Traditional and Medicinal Uses of Withania Somnifera
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ISSN: 2277- 7695 CODEN Code: PIHNBQ ZDB-Number: 2663038-2 IC Journal No: 7725 Vol. 1 No. 9 2012 Online Available at www.thepharmajournal.com THE PHARMA INNOVATION Traditional And Medicinal Uses of Withania Somnifera M. Umadevi1*, R. Rajeswari1, C. Sharmila Rahale1, S. Selvavenkadesh1, R.Pushpa1, K.P.Sampath Kumar2, Debjit Bhowmik3 1.Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India 2.Coimbatore medical college, Coimbatore, India 3.Karpagam University, Coimbatore, India Ashwgandha has long been considered as an excellent rejuvenator, a general health tonic and a cure for a number of health complaints. It is a sedative, diuretic, anti-inflammatory and generally respected for increasing energy, endurance, and acts as an-adaptogen that exerts a strong immunostimulatory and an- anti-stress agent. Ashwagandha is taken for treating cold and coughs, ulcers, emaciation, diabetes, conjunctivitis, epilepsy, insomnia, senile dementia, leprosy, Parkinson’s disease, nervous disorders, rheumatism, arthritis, intestinal infections, bronchitis, asthma, impotence and a suppressant in HIV/AIDS patients. According to Indian Herbal System (Ayurveda), Ashwagandha is considered one of the most important herbs and the best adaptogenic. It contains constituents like cuseohygrine, anahygrine, tropine, and anaferine, glycosides, withenolide with starches and amino acid. Withanolide consists of steroidal molecules which is said to fight inflammation.Ashwagandha stimulates the immune system, combats inflammation, increases memory, and helps maintain general health and wellness. Ashwagandha is known to increase the production of bone marrow, semen, and acts anti-aging. Ashwagandha anti-tumor and anti- inflammatory agents are approved in several studies. Its steroidal is much higher than that of hydrocortisone which is a common treatment in cancer cases. Diseases like TB, chronic upper respiratory diseases and HIV have been added to the list of Ashwagandha due to its strong immunostimulatory activity, and it is recognized as a blood tonic, especially in gynecological disorders including anemia and irregular menstruation. Patients with anxiety can also benefit from Ashwagandha Keyword: Ashwgandha, Sedative, Diuretic, Cognitive and Neurological Disorders INTRODUCTION: Ashwagandha (Withania It grows in dry parts in sub-tropical regions. somnifera), also known as Indian ginseng, and Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, as Indian Winter Cherry is an important ancient Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh are plant, the roots of which have been employed in the major Ashwagandha producing states of the Indian traditional systems of medicine, Ayurveda country. The estimated production of and Unani. Ashwagandha roots in India is more than 1500 Corresponding Author’s Contact information: tonnes and the annual requirement is about 7000 M. Umadevi * tonnes necessitating the increase in its cultivation Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, and higher production. Ashwagandha, the Indian India ginseng or winter cherry has been used as a quiet E-mail: [email protected] valuable herb in the Ayurvedic and indigenous Vol. 1 No. 9 2012 www.thepharmajournal.com Page | 102 TPI JOURNAL medical system for over 4000 years. The roots, necessitating the increase in its cultivation and leaves and fruits (berry) possess tremendous higher production. medicinal value. A famous Ayurvedic rejuvenative botanical used in many tonics and Chemical Constituents: formulas, Ashwagandha is the best rejuvenative The methanol, hexane and diethyl ether extracts that helps maintain proper nourishment of the from both leaves and roots of Ashwagandha were tissues, particularly muscle and bones, while found. Alkaloid percentage in roots ranges from supporting the proper function of the adrenals and 0.13 to 0.31%. The roots of Withania somnifera reproductive system. are alterative, aphrodisiac, deobstruent, diuretic, narcotic, sedative and restorative in nature. The pharmacological activity of the root is attributed to the alkaloids and steroidals lactones. The total alkaloid content in the roots of Indian types has been reported to vary between 0.13 and 0.3, though much high yields (up to 4.3 per cent) have been recorded elsewhere. Many bio-chemical heterogeneous alkaloids, including choline, tropanol, pseudotopanol, cuscokygrene, 3- tigioyloxytropana, isopelletierine and several other steroidal lactories. Twelve alkaloids, 35 withanolides and several sitoindosides have been isolated from the roots of the plant have been studied. A sitoindoside is a biologically active constituent known as withanolide containing a glucose molecule at carbon 27. Indian ginseng’s Botanical Name : Withania Somnifera pharmacological activity has been attributed to Family Name : Solanaceae two main withanolides, withaferin A and Common Name : Withania, Winter withanolide D. Withaferin-A is therapeutically Cherry, Indian Winter Cherry, Indian active withanolide reported to be present in Ginseng, Ashwagandha leaves. In addition to alkaloids, the roots are Part Used : Roots, Leaves reported to contain starch, reducing sugars, Habitat : Cultivated throughout drier parts glycosides, dulcitol, withancil, an acid and a of india. neutral compound. The amino acids reported Product offered : Roots from the roots include aspartic acid, glycine, tyrosine, alanine, glutamic acid and cysteine. The plant grows in dry and sub-tropical regions and is an erect branching low lying shrub Description reaching a height of about 1.50 m. it grows in dry It grows as a short shrub (35–75 cm) with a parts in sub-tropical regions. Rajasthan, Punjab, central stem from which branches extend radially Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and in a star pattern (stellate) and covered with a Madhya Pradesh are the major Ashwagandha dense matte of wooly hairs (tomentose). The producing states of the country. In Madhya flowers are small and green, while the ripe fruit is Pradesh alone it is cultivated in more than 5000 orange-red and has milk-coagulating properties. hectare. The estimated production of The plant's long, brown, tuberous roots are used Ashwagandha roots in India is than 1500 tonnes for medicinal purposes. and the annual requirement is about 7000 tonnes Vol. 1 No. 9 2012 www.thepharmajournal.com Page | 103 TPI JOURNAL Climatic conditions for growth herb that rejuvenates the nervous system, Withania somnifera is grown as late rainy-season erases insomnia and eases stress. (kharif) crop. Semitropical areas receiving 500 to Ashwagandha has also been shown to 750 mm rainfall are suitable for its cultivation as lower blood pressure and is highly a rainfed crop. If one or two winter rains are effective in stopping the formation of received, then root development improves.[ stress induced ulcers. The crop requires a relatively dry season during In arthritis, which involves joints that are its growing period. It can tolerate a temperature painful, dry, swollen and inflamed, range of 20 to 38°C and as low a temperature as Ashwagandha would be the herb of 10°C. The plant grows from sea level to an choice. [ altitude of 1500 meters. One of the special properties of Ashwagandha is that it will enhance ojas. Biochemical-properties Ojas is the most subtle, refined level of The biochemical composition of Withania the physical body and is the end result of somnifera has been widely studied and healthy food which is properly digested. It researched. Some 35 compounds had been is responsible for a healthy immune analyzed in the laboratory. system, physical strength, lustrous Alkaloids: About 13 alkaloids are known complexion, clarity of mind and sense of as Isopelletierine, Anaferine, Well-being. It allows consciousness to Cuseohygrine, Anahygrine, Tropine etc. flow within the body. With decreased Somniferin: It is a bitter alkaloid with ojas, we are less in touch with ourselves some hypnotic activity. and more prone to diseases and having a Steroidal Lactones: Withanolides, feeling of disharmony. 'Ojakshaya' Withanoferins. (decreased ojas) is a condition similar to Saponins: These are with an additional AIDS/HIV acyl group (Sitoindoside VII and VIII. Research on Ashwagandha has concluded Withanolides With Carbon At 27th that extracts of the plant has a direct Position: Sitoindoside IX and X. spermatogenic influence on the Iron. seminiferous tubules of immature rats presumably by exerting a testosterone-like Others: resin, fat, coloring matters, a reducing effect. sugar, phytosterol, Ipuranol and a mixture of Ashwagandha increases hemoglobin (red saturated and unsaturated acids. blood count) and hair melanin.It stabilizes blood sugar and lowers cholesterol. Medicinal values This herb is considered an adaptogen Ashwagandha for Weight Loss which is a nontoxic herb that works on a Ashwagandha is a commonly used herb in nonspecific basis to normalize Ayurvedic medicine. Through its adaptogenic effects Ashwagandha may help to encourage weight physiological function, working on the loss when used in combination with other weight HPA axis and the neuroendocrine system. loss enhancing supplements. An adaptogen is a Ashwagandha is effective for insomnia substance which helps minimise stress related but does not act as a sedative.its fluctuations in the diet. This ancient Ayurvedic herb rejuvenative and nervine properties is believed to be helpful for people who either produce energy which in turn help the overeat or under eat due to environmental stress. It body to settle and sleep. Thus it helps the may also help