Literature analysis on asparagus roots and review of its functional characterizations

Yaodong Guo; Zhe Liu; Yingjie Wan; Yanyan Zhang; Hassan Idris Abdu; Meng Yang; Jinjin Pei; Tianli Yue; Xianbin Zhang; Ahmet Hacimuftuoglu; A M Abd El-Aty

doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.1024190

Literature analysis on asparagus roots and review of its functional characterizations

Front Nutr. 2023 Apr 17:9:1024190. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1024190. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Yaodong Guo^#¹, Zhe Liu^#², Yingjie Wan², Yanyan Zhang², Hassan Idris Abdu^{1

2}, Meng Yang³, Jinjin Pei², Tianli Yue⁴, Xianbin Zhang⁵, Ahmet Hacimuftuoglu⁶, A M Abd El-Aty^{6

7

8}

Affiliations

¹ College of Health Management, Shangluo University, Shangluo, Shaanxi, China.
² Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Bioresources, 2011 QinLing-Bashan Mountains Bioresources Comprehensive Development C. I. C., Qinba State Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Ecological Environment, College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong, Shaanxi, China.
³ College of Society and Science, Tibet Cultural University, Xianyang, China.
⁴ College of Food Science and Technology, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
⁵ Department of General Surgery, Institute of Precision Diagnosis, Treatment of Digestive System Tumors, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
⁶ Department of Medical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Türkiye.
⁷ State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, China.
⁸ Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Asparagus root (AR) is utilized globally as a traditional herbal medicine because it contains various bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, saponins, and minerals. The composition profiles of AR are strongly affected by its botanical and geographical origins. Although minerals and heavy metals are minor constituents of AR, they play a crucial role in determining its quality and efficacy. A comprehensive classification of AR, its phytochemistry, and its pharmacology were reviewed and interpreted herein. Potentially eligible articles (in English) were identified through an electronic search of the Web of Science database (2010-2022) and Google (2001-2022). We used the primary search term "Asparagus roots" combined with the words "pharmacology," "bioactive compounds," "physicochemical properties," and "health benefits" to find the relevant literature. We screened the titles, keywords, and abstracts of the publications obtained from the database. A full copy of the article was obtained for further assessment if deemed appropriate. Different asparagus species might potentially be used as herbal medicines and functional foods. Phytochemical studies have revealed the presence of various bioactive compounds as valuable secondary metabolites. The dominant class of bioactive compounds in AR is flavonoids. Furthermore, AR displayed significant pharmacological effects, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic effects, as shown in animal and human studies. This review provides a valuable resource to enable a thorough assessment of the profile of Asparagus root as a functional ingredient for the pharmaceutical and food industries. In addition, it is anticipated that this review will provide information to healthcare professionals seeking alternative sources of critical bioactive compounds.

Keywords: asparagus roots; bioactive compounds; health benefits; pharmacology; physicochemical properties.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

This study was funded by the Special Support Plan for High-Level Talents in Shaanxi Province (for JP) and the Foreign Expert Project of the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Key Research and Development Program of Shaanxi Province, China (2020NY-111).