The present study is aimed at the development and evaluation of pharmacognostical and physicochemical characteristics in Asparagus species found in Nepal. Of the 300 species of Asparagus found worldwide, Nepal harbors 7 species so far viz. Asparagus lycopodineas, Asparagus adscendens, Asparagus curillus, Asparagus filicinus (var. brevipes & var. filicinus,), Asparagus penicillatus H. Hara (Endemic species from Dolpa), Asparagus racemosus (var. racemosus, & var. subacerosus), and Asparagus tibeticus . One of the species, Asparagus racemosus (Asparagaceae) commonly known as Shatavari, is an important medicinal plant used against various disorders in indigenous and Ayurveda system of medicine. Commonly it is used as a galactogogue, antioxidant, antidiarrheal agent, aphrodisiac, and also used in treatment of menopause and immune system modulator. There are very few reports on microscopic evaluation, standardization parameters and chemo profile of other species of Nepal rather than Asparagus racemosus, to check the identity and purity of the drug . The present work exemplifies the studies carried out for quality control of drugs as per WHO guidelines which includes macro- and microscopical features, physicochemical parameters like loss on drying, foreign matter, extractive value, ash value and preliminary phytochemical screening along with thin layer chromatography to assess their rf values for the quality assurance of the drug. Thus, this study was to explore the drug potentialities of other species of Asparagus and to provide referential information for the correct identification of the crude drug on the basis of these standardization parameters.
