Asparagus side effects and benefits

What are the health
benefits of Asparagus?

In the past, asparagus racemosus (Shatavari) was popularly used to
prevent and treat inflammation, dyspepsia nervous disorders, gastric
ulcers, liver diseases and certain infectious conditions. Recently,
beneficial effects of alcoholic and water extracts of the root of
asparagus racemosus have been demonstrated in some clinical
trials. There are more than 300 species of Asparagus and Asparagus
officinalis is the most popular species in vegetable consumption.
Asparagus contains steroidal saponins and sapogenins. [1]

What are the side effects of Asparagus?

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) has been reported to cause
allergy. A 55-year-old German cook presented with seasonal (always
in May) recurrent dyshidrosiform hand. May is the month in which
asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is most commonly served in the
meals. After consuming asparagus, this cook also developed
dyspnea and dysphagia. Diagnostic allergy testing revealed positive
reactions against asparagus in prick-to-prick and epicutaneous patch
tests. [2] In another case, a 53-year-old farm worker presented with a
3-year history of an occupational allergic contact dermatitis to
asparagus. Systemic corticosteroids were found to be effective to
clear the dermatitis. The allergen was believed to be a plant growth
inhibitor, 1,2,3-Trithiane-5-carboxylic acid, which is present in young
shoots. [4]

What does asparagus have?

Asparagus officinalis fruit contains rich carotenoid pigments. And,
they are capsanthin, capsorubin, capsanthin 5,6-epoxide,
antheraxanthin, violaxanthin, neoxanthin, mutatoxanthin epimers,
zeaxanthin, lutein, beta-cryptoxanthin, beta-carotene, and some cis
isomers were found. [6] While, researchers found glucomannan at
cell-wall of its seeds [10]. Glucomannan is believed to help prevent
cholesterol absorption.

A Fresh asparagus contains various elements such as calcium (Ca),
magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na) potassium (K) and phosphorus (P). [9]
Asparagus also contains chromium and nickel. The chromium content
showed a variable distribution throughout the white asparagus
portions. While the nickel content decreases as the spear portions
are further and further away from the apical area or tip of the white
asparagus. [8]

ASPARAGUS BENEFITS

Anti-oxidant Activities

Boiling asparagus spears for 60 min caused overall flavonol losses of
43.9%. While, chopping of tissues did not considerably influence the
antioxidant capacity, but boiling did provoke notable changes. [3]

Anti-cancer Activities

Two oligofurostanosides were found from the seeds of Asparagus
officinalis L to be able to inhibit the growth of human leukemia HL-60
cells in culture and macromolecular synthesis in a dose-dependent
manner. The inhibitory effect on DNA synthesis was found to be
irreversible. [7]

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REFERENCES [1] Oketch-Rabah HA. Phytochemical Constituents of the Genus Asparagus
and their biological activities. Hamdard 1998;41:33-43. [2] Rieker J et al, Type I and type IV
sensitization to Asparagus officinalis Hautarzt. 2004 Apr;55(4):397-8. [3] Makris DP et al,
Domestic processing of onion bulbs (Allium cepa) and asparagus spears (Asparagus
officinalis): effect on flavonol content and antioxidant status. J Agric Food Chem. 2001
Jul;49(7):3216-22. [4] Rademaker M et al, Contact dermatitis to Asparagus officinalis.
Australas J Dermatol. 2000 Nov;41(4):262-3. [6] Deli J et al, Carotenoid composition in the
fruits of Asparagus officinalis. J Agric Food Chem. 2000 Jul;48(7):2793-6. [7] Shao Y et al,
Steroidal saponins from Asparagus officinalis and their cytotoxic activity. Planta Med. 1997
Jun;63(3):258-62. [8] Amaro-Lopez MA et al, Study of chromium and nickel content in white
asparagus (Asparagus officinalis, L.). Nahrung. 1997 Apr;41(2):114-7. [9] Lopez MA et al,
Mineral content modifications during ripening of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis, L.). Plant
Foods Hum Nutr. 1996 Jan;49(1):13-26. [10]. Goldberg R Structural features of the cell-wall
polysaccharides of Asparagus officinalis seeds. Carbohydr Res. 1991 Mar 20;210:263-76.
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