Phytochemical Evaluation and Allelopathic Activity of Asparagus racemosus Willd. Plant Oleoresin

Abstract

Asparagus racemosus Willd. (family Asparagaceae), widely recognised as Shatavari, is a medicinally significant species with an extensive history of application in Ayurvedic therapeutics. The present investigation seeks to characterise and comparatively assess the chemical constituents and allelopathic potential of oleoresins derived from the roots (ARRO) and leaves (ARLO) of this plant. The oleoresins were obtained by cold percolation using methanol and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of sixty-nine compounds were identified, contributing to 80.42% and 81.22% of the total peak area in ARRO and ARLO, respectively. Phytol (13.33%) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (13.16%) were the major constituents. Allelopathic activity was assessed against radish (Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus) seeds at concentrations ranging from 250–1000 µL/mL. Radish was selected as a model plant because it is standard bioindicator species for allelopathic studies due to its rapid germination, uniform growth, and high sensitivity to phytotoxins. Both oleoresins exhibited significant inhibition of seed germination, root length, and shoot length in a dose-dependent manner, with IC50 values determined for each parameter. The findings demonstrate that A. racemosus oleoresins possess promising allelopathic properties, indicating their potential as natural herbicide alternatives for plant protection applications.