Written by Tabish Mehraj, PhD, Science Writer. In this study Shatavari extract significantly improved menopausal symptoms, including emotional, social, and physical well-being, compared to placebo. Women taking Shatavari showed notable reductions in anxiety, depression, stress, and vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats. Sleep quality also improved, with better duration and fewer disturbances. Hormonal analysis indicated increased estradiol and progesterone levels, suggesting support for hormonal balance during menopause.

Menopause is a significant change that occurs in all women, characterized by the halt of the reproductive phase and various other symptoms such as night sweats, anxiety, depression, and irritability. Therefore, women prefer taking certain options such as Ayurveda, which can benefit them with fewer side effects such as nausea, headache, bloating etc, while as the pharmaceutical options such as hormone replacement therapy override the natural regulatory mechanisms in the body creating a sudden change in hormone levels. Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) is an effective plant source known for its benefits for women’s health since ancient times. This study, conducted by Vani S. Gudise and colleagues, evaluated whether Shatavari (Asparagus racemose) could safely and effectively reduce menopausal symptoms in women.

This study was an eight-week double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial. 70 pre- and postmenopausal women aged 40–65 years participated and were randomly assigned to a treatment group and a placebo group, with 35 women in each. The treatment group received 250 mg capsules of standardized Shatavari root extract (Aspurūs™) twice daily, while the placebo group received microcrystalline cellulose capsules. Several validated tools were employed in this study to assess menopausal symptoms and quality of life, including the Utian Quality of Life (UQoL). Secondary outcomes included changes in depression, anxiety, and stress using the DASS-21 scale (Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale), the quality of sleep assessment through the Regensburg Insomnia Scale (RIS), menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats using Likert scales, hormone levels (estradiol and progesterone), and treatment satisfaction.

Key Findings/ Results

• Shatavari extract significantly improved menopausal symptoms, especially emotional, social, and physical well-being, compared to a placebo.

• Women taking Shatavari showed major reductions in depression, anxiety, and stress scores, with anxiety reduced by more than half from baseline. The treatment group demonstrated a 35.13% increase in total UQoL scores by day 60.

• Sleep quality improved notably, including better sleep duration, fewer disturbances, and less daytime dysfunction.

• Vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats decreased substantially in the treatment group compared to the placebo.

• Hormonal analysis showed increased estradiol and progesterone levels, suggesting Shatavari may help restore hormonal balance during menopause.

One of the strengths of the study was its herbal preparation which uses a standardized extract (containing specific percentages of saponins and flavonoids) which could reduce variability caused by differences in plant sources, age or processing. No serious adverse effects were reported; only mild adverse effects, such as bloating, dizziness, and nausea, were observed. Vital signs remained stable throughout the trial, suggesting that the formulation was generally well-tolerated. The study has several strengths. Firstly, its randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design strengthens the reliability of the findings and minimizes bias. Secondly, the use of several validated assessment scales improved the scientific rigor of symptom evaluation. Thirdly, the inclusivity of both pre- and postmenopausal women broadened the applicability of the findings compared to earlier studies that focused mainly on postmenopausal women. Finally, the study provided modern clinical evidence supporting the traditional Ayurvedic use of Shatavari for women’s reproductive and hormonal health.

However, the study also had important limitations. The sample size was relatively small, involving only 70 participants, which limits the generalizability of the results. The study duration was short at only eight weeks, so long-term effectiveness and safety remain unclear. Participants came from a limited geographic and ethnic group in India, reducing diversity. Variability in symptom severity and fluctuating hormone levels among participants may also have affected results. Additionally, although improvements in hormone levels were reported, the exact biological mechanisms through which Shatavari acts remain uncertain. The authors recommended larger, longer, multicenter studies with more diverse populations to confirm these findings and better understand the herb’s mechanism of action.

Overall, the study concluded that standardized Shatavari root extract may be a safe and effective complementary therapy for managing menopausal symptoms, especially hot flashes, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and reduced quality of life. Shatavari contains steroidal saponins and is considered as an adaptogen in Ayurveda that act like mild estrogens. It influences and relieves the nervous system thereby also having a significant impact on sleep and overall quality of life.

Click here to read the full text study.

Posted May 22, 2026.

Dr. Tabish Mehraj is a pharmaceutical scientist with expertise in pharmaceutics, drug delivery, and formulation development. She earned her PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Mississippi, where her research focused on the formulation, optimization, and characterization of lipid-based nanocarriers for targeted liver delivery of antimalarial therapeutics. Dr. Mehraj has also served as an ORISE Fellow at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where she evaluated the effects of formulation and process design on the quality and performance of intravaginal drug delivery systems and developed bio-relevant in vitro drug release testing methods. She has teaching experience in pharmaceutical and life sciences courses and has authored peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and conference presentations. Dr. Mehraj is an active member of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists and has been recognized by honor societies including Rho Chi and Gamma Beta Phi.

References:

1. Gudise, V. S., Dasari, M. P., & Kuricheti, S. S. K. (2024). Efficacy and safety of shatavari root extract for the management of menopausal symptoms: a double-blind, multicenter, randomized controlled trial. Cureus, 16(4).