Chromatographic separation of saponin glycosides from roots of Asparagus racemosus (Wild.) using a modified approach

Asparagus racemosus (Wild.) (Family: Liliaceae) is extensively used as lactogenic, and the presence of saponin glycosides was found to be responsible for the biological activity. The studies were performed to isolate saponin glycosides from bioactive n-butanol fraction of methanolic extract prepared from Asparagus racemosus; through a combined application of alumina-based vacuum column chromatography and silica gel-based open column chromatography. The process yielded two steroidal saponins, and the comparative spectral studies of the purified saponins revealed them to be shatavarin-IV and asparanin-A. This modified and comparatively simple approach for the separation of shatavarin-IV and asparanin-A from the roots of Asparagus racemosus is the first report on the isolation of asparanin-A from Asparagus racemosus using the conventional column chromatography method. The isolated compounds may serve as standards for ensuring the quality of raw materials.