Therapeutic Potential of Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) for Psychological Stress-mediated Women's Reproductive Health Disorders

In the contemporary era, large competition, limited resources and negative life events trigger generation of stress markers in women. Psychological stress modulates neuroendocrine network and lifestyle behaviors that generate oxidative stress (OS). The OS and excess level of cortisol induce various cell death pathways in the brain as well as ovary. Down regulation of hypothalmo-pituitary-gonadal axis, increased cortisol as well as OS negatively impacts ovarian functions by affecting follicular somatic cell functions, estradiol-β biosynthesis and oocyte quality. The impairment of ovarian function initiates the onset of several diseases including premature ovarian insufficiency, polycystic ovarian syndrome, anovulation and generates a salient threat to women’s ovary. To address these important health issues, search continues to find out a novel herbal medicine with a potential to mitigate psychological stress-mediated generation of OS and related various reproductive health disorders in women. Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) with anti-stress, anti-anxiety, anti-depression, antioxidant properties have immense therapeutic potential as a new generation phytopharmaceutical drug for the management of psychological stress-mediated various women’s fertility issues. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanism(s) of psychological stress-mediated various reproductive disorders and therapeutic potential of various bioactive ingredients of Shatavari remains poorly understood. Therefore, this review focuses on the damage mechanism(s) of psychological stress and explores the therapeutic potential of bioactive ingredients of Shatavari as herbal medicine to improve women’s reproductive health.