Dubbed “Queen of Herbs,” shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) has a long history in Ayurveda for supporting hormonal balance, reproductive health, lactation, menopause support and overall well-being, Kartikeya Baldwa, CEO of Ixoreal Biomed Inc., told NutraIngredients.
“Yet, despite these quintessential benefits for women, Shatavari has been largely overlooked in the global nutraceutical space,” he said. “For us, it is the right herb at the right moment: rooted in heritage, but with huge relevance for today’s consumers.”
Ixoreal’s SRI-81 Shatavari will officially launch at the upcoming SupplySide Global 2025 in Las Vegas, and the U.S. market will be one of the primary entry points given its scale, openness to innovation and readiness to embrace an Ayurvedic ingredient, Baldwa said. But this is very much a global launch.
“Our vision is to establish SRI-81 Shatavari as the gold-standard Shatavari extract across the world,” he said. “Just like KSM-66, our approach is to build a strong foundation of science, quality, sustainability and credibility that resonates worldwide. Long term, Shatavari has the potential to play the same role in women’s wellness that ashwagandha now plays in stress and vitality, something that belongs in every household, everywhere.”
Building the KSM-66 brand taught the company that the keys to taking an Ayurvedic herb and make it part of everyday life for people around the world were targeted investments in science, quality and storytelling.
“With SRI-81, we’re following the same playbook [as KSM-66]: vertical integration, clinical research, sustainability, transparency and education,” Baldwa said. “But it’s also about the bigger lesson, we learned that when you respect the tradition and deliver real science, you don’t just launch a product, you help create a category. That’s exactly what we hope to do with SRI-81 Shatavari.”
Ayurvedic traditional use
Shatavari is reported to contain phytoestrogens, compounds known for their weak estrogen-like effects. Previous studies have found that shatavarins, key phyto-actives in shatavari, may interact with estrogen receptors.
According to a 2024 paper in Bioinformation, “Shatavari is an important Ayurvedic herb that has several bioactive phytoconstituents such as various shatavarins which have high molecular weights and large structures.”
“The effects of shatavari are well-known in improving female health conditions,” wrote scientists from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University-Hyderabad in India. “Shatavari is known to manage and improve female reproductive health, managing symptoms of menopause, antioxidant effect, anti-anxiety effect, helps in proper lactation and other female health-related aspects.”
Sourcing and science
SRI-81 is the result of eight years of research. Data from the company’s clinical program combined with the suggestions from the traditional texts identified the effective daily dose of 300 mg, Baldwa said.
The ingredient is backed by 10 clinical trials, he said, which focus on key areas of women’s health like perimenopause, menopause, sexual function, lactation support and hormonal balance.
“Clinical validation is non-negotiable for us,” he said. “We’re committed to proving the science, not just relying on tradition.”
The company cultivates the herb on its own certified organic farms, which focus on soil health, traceability and sustainable practices.
Baldwa said that the company’s philosophy goes beyond consistency and quality, “it’s also about making sure we’re doing right by the farmers and the land”, he said. “That’s part of our DNA as a company. Just as we do with KSM-66 Ashwagandha, we follow a farm-to-finish model with complete control over the supply chain for SRI-81 Shatavari as well.”
Ixoreal is working with renowned expert in women’s health, Tieraona Low Dog, MD, who is featured in a video about the ingredient (below). Dr. Low Dog will also deliver the presentation, “A new era for women’s health support: Shatavari root takes center stage” on the Innovation Stage in Las Vegas (Oct. 29 at 1:45 pm).
