Waleria announces results of in silico research that show potential mechanisms behind shatavari root extracts
Waleria says that computer models show that shatavarins in shatavari bind with female hormonal receptors.
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Waleria continues to study the impact of its shatavari root extract, called aspurus, on women’s health. At this year’s SupplySide West, the company announced the results of an in silico studies on sharavarins, the main phytoactive contituents of shatavari, on different female hormone receptors. According Komal Baldwa, founder and CEO of Waleria, the research, which has not yet been published, “primarily found that hormonal biomarkers are binding with the shatavarins and we see that a deeper study could be conducted to see how it is helping to balance the hormones.”
The varying degrees of binding affinities of shatavarins for different female hormonal receptors may be a potential mechanism for the reduction of menopause symptoms related to altered estrogen levels. A previous study found that aspurus was able to significantly improve symptoms of menopause and quality of life in women with menopause. Baldwa also stated that the company was in the process of publishing a review of all the available research conducted on shatavari for women’s health from 1967 to 2004. This will provide a more complete picture of what we know about the ingredient’s benefits as they relate to women’s health so that we can understand the gaps and conduct further research.
That said, ingredients vary in their composition. For example, aspurus is standardized to 5% sharavarins, the only one of its kind on the market, says Baldwa. Shatavarins are a type of steroidal saponin that are the primary bioactives in shatavari. Standardizing the amount of this constituent is meant to enhance the ingredient’s efficacy.
Further science will not only grow our understanding of this traditional Ayurvedic herb, but also help differentiate preparations of the herb. Baldwa explains that when the word shatavari is translated from Sanskrit, it means “curer of 100 diseases.” Therefore, traditionally speaking the herb has a wealth of potential benefits that clinical research may help elucidate.
