REVIEW PAPER
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) – a herb with versatile medicinal properties empowering human physical and mental health
1
Dasmesh Institute of Research & Dental Sciences, Faridkot, India
2
Guru Gobind Singh Medical Hospital, Delhi, India
Corresponding author
Ravinder Nath Bansal
Guru Gobind Singh Medical Hospital, Medical Campus, Faridkot, 1639, Faridkot, India
Guru Gobind Singh Medical Hospital, Medical Campus, Faridkot, 1639, Faridkot, India
J Pre Clin Clin Res. 2021;15(3):129-133
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Ashwagandha is a rasayana of Ayurveda system of medicines. It is a real potent regenerative tonic possessing several pharmacological properties like neuro-protective, anti-stress, anti-arthritic, antitumor, analgesic and anti-inflammatory.
Objective:
To illustrate applications and limitations of Ashwagandha in detail.
Materials and method:
Data was collected from various review and research publications. Literature review involved animal studies and human studies. Emphasis was given on versatility of medicinal properties.
Results:
Ashwagandha plays an important role in improving quality of life and performance at work and possess several pharmacologic actions. Each part of this herb i.e. from root to fruit possess medicinal properties.
Conclusions:
Ashwagandha possesses wide variety of therapeutic uses in each and every system of human body. The plant has also been widely studied for its various pharmacological activities like antioxidant, anxiolytic, adaptogen, memory enhancing, antiparkinsonian, antiinflammatory, antitumor properties. Irrespective of such large network of benefits this herb has some limitations of use in certain situations.
Ashwagandha is a rasayana of Ayurveda system of medicines. It is a real potent regenerative tonic possessing several pharmacological properties like neuro-protective, anti-stress, anti-arthritic, antitumor, analgesic and anti-inflammatory.
Objective:
To illustrate applications and limitations of Ashwagandha in detail.
Materials and method:
Data was collected from various review and research publications. Literature review involved animal studies and human studies. Emphasis was given on versatility of medicinal properties.
Results:
Ashwagandha plays an important role in improving quality of life and performance at work and possess several pharmacologic actions. Each part of this herb i.e. from root to fruit possess medicinal properties.
Conclusions:
Ashwagandha possesses wide variety of therapeutic uses in each and every system of human body. The plant has also been widely studied for its various pharmacological activities like antioxidant, anxiolytic, adaptogen, memory enhancing, antiparkinsonian, antiinflammatory, antitumor properties. Irrespective of such large network of benefits this herb has some limitations of use in certain situations.
ABBREVIATIONS
Ashwagandha being a natural herb possess numerous medicinal benefits for the human body. It can be easily cultivated in home lawns thereby increasing its socio-economical utility. The herb is enriched with many unidentified, unbelievable and miraculous properties
Gupta S, Bansal RN, Sodhi SPS, Brar GK, Malhotra M. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) – a herb with versatile medicinal properties
empowering human physical and mental health. J Pre-Clin Clin Res. 2021; 15(3): 129–133. doi: 10.26444/jpccr/141582
REFERENCES (32)
1.
Ray C, et al. Evaluation of neuro-protective activity of Ashwagandha and vacha in combination as ayurvedic medhya rasayana in vivo. Int Ayurvedic Med J. 2016; 4(10): 2914–22. http://www.iamj.in/posts/image....
2.
Singh N, Bhalla M, de Jager P, et al. An overview on Ashwagandha: a Rasayana (rejuvenator) of Ayurveda. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 2011; 8(5): 208–213. doi: 10.4314/ajtcam.v8i5S.9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/p....
3.
Kaushik MK, Kaul SC, Wadhwa R, et al. Triethylene glycol, an active component of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) leaves, is responsible for sleep induction. PLoS One. 2017; 12(2): e0172508. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/p....
4.
Gautam A, Wadhwa R, Thakur MK. Assessment of Cholinergic Properties of Ashwagandha Leaf-Extract in the Amnesic Mouse Brain. Ann Neurosci. 2016; 23(2): 68–75. doi: 10.1159/000443573. https://www.karger.com/Article....
5.
Gupta S, Bansal RN, Sodhi SPS, et al. Patent: A Journey From Idea to Patent. Inn Internat J Sci. 2018; 5(6): 5–11. https://www.innoriginal.com/in....
6.
Gupta S. True pain of false healing – various treatment modalities (a research perspective). J Ayurveda Holistic Med. 2018; 6(1): 38–50. http://www.jahm.in/index.php/J....
7.
Baitharu I, et al. Withania somnifera root extract ameliorates hypobaric Feb hypoxia induced memory impairment in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2013; 145: 431–441.
8.
Ahmed ME, et al. Attenuation of oxi-dative damage-associated cognitive decline by Withania somnifera in rat model of streptozotocin-induced cognitive impairment. Protoplasma 2013; 250: 1067–1078.
9.
Sehgal N, et al. Withania somnifera reverses Alzheimer’s disease pathology by enhancing low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein in liver. Proc Natl Acad Sci. USA 2012; 109: 3510–3515.
10.
Parkash J, et al. Neuroprotective role of Withania somnifera root extract in Maneb–Paraquat induced mouse model of Parkinsonism. Neurochemis Res. 2013; 38: 972–980.
11.
Kumar P, Kumar A. Effects of root extract of Withania somnifera in 3-Nitropropionic acid-induced cognitive dysfunction and oxidative damage in rats. Int J Health Res. 2008; 1: 139–149.
12.
Durga S, Dhaddea SB, Vandalb R, et al. Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) in neurobehavioural disorders induced by brain oxidative stress in rodents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2015; 67: 879–899.
13.
Naidu PS, et al. Effect of Withania somnifera root extract on reserpine-induced orofacial dyskinesia and cognitive dysfunction. Phytother Res. 2006; 20: 140–146.
14.
Manchanda S, Kaur G. Withania somnifera leaf alleviates cognitive dysfunction by enhancing hippocampal plasticity in high fat diet induced obesity model. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2017; 317(1):136. doi: 10.1186/s12906-017-1652-0.
15.
Schliebs R, et al. Systemic administration of defined extracts from Withania somnifera (Indian Ginseng) and Shilajit differentially affects cholinergic but not glutamatergic and GABAergic markers in rat brain. Neurochem Int. 1997; 30: 181–90.
16.
Pingali U, Pilli R, Fatima N. Effect of standardized aqueous extract of Withania somnifera on tests of cognitive and psychomotor performance in healthy human participants. Pharmacognosy Res. 2014; 6(1): 12–18.doi: 10.4103/0974-8490.122912. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/p....
17.
Gupta GL, Rana AC. Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha): A review. Pharmacogn Rev. 2007; 1: 129–36.
18.
Karnick CR. A double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical studies on the effects of Withania somnifera and Panax Ginseng Extracts on psychomotor performance in healthy Indian volunteers. Indian Med. 1991; 3: 1–5.
19.
Jana1 SN, Charan SM. Health Benefits and Medicinal Potency of Withania somnifera: A Review. Int J Pharm Sci Rev Res. 2018; 48(1): 22–29. http://globalresearchonline.ne....
20.
Reed GM, First MB, Kogan CS, et al. Innovations and changes in the ICD-11 classification of mental, behavioural and neurodevelopmental disorders. World Psychiatry. 2019; 18(1): 3–19. doi: 10.1002/wps.20611.
21.
Umadevi M, Rajeswari R, Rahale CR, et al. Traditional and Medicinal. Uses of Withania Somnifera. Pharma Innov. 2012; 1(9): 102–10. http://www.thepharmajournal.co....
22.
2020 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code G47.00. Insomnia, unspecified [accessed 2019 june]..https://www.icd10data.com/ICD1....
24.
2020 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code F41.Other anxiety disorders [accessed 2019 june 16] https://www.icd10data.com/ICD1...-.
25.
2020 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code E11.Type 2 diabetes mellitus [accessed 2019 june 16] https://www.icd10data.com/ICD1....
26.
Andallu B, Radhika B. Hypoglycemic, diuretic and hypocholesterolemic effect of winter cherry (Withania somnifera, Dunal) root. Indian J Exp Biol. 2000; 38: 607–9. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.o....
27.
Dasgupta A, Peterson A, Wells A, et al. Effect of Indian Ayurvedic medicine Ashwagandha on measurement of serum digoxin and 11 commonly monitored drugs using immunoassays: study of protein binding and interaction with Digibind. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2007; 131: 1298–1303. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.o....
28.
Dasgupta A, Kang E, Olsen M, et al. Interference of Asian, American, and Indian (Ashwagandha) ginsengs in serum digoxin measurements by a fluorescence polarization immunoassay can be minimized by using a new enzyme-linked chemiluminescent im munosorbent or turbidimetric assay. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2007; 131: 619–21. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/p....
29.
Dasgupta A, Reyes MA. Effect of Brazilian, Indian, Siberian, Asian, and North American ginseng on serum digoxin measurement by immunoassays and binding of digoxin-like mmunoreactive components of ginseng with Fab fragment of antidigoxin antibody (Digibind). Am J Clin Pathol. 2005; 124: 229–36. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/p....
30.
Van der, Hooft CS, Hoekstra A, Winter A, de Smet PAGM, Stricker BHC. Thyroid toxicosis after using Ashwagandha. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2005; 149: 2637–8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/p....
31.
Panda S, Kar A. Changes in thyroid hormone concentrations after administration of Ashwagandha root extract to adult male mice. J Pharm Pharmacol. 1998; 50: 1065–8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/p... Thyroid toxicosis after using Ashwagandha.
32.
Nasimi Doost Azgomi R, Zomorrodi A, Nazemyieh H, et al. Effects of Withania somnifera on Reproductive System: A Systematic Review of the Available Evidence. Biomed Res Int. 2018; 4076430: 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/4....
| eISSN: | 1898-7516 |
| ISSN: | 1898-2395 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
