Asparagus africanus, also known as African asparagus, bush asparagus, wild asparagus, climbing asparagus fern, ornamental asparagus and sparrow grass, is an African species of plant that is found in a variety of habitats. It has multiple medicinal properties and is used to treat various ailments.
| African asparagus | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Asparagoideae |
| Genus: | Asparagus |
| Species: | A. africanus
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| Binomial name | |
| Asparagus africanus | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Description edit
Asparagus africanus is a spiny shrub up to 1 m (3.3 ft) tall or a climbing plant with stems up to 3 m (9.8 ft) long.[2] Stems of up to 5 m (16 ft) long have also been recorded.[3] These plants have a rhizomatous root system, from which they can reshoot.[2][3] Multiple stems grow from a central crown.[3] Bunches of cladodes (modified branchlets) occur at the leaf scales. Each ends in a sharp point.[2][4] These look fern-like, giving rise to one of this species' common names (climbing asparagus fern).[3]
The plant produces white flowers, which, like the leaves, grow in clusters.[2] They have three sepals and three petals, which are similar in appearance. The six white filaments have yellow anthers.[4] Flowers are present between August and December.[2] The colour and the scent of these flowers attract insects, which pollinate the flowers.[4]
Plants produce round fruits. These are red when ripe and shrivel to reveal a single black seed.[3] These fruits may also be eaten by mammals and birds, aiding in dispersal.[4] Fruits may be present at any time of the year, assuming that conditions are suitable.[4] These berries contain toxic compounds, such as furostanol and may cause pain and vomiting.
Distribution and habitat edit
Asparagus africanus is a widely distributed species. It is found across most of Africa, as well as the Arabian Peninsula and India.[5] It grows in a variety of habitats, ranging from rainforests to grasslands to semi-deserts.[4] The plant can grow rapidly. In its climbing state it can quickly come to dominate the canopy, outcompeting other species.[3] It has also become naturalised in parts of Australia after being introduced as an ornamental plant.[6]
Conservation edit
The population is considered to be stable and the species is listed as being of least concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI).[7]
This species is considered to be a problematic weed in Queensland.[6] For example, it is considered to threaten ecosystem functioning in the Boondall Wetlands Reserve.[3] It is listed as a category 3 restricted matter under the 2014 Biosecurity Act, meaning that it can not be gifted, sold or released without a permit in an attempt to reduce its spread.[8] As such, eradication programs are being established to remove it across its range in Australia.[6][3]
Uses edit
The new shoots are harvested and eaten as a vegetable. They are seen as being a good source of fiber and various vitamins. The roots are also boiled and eaten. The fruit are mainly only eaten during times of famine.[4]
The stems and underground components of the plants are used to treat a wide variety of conditions in a variety of cultures.[4] Research has found that they improve the functioning of the immune system in laboratory animals, providing insight as to why this plant is so widely utilised.[9] It is, for example, seen as a valuable medicinal plant by people living in Ethiopia.[10] The Zay people of Ethiopia use the cladodes on their skin to treat skin lesions. They also feed equines the roots and cladodes to treat geregelcha, a disease in which mucous continuously comes out of the nose of the animal.[11] The root tubers mixed with milk are used after birth to help expel the afterbirth.[4] It is also used as a form of birth control by rural women in Uganda.[12] In South Africa, it is used to treat headaches, STIs, stomach aches, sore throats and malaria, amongst other conditions.[13]
Compounds found in the roots have been found to be an effective anti-parasitic and anti-protozoan, including against Plasmodium falciparum, the most deadly form of malaria in humans.[14][15] Methanolic extracts from the roots have also been found to have pain relief and anti-inflammatory properties.[16]
References edit
- ^ "Asparagus africanus". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Manning, John; Goldblatt, Peter (2012). Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region : 1: the core Cape flora (PDF). Pretoria: South African National Biodiversity Institute, SANBI. ISBN 978-1-919976-74-7. OCLC 852384288.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Office of Environment and Heritage (2013). Asparagus weeds Management Manual: Current management and control options for asparagus weeds Asparagus spp. in Australia (PDF). Sydney: Office of Environment and Heritage.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Mei, Nomama (2017). "Asparagus africanus". PlantZAfrica. Retrieved 2022-09-03.
- ^ "Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. 2022. Retrieved 2022-09-03.
- ^ a b c D., Armstrong, T.R. Breaden, R.C. Hinchliffe (2006). The control of climbing asparagus (Asparagus africanus Lam.) in remnant Brigalow scrub in south-east Queensland. OCLC 1130295968.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ von Staden, L. (2012). "Asparagus africanus Lam". Threatened Species Programme | SANBI Red List of South African Plants. Retrieved 2022-09-03.
- ^ "View - Queensland Legislation - Queensland Government". www.legislation.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 2022-09-03.
- ^ Aduol, Oduor Michael; Ogila, O. Kenneth (2012). "Enhancement of the Nonspecific Immune System by Extracts of Asparagus africanus and Caesalpinia volkensii". Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences. 2 (3).
- ^ Lulekal, Ermias; Kelbessa, Ensermu; Bekele, Tamrat; Yineger, Haile (2008-04-28). "An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Mana Angetu District, southeastern Ethiopia". Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 4 (1): 10. doi:10.1186/1746-4269-4-10. ISSN 1746-4269. PMC 2391147. PMID 18442379.
- ^ Giday, Mirutse; Asfaw, Zemede; Elmqvist, Thomas; Woldu, Zerihun (2003-03-01). "An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by the Zay people in Ethiopia". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 85 (1): 43–52. doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(02)00359-8. ISSN 0378-8741. PMID 12576201.
- ^ Okello, Okidi Oscar P.; David, Nkwangu; Oloro, Joseph (2019). "Anti-fertility activity of aqueous root bark extracts of Asparagus africanus Lam and Annona senegalensis Pers combination on female Sprague Dawley rats".
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ HerausgeberIn., Rao, Venketeshwer (2020). Phytochemicals in Human Health. IntechOpen. ISBN 978-1-78985-588-3. OCLC 1286308878.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Kebede, Sintayehu; Afework, Mekbeb; Debella, Asfaw; Ergete, Wondwossen; Makonnen, Eyasu (2016-01-27). "Toxicological study of the butanol fractionated root extract of Asparagus africanus Lam., on some blood parameter and histopathology of liver and kidney in mice". BMC Research Notes. 9 (1): 49. doi:10.1186/s13104-016-1861-5. ISSN 1756-0500. PMC 4730733. PMID 26817697.
- ^ Oketch-Rabah, H. A.; Dossaji, S. F.; Christensen, S. Brøgger; Frydenvang, Karla; Lemmich, Else; Cornett, Claus; Olsen, Carl E.; Chen, Ming; Kharazmi, Arsalan; Theander, Thor (1997-10-01). "Antiprotozoal Compounds from Asparagus africanus". Journal of Natural Products. 60 (10): 1017–1022. doi:10.1021/np970217f. ISSN 0163-3864. PMID 9358645.
- ^ Hassan, Hs; Ahmadu, Aa; Hassan, As (2008-10-16). "Analgesic And Anti-Inflammatory Activities Of Asparagus africanus Root Extract". African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines. 5 (1): 27–31. doi:10.4314/ajtcam.v5i1.31252. ISSN 0189-6016. PMC 2816601. PMID 20162051.