal saponins from Asparagus racemosus

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Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgments

Authors are grateful to Dr. P. S. Ahuja, Director of the Institute, for providing the necessary facilities. Mr. Upendra Sharma is thankful to CSIR for granting Senior Research fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Natural Plant Products Division, CSIR—Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, 176 061, Himachal Pradesh, India

    Upendra Sharma, Neeraj Kumar & Bikram Singh

  2. Department of Clinical Pharmacology, TN Medical College & BYL Nair Hospital, Mumbai Central, Mumbai, 400 008, India

    Renuka K. Munshi & Supriya Bhalerao

Authors
  1. Upendra Sharma
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  2. Neeraj Kumar
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  3. Bikram Singh
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  4. Renuka K. Munshi
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  5. Supriya Bhalerao
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bikram Singh.

Additional information

IHBT Communication No. 2269.

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Sharma, U., Kumar, N., Singh, B. et al. Immunomodulatory active steroidal saponins from Asparagus racemosus . Med Chem Res 22, 573–579 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00044-012-0048-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00044-012-0048-4

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