Chromatographic separation of saponin glycosides from roots of Asparagus racemosus (Wild.) using a modified approach

Abstract

AbstractAsparagus racemosus (Wild.) (Family: Liliaceae) is extensively used as lactogenic, and the presence of saponin glycosides was found to be responsible for the biological activity. The studies were performed to isolate saponin glycosides from bioactive n‐butanol fraction of methanolic extract prepared from Asparagus racemosus; through a combined application of alumina‐based vacuum column chromatography and silica gel‐based open column chromatography. The process yielded two steroidal saponins, and the comparative spectral studies of the purified saponins revealed them to be shatavarin‐IV and asparanin‐A. This modified and comparatively simple approach for the separation of shatavarin‐IV and asparanin‐A from the roots of Asparagus racemosus is the first report on the isolation of asparanin‐A from Asparagus racemosus using the conventional column chromatography method. The isolated compounds may serve as standards for ensuring the quality of raw materials.