Chinese Asparagus By Herbalist & Alchemist Overview & Drug Interactions

Asparagus officinalis, commonly known as asparagus, is a perennial plant native to central and southern Europe, the Middle East, western Siberia, and northern Africa. It grows to heights of 30-150 cm and is widely cultivated as a vegetable. Asparagus has been part of the human diet for over 2000 years and possibly much longer. Its shoots or "spears," rhizome, root, and juice are used for food and medicine. Asparagus is a good source of fiber, folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin B6, as well as minerals like copper, iron, zinc, manganese, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and phosphorous. It contains flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acids, oligosaccharides, amino acids, carotenoids, sulfur compounds, steroidal saponins, sterols, and fructans. After ingestion, asparagus produces a distinctive odor in urine due to volatile organic components like asparagusic acid. Asparagus extracts have shown various effects in studies, including anti-allergy, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant, cholesterol-lowering, diuretic, hepatic, hypotensive, immunostimulatory, and weight-modifying effects. However, some of its constituents, particularly saponins, can irritate mucous membranes and be cytotoxic.