Asparagus: A Perennial vegetable

Among the world 300 species of asparagus, Asparagus officinalis L. [1] is the widely domesticated and mostly preferred species as a vegetable, salads, and soups [2]. The use of asparagus for table purposes in our kitchen is more common but within that table about its benefits, we are more uncommon. Today I will discuss some of the benefits of asparagus from nutritional to medicinal point of view and also in the agricultural system.

Nutritional and medicinal importance

Asparagus contains a number of important nutrient content. Though we all are common about energy, carbohydrate, vitamins, and proteins we are uncommon about folates [3].

Yes, folates! These are present in high amounts in asparagus and are well known for their ability to increase the clotting of blood and increase the number of platelets [4]. Asparagine is the principal element extracted from asparagus. The intake of asparagus does also aids in fulfilling the daily recommended intake of calories.

All we might know about ethnomedicinal practices, it deals with the use of medicinal plants by ethnic communities from ancestors to ancestors for curing of diseases. Ethnomedicinal study done in Nepal and india reported that asparagus has been used from years to years for curing of diseases like warm relief [5], Hypertension, Diabetes mellitus[6], increase lactation in womens [7], tuberculosis, measles, diarrhea, epilepsy, liver problems, diuretic, and antispas- modic in the Himalayas [8]–[10]. Asparagus falcatus is used as antifungal [10].

All we are well known to nematodes and among nematodes rootknot nematode is the one which is detrimental for soil as well as for crops. Rootknot nematode are host specific and attacks respective crop and starts its life cycle there and continues its generation.

Negative result has been observed in asparagus cultivated area for multiplication and growth of nematodes and nowadays being used as a potential plant botanicals in crop and soil improvement [11], [12]

Hope this material to be helpful and happy newyear 2077 B.S. from Nepal to all members of Tunza Eco-Generation.

Green Cheers!!!

Thank you

Sandesh Thapa

References

[1]        anonymous, “The Plant List,” 2012. [Online]. Available: http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/search?q=asparagus+officinalis. [Accessed: 13-Apr-2020].

[2]        F. L. Anido and E. Cointry, Vegetables II, no. January 2008. 2008.

[3]        USDA Nutrient database, “FoodData Central,” united states department of agriculture, 2019. [Online]. Available: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/168389/nutrients. [Accessed: 12-Apr-2020].

[4]        J. Kobus-Cisowska et al., “Composition of polyphenols of asparagus spears (Asparagus officinalis) and their antioxidant potential. Composition of polyphenols of asparagus spears (Asparagus officinalis) and their antioxidant potential A composição dos polifenóis das espargos (Aspara,” Cienc. Rural, vol. 49, no. 4, pp. 1–8, 2019.

[5]        K. P. Acharya and M. B. Rokaya, “Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal Plants Traded in the Streets of Kathmandu Valley,” Sci. World, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 44–48, 2005.

[6]        M. Adhikari, R. Thapa, R. M. Kunwar, H. P. Devkota, and P. Poudel, “Ethnomedicinal Uses of Plant Resources in the Machhapuchchhre Rural Municipality of Kaski District, Nepal,” Medicines, vol. 6, no. 2, p. 69, 2019.

[7]        K. R. Bhattarai and M. K. Khadka, “Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants from Ilam District, East Nepal,” Our Nat., vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 78–91, 2017.

[8]        R. M. Kunwar, C. L. Chowdhary, and R. W. Bussmann, “Diversity, utilization and management of medicinal plants in Baitadi and Darchula Districts, Far West Nepal,” 2008.

[9]        R. M. Kunwar, L. Mahat, R. P. Acharya, and R. W. Bussmann, “Medicinal plants, traditional medicine, markets and management in far-west Nepal,” J. Ethnobiol. Ethnomed., vol. 9, no. 1, Apr. 2013.

[10]      R. W. Bussmann, K. Batsatsashvili, and Z. Kikvidze, “Asparagus persicus Baker Asparagus sp .,” in Ethnobotany of Mountain regions, 1994, pp. 1–6.

[11]      S. M. Vinodhini et al., “Effect of Plant Extracts on Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne incognita Infecting Tomato,” Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci, vol. 8, no. 6, pp. 373–378, 2019.

[12]      S. N. Murga-Gutierrez, M. Colagiero, L. C. Rosso, M. M. F. Sialer, and A. Ciancio, “Root-knot nematodes from asparagus and associated biological antagonists in peru,” Nematropica, vol. 42, no. 1, pp. 57–62, 2012.