Withania Somnifera (Ashwagandha)
Introduction: Withania somnifera is mentioned as an important drug in the ancient Ayurvedic literature. Withania somnifera is used in several indigenous drug preparations for maintaining health as well as for several disease conditions. It has been used in parts of Arica and now used increasingly elsewhere, including the USA and Europe. It is indigenous to India, other Asian countries and parts of Africa and found widely on wasteland. Withania somnifera is known as rejuvenative herb, especially for men because it strengths the muscle, bone marrow and semen. The root is regarded to have anti-stress, aphrodisiac, sedative, diuretic, antioxidant and many more activities. Major Chemical Constituents: The major active ingredients of Withania somnifera root are alkaloids. Pharmacological Actions Anti-Stress activity: 1,2,3,4 The antistressor properties of Withania somnifera have been investigated in this study using adult Wistar strain albino rats and cold-water swimming stress test. The results indicate that the drug treated animals show better stress tolerance.23 in another study the neuroprotective effects of Withania somnifera were studied on stressed adult female Swiss albino rats. Treatment with Withania somnifera root powder extract significantly reduced (80%) the number of degenerating cells in both the areas. The study thus demonstrates the antistress neuroprotective effects of Withania somnifera.1 many other studies also suggested that Withania somnifera has anti-stress acivity. Anti-oxidant activity: 5,6 The effect of Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera) root powder administered for 15 and 30 days was studied on lipid peroxidation superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in mice. The  result showed that Withania Somnifera root powder possesses free radical scavenging activity, which is proposed to be responsible for its pharmacological activity. In another study chemopreventive effect of Withania Somnifera root extract (WSRE) was investigated. From the sited study it was inferred that WSRE possesses potential chemopreventive activity in this experimental model of cancer. The chemopreventive activity was proposed to be linked to the antioxidant or free radical scavenging constituents present in the extract. Immunomodulatory activity: 7,8,9 Administration of an extract from the powdered root of the plant Withania somnifera was found to stimulate immunological activity in Balb/c mice. In another study, administration of a 75 percent methanolic extract of [W.somnifera] was found to significantly increase the total WBC count in normal Balb/c mice. The study suggested that, administration of Withania somnifera extract (Solanaceae) was found to significantly reduce leucopenia induced by cyclophosphamide (CTX) treatment. These results confirm the immunomodulatory activity of Withania somnifera extract, which is a known immunomodulator in indigenous medicine. Cardiac Support: 10,11,12 Hypoglycemic, diuretic and hypocholesterolemic effects of roots of Withania somnifera (ashvagandha) were assessed on human subjects. The results showed that there was decrease in blood glucose, which was comparable to that of an oral hypoglycemic drug. Also, significant increase in urine sodium, urine volume, significant decrease in serum cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL (low density lipoproteins) and VLDL (very low density lipoproteins) cholesterol were observed indicating that root of Withania somnifera is a potential source of hypoglycemic, diuretic and hypocholesterolemic agents. Another study concluded that the Withania somnifera extract induced a significant decrease in the arterial and diastolic blood pressure in 'normotensive' pentobarbital anaesthetized dogs. Withania somnifera also significantly prevented the hypotensive effect of acetylcholine and increased the hypertensive effect of adrenaline. Results of one study concluded that ashwagandha possesses adaptogenic, cardiotropic, cardioprotective and anticoagulant properties. Aphrodisiac & spermatogenic activity: 13,14,15 One study was done to investigate the impact of Withania somnifera roots on semen profile, oxidative biomarkers, and reproductive hormone levels of infertile men. Withania somnifera inhibited lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl content and improved sperm count and motility. The treatment with Withania somnifera effectively reduced oxidative stress as assessed by decreased levels of various oxidants and improved level of diverse antioxidants. Moreover, the levels of thyroid, Luteinizing Hormone, Follicle Stimulating Hormone and Prolactin, good indicators of semen quality, were also reversed in infertile subjects after treatment with the herbal preparation. One study concluded that extract of Withania somnifera plant has a direct spermatogenic influence on the seminiferous tubules of immature rats presumably by exerting a testosterone-like effect. Herb Drug interactions: There are no know herb drug intereactions. Safety: 16,17 The total extract (70 % alcohol) of the roots possesses the same properties as the total alkaloids, but is nearly half as potent. The alkaloids are reported to be devoid of any irritating effect on mucous membrane, but the extract shows irritant action on mucous and serous membranes, conjunctiva and peritoneum. On oral administration of the extract of roots, diarrhoea and vomiting are probably caused by direct irritant-effect, whereas its anthelmintic action is possibly due to the increased intestinal peristalsis and irritant effect on worms. The LD50 of a 50% ethanolic extract of the roots was 1000 mg/kg. Reference 1 Jain S, Shukla SD, Sharma K, Bhatnagar M., Neuroprotective Effects of Withania somnifera Dunn. in Hippocampal Sub-regions of Female Albino Rat. Phytother Res 2001 Sep; 15(6):544-548. 2 Archana R, Namasivayam A., Antistressor effect of Withania somnifera. J Ethnopharmacol 1999 Jan;64(1):91-93. 3 Singh B, Saxena AK, Chandan BK, Gupta DK, Bhutani KK, Anand KK., Adaptogenic activity of a novel, withanolide-free aqueous fraction from the roots of Withania somnifera Dun. Phytother Res 2001 Jun;15(4):311-318. 4 Roy U, Mukhopadhyay S, Poddar MK, Mukherjee BP. Evaluation of antistress activity of Indian medicinal, plants, Withania somnifera and Ocimum sanctum with special reference to stress induced stomach ulcer in albino rats. International seminar – Traditional Medicine, Calcutta 1992, 7-9 November; 141. Kulkarni, S.K.Joseph.P. Anticonvulsant profile of siotone granules a herbal preparation Indian J. of Exp. Biology, 1998,V.36 (7) P.658-662. 5 Gupta, S.K. Jaiprakash. Chemopreventive effect of W.Somnifera a natural free radical scavenger. J. of medicinal and Aromatic plant sciences, 2000V.22(Supp 11) P.31. 6 Davis L, Kuttan G. Immunomodulatory activity of Withania somnifera. J Ethnopharmacol 2000 Jul;71(1-2):193-200. 7 Anand LV, Kuttan G., Use of Withania somnifera as an adjuvant during radiation therapy. Amala Research Bulletin 1995; 15: 83-87. 8 Davis L, Kuttan G., Suppressive effect of cyclophosphamide-induced toxicity by Withania somnifera extract in mice. J Ethnopharmacol 1998 Oct;62(3):209-214. 9 Andallu B, Radhika B., Hypoglycemic, diuretic and hypocholesterolemic effect of winter cherry (Withania somnifera, Dunal) root. Indian J Exp Biol 2000 Jun;38(6):607-609. 10 Ahumada F, Aspee F, Wikman G, Hancke J, Withania somnifera extract. Its effect on arterial blood pressure in anaesthetized dogs. Phytotherapy Research 1991; 5(3): 111-114. 11 Dhuley JN., Adaptogenic and cardioprotective action of ashwagandha in rats and frogs. J Ethnopharmacol 2000 Apr;70(1):57-63. 12 Ahmad MK, Mahdi AA, Shukla KK, Islam N, Rajender S, Madhukar D, Shankhwar SN, Ahmad S. Withania somnifera improves semen quality by regulating reproductive hormone levels and oxidative stress in seminal plasma of infertile males. Fertil Steril. 2009 Jun 5 13 Mahdi AA, Shukla KK, Ahmad MK, Singh R, Shankhwar SN, Singh V and Dalela D. Withania somnifera Improves Semen Quality in Stress-Related Male Fertility eCAM 2009:1- 8 14 Abdel-Magied EM, Abdel-Rahman HA, Harraz FM. The effect of aqueous extracts of Cynomorium coccineum and Withania somnifera on testicular development in immature Wistar rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2001 Apr; 75(1):1-4. 15 Ahumada F, Aspee F, Wikman G, Hancke J, Withania somnifera extract. Its effect on arterial blood pressure in anaesthetized dogs. Phytotherapy Research 1991; 5(3): 111-114. 16 Bhakuni DS, Dhar ML, Dhar MM, Dhawan BN, Mehrotra BN 1969 Screening of Indian plants for biological activity: Part II. 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