€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL***** Lison M Blondheim SH Melmed RN A polymorphism of the ability to smell urinary metabolites of asparagus. In: Br Med J (1980 Dec 20-27) 281(6256):1676-8 ISSN: 0007-1447 The urinary excretion of (an) odorous substance(s) after eating asparagus is not an inborn error of metabolism as has been supposed. The detection of the odour constitutes a specific smell hypersensitivity. Those who could smell the odour in their own urine could all smell it in the urine of anyone who had eaten asparagus, whether or not that person was able to smell it himself. Thresholds for detecting the odour appeared to be bimodal in distribution, with 10% of 307 subjects tested able to smell it at high dilutions, suggesting a genetically determined specific hypersensitivity. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY***** White RH Occurrence of S-methyl thioesters in urines of humans after they have eaten asparagus. In: Science (1975 Sep 5) 189(4205):810-11 ISSN: 0036-8075 Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to determine the odor- causing agent (or agents) present in the urines of humans after they have eaten asparagus. S-Methyl thioacrylate and S-methyl 3- (methylthio)thiopropionate were identified from methylene chloride extracts of such urines and appear to be the odor-causing compounds. Methanethiol, the previously reported odor-causing agent, was not detected in these methylene chloride extracts. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****CANCER LETTERS***** Shao Y Chin CK Ho CT Ma W Garrison SA Huang MT Anti-tumor activity of the crude saponins obtained from asparagus. In: Cancer Lett (1996 Jun 24) 104(1):31-6 ISSN: 0304-3835 The crude saponins from the shoots (edible part of asparagus) of asparagus (asparagus crude saponins; ACS) were found to have antitumor activity. The ACS inhibited the growth of human leukemia HL- 60 cells in culture and macromolecular synthesis in a dose and time dependent manner. The ACS at 75-100 micrograms/ml range was cytostatic. ACS concentrations greater than 200 micrograms/ml were cytocidal to HL-60 cells. The ACS at 6 and 50 micrograms/ml inhibited the synthesis of DNA, RNA and protein in HL-60 cells by 41, 5, and 4, respectively, or by 84, 68 and 59%, respectively. The inhibitory effect of ACS on DNA synthesis was irreversible. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ **CHUNG-KUO CHUNG YAO TSA CHIH CHINA JOURNAL OF CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA* Ye MR Li R Liao HF Liao XZ Huang GY [Pharmacological study on Asparagus officinalis Linn.] In: Chung Kuo Chung Yao Tsa Chih (1994 Apr) 19(4):240-2, inside backcover ISSN: 1001-5302 (Published in Chinese) Our experiment shows that Asparagus officinalis can increase the clearance rate of charcoal particles and the weight of immune organs in mice, and thus helps to facilitate their antifatigue, anoxia tolerance, analgesia and memory improvement, as well as decrease the contents of lipid peroxide (LPO) in plasma, liver and brain of the animal. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****EXPERIENTIA***** Mitchell SC Waring RH Land D Thorpe WV Odorous urine following asparagus ingestion in man. In: Experientia (1987 Apr 15) 43(4):382-3 ISSN: 0014-4754 The production of odorous urine after the ingestion of asparagus has been shown to occur in 43% of 800 volunteers investigated. This characteristic is reproducible over a 12-month-period and has been shown to remain with individuals for virtually a lifetime. Family studies suggest that the ability to produce the odorous urine is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****INDIAN PEDIATRICS***** Sharma S Ramji S Kumari S Bapna JS Randomized controlled trial of Asparagus racemosus (Shatavari) as a lactogogue in lactational inadequacy. In: Indian Pediatr (1996 Aug) 33(8):675-7 ISSN: 0019-6061 [No Abstract Available] Registry Numbers: 9002-62-4 (Prolactin) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****JOURNAL OF POSTGRADUATE MEDICINE***** Dalvi SS Nadkarni PM Gupta KC Effect of Asparagus racemosus (Shatavari) on gastric emptying time in normal healthy volunteers. In: J Postgrad Med (1990 Apr) 36(2):91-4 ISSN: 0022-3859 Asparagus racemosus (Shatavari) is used in Ayurveda for dyspepsia (amlapitta) and as a galactogogue. It was hence compared with a modern drug, metoclopramide, which is used in dyspepsia to reduce gastric emptying time. Gastric emptying half- time (GE t1/2) was studied in 8 healthy male volunteers using a cross-over design. The basal GE t1/2 in volunteers was 159.9 +/- 45.9 min (mean +/- SD) which was reduced to 101 +/- 40.8 min by Shatavari (p less than 0.001) and to 85.3 +/- 21.9 by metoclopramide (p less than 0.001). Metoclopramide and Shatavari did not differ significantly in their effects. Registry Numbers: 364-62-5 (Metoclopramide) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Rege NN Nazareth HM Isaac A Karandikar SM Dahanukar SA Immunotherapeutic modulation of intraperitoneal adhesions by Asparagus racemosus. In: J Postgrad Med (1989 Oct) 35(4):199-203 ISSN: 0022-3859 The hypothesis that macrophages appear to play a pivotal role in the development of intraperitoneal adhesions and that modulation of macrophage activity, therefore, is likely to provide a tool for prevention of adhesions, was tested in the present study. Effect of Asparagus racemosus, an indigenous agent with immunostimulant properties, was evaluated in an animal model of intraperitoneal adhesions induced by caecal rubbing. Animals were sacrificed 15 days following surgery. The peritoneal macrophages were collected to assess their activity. At the same time, peritoneal cavity was examined for the presence of adhesions, which were graded. A significant decrease was observed in the adhesion scores attained by animals receiving Asparagus racemosus. This was associated with significant increase in the activity of macrophages (70.1 +/- 2.52), compared to that in surgical controls (53.77 +/- 10.8). These findings support our hypothesis and provide a novel approach for the prevention and management of post-operative adhesions. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****METHODS AND FINDINGS IN EXPERIMENTAL AND CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY***** Thatte UM Dahanukar SA Comparative study of immunomodulating activity of Indian medicinal plants, lithium carbonate and glucan. In: Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol (1988 Oct) 10(10):639-44 ISSN: 0379-0355 The protective effects of Asparagus racemosus (AR) and Tinospora cordifolia (TC) against myelosuppression induced by single doses of cyclophosphamide (CP) have been previously reported. Presented here are the results of a comparative study between AR, TC, glucan and lithium carbonate against the myelosuppressive effects of single and multiple doses of cyclophosphamide in mice. Cyclophosphamide was administered as a single dose 200 mg/kg subcutaneously to one group of mice, while a second group received 3 doses of 30 mg/kg intraperitoneally. Both groups received AR, TC and lithium orally for 15 days before CP. Glucan was administered intravenously in 3 doses, before cyclophosphamide in the first group and together with cyclophosphamide in the second group. In both groups peripheral and differential WBC counts were done before and after drug treatment and serially after cyclophosphamide injection. All four drugs produced leucocytosis with neutrophilia. When compared to control group, all 4 drugs prevented, to varying degrees, leucopenia produced by cyclophosphamide. We conclude, therefore, that both indigenous plants, AR and TC, are potent immunostimulants, with effects comparable to lithium and glucan. They need further evaluation in patients receiving cytotoxic drugs. Registry Numbers: 7439-93-2 (Lithium) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY***** Hall B Bona C Victor-Kobrin C Binding specificities of inulin-binding immunoglobulins for sinistrin and oligosaccharides isolated from asparagus roots. In: Mol Immunol (1990 Apr) 27(4):351-61 ISSN: 0161-5890 The major aim of this study was to further investigate the fine specificity of myeloma proteins recognizing epitopes on fructans. Our studies showed that UPC 61, EPC 109, and a hybrid antibody composed of the heavy chain from UPC 61 and the light chain from EPC 109, UPC 61H:EPC 109L, not only bind to inulin which is a linear fructan of beta (2----1) fructofuranosyl linkages, but also bind to sinistrin, a branched molecule consisting of a beta (2----1) fructofuranosyl backbone with beta (2----6) branch points. The fine binding specificity of these three antibodies for the beta (2----1) fructofuranosyl linkages found in inulin-BSA can be further studied by their binding to fructan oligosaccharides isolated from asparagus roots. From a comparative analysis of the amino acid sequences and the apparent affinity constants (aKa) of UPC 61, EPC 109, and the hybrid for various fructan oligosaccharides, it appears that the light chain of the immunoglobulin molecule makes an important contribution to the binding specificity. Finally we report for the first time that a monoclonal antibody specific for beta (2----6) fructans can also bind specifically to inulin-BSA with a lower affinity. This antibody derives its VH and VL from the VHX24 and Vk10b gene families, respectively, which are different from the gene families utilized by UPC 61 and EPC 109 (VHJ606 and Vk11 gene families). Registry Numbers: 37311-25-4 (sinistrin) 9005-80-5 (Inulin) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****Monograph***** Beecher C Potential chemopreventive compounds in the diet. In: Chemoprevention of Cancer. Nixon DW, ed. Boca Raton, FL, CRC Press, 1994. (1994):21-62 ISBN: 0-8493-6850-2 This chapter collates a broad body of experimental evidence supporting consistent epidemiologic evidence of a connection between high vegetable consumption and reduced cancer incidence. It does not cover the epidemiologic evidence itself, neither does it review whole animal studies, fiber, and minerals, nor focus on specific classes of chemical compounds. The chapter is notable for the extensive and useful listings to be found in the tables of bioassays for potential chemopreventives, and of food plants and compounds reported active in such assays. Topics in the chapter are relevant biological activities, including the steps in cancer etiology, and an analysis attempting to correlate the 20 pages of tabulated information. The analysis emphasizes necessary provisos such as that isolation of an active agent from a plant does not mean that it is the sole or most active component in the extract, the problems in assays of complex mixtures such as foodstuffs, and the limitations of the available data. Plants discussed are onion, garlic, asparagus, Brassica (cabbage family) vegetables, radishes, carrots, celery, tomatoes, potatoes, cucumber, pumpkin, squash, lettuce, corn, oats, wheat, green and wax beans, peas, strawberries, morning glory family, beets, and spinach. (77 References) (See also CANCERLIT data base accession number ICDB/96618253.) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****NAHRUNG***** Mitsuoka T Hidaka H Eida T Effect of fructo-oligosaccharides on intestinal microflora. In: Nahrung (1987) 31(5-6):427-36 ISSN: 0027-769X Fructo-oligosaccharides are widely distributed in plants such as onions, asparagus, wheat etc., and obtained from sucrose by the action of fructosyltransferase. They are not hydrolyzed by human digestive enzymes, but are utilized by intestinal bacteria such as bifidobacteria. Bacteroides fragilis group, peptostreptococci and klebsiellae. In the experiment with 23 patients (73 +/- 9 years old), improvement of fecal microflora was observed by oral administration of fructo-oligosaccharides 8 g per day for two weeks: the population of bifidobacteria in feces increased about 10 times compared before the administration; average pH of stool showed 0.3 lower than that before administration. Registry Numbers: 30237-26-4 (Fructose) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****PHYTOCHEMISTRY***** Sharma SC Thakur NK Oligofurostanosides and oligospirostanosides from roots of Asparagus filicinus. In: Phytochemistry (1996 Feb) 41(2):599-603 ISSN: 0031-9422 The ethanolic extract roots of Asparagus filicinus contains a complex mixture of steroidal saponins, from which two oligospirostanosides (Filicinins A and B) and two oligofurostanosides (Filicinosides C and D) were characterized. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Sharma SC Thakur NK Furostanosides from Asparagus filicinus roots. In: Phytochemistry (1994 May) 36(2):469-71 ISSN: 0031-9422 Two furostanosides have been isolated from an ethanolic extract of the roots of Asparagus filicinus and identified as 3-O-beta-D- glucopyranosyl-26-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-22-alpha-methoxy-(2 5S), 5 beta-furostan-3 beta, 26-diol (filicinoside-A) and 3-O-beta-D- glucopyranosyl-26-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-25S), 5 beta-furostan-3 beta, 22 alpha, 26-triol (filicinoside-B). Registry Numbers: 156857-59-9 (filicinoside A) 156857-60-2 (filicinoside B) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Sharma SC Sharma HC Oligofurostanosides from Asparagus curillus leaves. In: Phytochemistry (1993 Jun) 33(3):683-6 ISSN: 0031-9422 The methanol extracted leaves of Asparagus curillus furnished two oligospirostanosides (curillins G and H) and two oligofurostanosides (curillosides G and H) which were characterized as 3-O-[beta-D- glucopyranosyl(1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-(25S)-5 beta- spirostan- 3 beta-ol; 3-O-[(alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2))(-beta-D- glucopyranosyl(1--> 4))-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-(25S)-5 beta, spirostan-,3 beta-ol; 3-O-[(alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)) (beta-D- glucopyranosyl(1-->4))-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-26-O-[beta-D- glucopyranosyl]-22 alpha-methoxy-(25S)-5 beta-furostan-3 beta,26-diol and 3-O-[(alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2))-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-- >4))- beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-26-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-(25S)-5 beta-furostan-3 beta,22 alpha,26-triol, respectively. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****XENOBIOTICA***** Waring RH Mitchell SC Fenwick GR The chemical nature of the urinary odour produced by man after asparagus ingestion. In: Xenobiotica (1987 Nov) 17(11):1363-71 ISSN: 0049-8254 1. The pungent urinary odour produced by certain individuals within a few hours of eating asparagus has been shown to be due to a combination of up to six sulphur-containing alkyl compounds identified as methanethiol, dimethyl sulphide, dimethyl disulphide, bis-(methylthio)methane, dimethyl sulphoxide and dimethyl sulphone. 2. The possible roles of S-methylmethionine and asparagusic acid as precursors of these odorous substances are discussed in relation to the known chemistry of the vegetable. Registry Numbers: 7704-34-9 (Sulfur) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****YAO HSUEH HSUEH PAO [ACTA PHARMACEUTICA SINICA]***** Ding Y Yang CR [Steroidal saponins from Asparagus filicinus] In: Yao Hsueh Hsueh Pao (1990) 25(7):509-14 ISSN: 0513-4870 (Published in Chinese) Three new steroidal saponins, aspafilioside A, B and C together with a known saponin 22-methoxy ASP-IV and beta-ecdysone were isolated from the root of Asparagus filicinus Buch.-Ham. (Chinese name as xiao- bai-bu), a folk medicine of the minorities in Yunnan Province, China, used for the treatment of bronchitis, pneumonitis and cough. Their structures were established as sarsasapogenin-3-O-beta-D-xy lopyranosyl (1----4)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (I), sarsasapogenin-3-O- beta-D-xylopyranosyl (1----4) [alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl (1----6)]- beta-D-glucopyranoside (II) and (25S)-5 beta-furost-3 beta, 22, 26- triol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl (1----4) [alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl(1--- -6)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside-26-O-bet a-D- glucopyranoside (III) by spectral and chemical methods. Registry Numbers: 131123-73-4 (aspafilioside B) 131123-74-5 (aspafilioside C) 72947-73-0 (aspafilioside A) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€