Shatavari
Shatavari suppliers and sourcing guide
Shatavari is Asparagus racemosus, a climbing asparagus native to India and the Himalayas, and the ingredient trade is built on its tuberous roots. Roots are harvested, peeled, dried and milled to a powder, or extracted with water or water-ethanol and dried. Extracts are usually standardized to total saponins by gravimetric or UV method, or to shatavarin IV by HPLC, and the two kinds of figures are not comparable.
- Category
- Botanicals and mushrooms
- Also known as
- Asparagus racemosus · shatamuli · Indian asparagus · shatavari root extract
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of shatavari
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Root powder
Dried, milled root sold by mesh size, without standardization.
Saponin-standardized extract
Water or hydroalcoholic root extract sold with a minimum total saponin percentage, often 20% to 50%, by gravimetric or UV method.
Shatavarin-standardized extract
Extract with a declared shatavarin IV content by HPLC, a more specific marker than total saponins.
Organic
Root powder or extract from certified organic sources, with the certificate tied to the lot.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Identity (HPTLC)
- Fingerprint against a reference standard to confirm Asparagus racemosus root.
- Saponin or shatavarin assay
- Total saponins by gravimetric or UV method, or shatavarin IV by HPLC, with the method named on the COA.
- Heavy metals
- Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury by ICP-MS, checked against the buyer's limits and any Prop 65 exposure targets.
- Microbiology
- Total plate count, yeast and mold, coliforms or E. coli, and Salmonella. Raw powders carry more microbial load than extracts and are often steam treated.
- Pesticide residues
- Multi-residue screen by GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS, required for organic material and commonly requested for conventional lots.
- Physical tests
- Loss on drying, mesh size, bulk density and any carrier.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Keep powders and extracts sealed in lined fiber drums or foil bags in a cool, dry place away from light. Dry extracts are hygroscopic and cake once exposed to humid air, so reseal opened containers promptly. Shelf life or a retest date comes from the supplier's specification, and the marker assay is usually repeated at retest.
Lots and expiry dates
Saponin levels and metals vary with origin and whether the root is wild or cultivated, so record origin, method and result for each lot. Root powders are prone to moisture pickup, so check loss on drying on older stock.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Asparagus racemosus (POL-NF-00162) concerns only the roots and lists them as not novel in food supplements.
Source: ec.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists Asparagus racemosus, with the common names shatamuli and shatavari, as an approved herbal name.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Shatavari suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking shatavari suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell shatavari? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of shatavari can brands buy?
Common forms include root powder, saponin-standardized extract, shatavarin-standardized extract and organic. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for shatavari include?
Expect identity (HPTLC), saponin or shatavarin assay, heavy metals, microbiology, pesticide residues and physical tests, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should shatavari be stored?
Keep powders and extracts sealed in lined fiber drums or foil bags in a cool, dry place away from light. Dry extracts are hygroscopic and cake once exposed to humid air, so reseal opened containers promptly. Shelf life or a retest date comes from the supplier's specification, and the marker assay is usually repeated at retest.
What is the regulatory status of shatavari?
The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Asparagus racemosus (POL-NF-00162) concerns only the roots and lists them as not novel in food supplements. Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists Asparagus racemosus, with the common names shatamuli and shatavari, as an approved herbal name.
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