Chemistry and pharmacology of withania somnifera: An update

Abstract

Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) is an important Rasayana herb and widely considered as Indian ginseng in Ayurveda. In traditional system of Indian medicine, it is used as tonic to rejuvenate the body and increase longevity. In Ayurvedic preparations, various parts of the plant have been used to treat variety of ailments that affect the human health. However, dried roots of the plant are widely used for the treatment of nervous and sexual disorders. The major active chemical constituents of this plant are withanolides, which is responsible for its wide range of biological activities. Since the beginning of the 20 th century, a significant amount of research has been done and efforts are ongoing to further explore other bioactive constituents, and many pharmacological studies have been carried out to describe their disease preventing mechanisms. In this chapter, we have reviewed the chemistry and pharmacological basis of W. somnifera in various human ailments.

Consciousness Energy Healing Treatment on <i>Withania somnifera</i> Root Extract and Its Effects on the Physical, Spectroscopic, Thermal and Behavioral Properties

“…Withanolides have steroidal nucleus with side chain, having a six membered lactone ring. The oxidation at various sites of skeleton is responsible for the structural deviations in different classes of withanolides [11][12][13][14].…”

“…Ashwagandha is widely used in the most of the Indian herbal medicine and nutraceuticals for the treatment of various diseases including sexual and nervous disorders, diabetes, infectious diseases, cancer, ulcer, stress, immunological disorders, arthritis, etc. From the ancient time, it is used as a tonic to arrest the ageing process, rejuvenate the body and boost the defense against infectious disorders and also promote the longevity [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. As ashwagandha root extract contains a wide array of phytochemicals and it is used as a dietary supplement for the better quality of life [3].…”

“…possess various pharmacological activities including antioxidant, anticancer, immunomodulating, antibacterial, neuroprotective, antiepileptic, adaptogenic, spermatogenic, antianxiety, antidepression, hepatoprotective, antiarthritic, antiinflammatory, antimicrobial, antiulcer, hypoglycaemic, hypolipidemic, aphrodisiac, radiosensitizing, etc. [11,[14][15][16][17][18][19]. Therefore, a new proprietary herbomineral formulation was formulated that consisted of herbal product like ashwagandha root extract along with minerals such as magnesium, zinc, and selenium.…”

Assessment of the Consciousness Energy Healing Treated <i>Withania Somnifera</i> (Ashwagandha) Root Extract Using LC-MS, GC-MS, and NMR Spectroscopy

“…Ashwagandha root extract contains majorly oxygenated withanolides along with numerous sitoindosides, alkaloids, withanamides, reducing sugars, peroxidases, glycosides, starch, withanicil, benzyl alcohol, 2-phenyl ethanol, dilcitol, 3, 4, 5-trihydroxy cinnamic acid, benzoic acid phenyl acetic acid, etc. [7][8][9]. Isolated withanolides possess various pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, anticancer, neuroprotective, immunomodulating, anti-inflammatory, antiarthritic, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, hypoglycaemic, etc.…”

Effect of the Energy of Consciousness (The Trivedi Effect<sup>®</sup>) on <i>Withania somnifera</i> Root Extract Using Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

“…The major active phytoconstituents of W. somnifera root extract contains highly oxygenated withanolides, alkaloids, numerous sitoindosides, withanamides, starch, reducing sugars, peroxidases, glycosides, dilcitol, withanicil, benzyl alcohol, 2-phenyl ethanol, benzoic acid phenyl acetic acid, 3,4,5-trihydroxy cinnamic acid, etc. [7][8][9]. Isolated withanolides from W. somnifera possess various pharmacological activities includes antioxidant, anticancer, immunomodulating, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, antiinflammatory, antiarthritic, antimicrobial, hypoglycaemic, etc.…”