Withania somnifera: Difference between revisions
m Reverting possible vandalism by 203.174.147.58 to version by 59.165.229.154. False positive? Report it. Thanks, ClueBot. (614191) (Bot) |
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==Pathology== |
==Pathology== |
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Withania somnifera is prone to several pests and diseases. Leaf spot disease of Withania somnifera caused by [[Alternaria alternata]] is the most prevalent disease. It is most severe in Indian plains of Punjab, Hariyana and Himachal Pradesh. Dr. Pratap Kumar Pati research group from Guru Nanak Dev University India, recently reported in an article of Indian journal of microbiology, on the biodeterioration of its pharmacutically active components during leaf spot disease. |
Withania somnifera is prone to several pests and diseases. Leaf spot disease of Withania somnifera caused by [[Alternaria alternata]] is the most prevalent disease. It is most severe in Indian plains of Punjab, Hariyana and Himachal Pradesh. Dr. Pratap Kumar Pati research group from Guru Nanak Dev University India, recently reported in an article of Indian journal of microbiology, on the biodeterioration of its pharmacutically active components during leaf spot disease. |
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<ref>http://www.springerlink.com/content/y3pv174017281824/ Pati, P.K., Sharma, M., Salar, R.K., Sharma, A., Gupta, A.P., and Singh, B. |
<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.springerlink.com/content/y3pv174017281824/ |title=Studies on leaf spot disease of Withania somnifera and its impact on secondary metabolites. Indian Journal of Microbiology. 48: |pages=432-437 |doi=10.1007/s12088-008-0053-y |publisher=Springer India |coauthors=Pati, P.K., Sharma, M., Salar, R.K., Sharma, A., Gupta, A.P., and Singh, B. |accessdate=2010-05-06}}</ref> |
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==Side effects== |
==Side effects== |
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There are few listed side effects for Withania Somnifera in humans, but a study on its effects on rats found unfavorable issues in their hearts and adrenal glands in extremely high dosages taken for a duration of 180 days.<ref>http://www.drugs.com/npp/ashwaganda.html</ref> |
There are few listed side effects for Withania Somnifera in humans, but a study on its effects on rats found unfavorable issues in their hearts and adrenal glands in extremely high dosages taken for a duration of 180 days.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.drugs.com/npp/ashwaganda.html |title=Complete Ashwaganda information from |publisher=Drugs.com |date= |accessdate=2010-05-06}}</ref> |
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Withania somnifera stimulates the thyroid leading to thyreotoxicosis in some humans<ref>{{cite journal |author=van der Hooft CS, Hoekstra A, Winter A, de Smet PA, Stricker BH |title=[Thyrotoxicosis following the use of ashwagandha] |language=Dutch |journal=Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde |volume=149 |issue=47 |pages=2637–8 |year=2005 |month=November |pmid=16355578}}</ref> and in mice.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Panda S, Kar A |title=Changes in thyroid hormone concentrations after administration of ashwagandha root extract to adult male mice |journal=The Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology |volume=50 |issue=9 |pages=1065–8 |year=1998 |month=September |pmid=9811169}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Panda S, Kar A |title=Withania somnifera and Bauhinia purpurea in the regulation of circulating thyroid hormone concentrations in female mice |journal=Journal of Ethnopharmacology |volume=67 |issue=2 |pages=233–9 |year=1999 |month=November |pmid=10619390 |doi=10.1016/S0378-8741(99)00018-5}}</ref> |
Withania somnifera stimulates the thyroid leading to thyreotoxicosis in some humans<ref>{{cite journal |author=van der Hooft CS, Hoekstra A, Winter A, de Smet PA, Stricker BH |title=[Thyrotoxicosis following the use of ashwagandha] |language=Dutch |journal=Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde |volume=149 |issue=47 |pages=2637–8 |year=2005 |month=November |pmid=16355578}}</ref> and in mice.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Panda S, Kar A |title=Changes in thyroid hormone concentrations after administration of ashwagandha root extract to adult male mice |journal=The Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology |volume=50 |issue=9 |pages=1065–8 |year=1998 |month=September |pmid=9811169}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Panda S, Kar A |title=Withania somnifera and Bauhinia purpurea in the regulation of circulating thyroid hormone concentrations in female mice |journal=Journal of Ethnopharmacology |volume=67 |issue=2 |pages=233–9 |year=1999 |month=November |pmid=10619390 |doi=10.1016/S0378-8741(99)00018-5}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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Revision as of 01:52, 6 May 2010
| Withania somnifera L. Dunal | |
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| Ashvagandha plant at Talkatora garden, Delhi | |
| Scientific classification | |
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| Species: | W. somnifera
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| Binomial name | |
| Withania somnifera | |
| Synonyms | |
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Physalis somnifera | |
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2009) |
Withania somnifera, also known as Ashwagandha, Indian ginseng, Winter cherry, Ajagandha, Kanaje Hindi, Amukkuram in Malayalam and Samm Al Ferakh, is a plant in Solanaceae or nightshade family.
Description
It grows as a stout shrub that reaches a height of 170 cm (5.6 ft). Like the tomato which belongs to the same family, it bears yellow flowers and yellow-Orange to red Barry type fruit, though its fruit is berry-like in size and shape. Ashwagandha grows prolifically in India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. It is commercially cultivated in Madhya Pradesh (a state in India).
Medicinal use
In Ayurveda ashwagandha is considered a rasayana herb. This herb is also considered an adaptogen which is an herb that works to normalize physiological function, working on the HPA axis and the neuroendocrine system.[citation needed] In Ayurveda, the fresh roots are sometimes boiled in milk, prior to drying, in order to leach out undesirable constituents. The berries are used as a substitute for rennet, to coagulate milk in cheese making.
Ashwagandha in Sanskrit means "horse's smell," probably originating from the odor of its root which resembles that of sweaty horse. In Tamil, it is called Amukkrang Kilangu and is used in several medicines.
The species name somnifera means "sleep-inducing" in Latin, indicating that to it are attributed sedating properties, but it has been also used for sexual vitality and as an adaptogen. Some herbalists refer to ashwagandha as Indian ginseng, since it is used in ayurvedic medicine in a way similar to that ginseng is used in traditional Chinese medicine.
Seven American and four Japanese firms have filed for grant of patents on formulations containing extracts of the herb Ashwagandha. Fruits, leaves and seeds of the Indian medicinal plant withania somnifera have been traditionally used for the Ayurvedic system as aphrodisiacs, diuretics and for treating memory loss. The Japanese patent applications are related to the use of the herb as a skin ointment and for promoting reproductive fertility. The U.S based company Natreon has also obtained a patent for an Ashwagandha extract.
Another US establishment, the New England Deaconess Hospital, has taken a patent on an Ashwagandha formulation claimed to alleviate symptoms associated with arthritis. The product called "ashwagandha oil" is a combination of ashwagandha with almond oil and rose water designed to be used as a facial toner, and should not be consumed orally.
Active constituents
The main constituents of ashwagandha are alkaloids and steroidal lactones. Among the various alkaloids, withanine is the main constituent. The other alkaloids are somniferine, somnine, somniferinine, withananine, pseudo-withanine, tropine, pseudo-tropine, cuscohygrine,anferine and anhydrine. Two acyl steryl glucoside viz. sitoindoside VII and sitoindoside VIII have been isolated from root. The leaves contain steroidal lactones, which are commonly called withanolides. The withanolides have C28 steroidal nucleus with C9 side chain, having six membered lactone ring.
Pharmacological effects
Ashwagandha is reported to have anti-carcinogenic effects in animal and cell cultures by decreasing the expression of nuclear factor-kappaB, suppressing intercellular tumor necrosis factor, and potentiating apoptotic signalling in cancerous cell lines.[2]
Pathology
Withania somnifera is prone to several pests and diseases. Leaf spot disease of Withania somnifera caused by Alternaria alternata is the most prevalent disease. It is most severe in Indian plains of Punjab, Hariyana and Himachal Pradesh. Dr. Pratap Kumar Pati research group from Guru Nanak Dev University India, recently reported in an article of Indian journal of microbiology, on the biodeterioration of its pharmacutically active components during leaf spot disease. [3]
Side effects
There are few listed side effects for Withania Somnifera in humans, but a study on its effects on rats found unfavorable issues in their hearts and adrenal glands in extremely high dosages taken for a duration of 180 days.[4]
Withania somnifera stimulates the thyroid leading to thyreotoxicosis in some humans[5] and in mice.[6][7]
Other species
There are over 20 other species of the Withania genus that occur in the dry parts of India, North Africa, Middle East, and the Mediterranean. These include Withania coagulens and Withania simonii, the roots of which are sometimes used interchangeably with those of Withania somnifera.
Withania somnifera itself has been extensively domesticated from the wild form. In India, at least five different cultivars have been developed for increased root size and adaptation to different climates.
Subspecies
Withania somnifera Dunal and Withania ashwagandha Kaul are the two sub-species of the plant.
Research
Professor Kailas Nath Kaul was the pioneer of modern scientific research on Withania somnifera. (Kaul K. N. 1956. The origin, distribution & cultivation of Ashwangandha the so called Withania somnifera of Indian literature. Symposium on the utilisation of Indian Medicinal Plants; Lucknow CSIR.pp. 07–08.) The sub-species Withania ashwagandha Kaul has been named after him.
References
- ^ "Withania somnifera information from NPGS/GRIN". Retrieved 2008-02-16.
- ^ Ichikawa H, Takada Y, Shishodia S, Jayaprakasam B, Nair MG, Aggarwal BB (2006). "Withanolides potentiate apoptosis, inhibit invasion, and abolish osteoclastogenesis through suppression of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation and NF-kappaB-regulated gene expression". Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. 5 (6): 1434–45. doi:10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-06-0096. PMID 16818501.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Studies on leaf spot disease of Withania somnifera and its impact on secondary metabolites. Indian Journal of Microbiology. 48:". Springer India: 432–437. doi:10.1007/s12088-008-0053-y. Retrieved 2010-05-06.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ "Complete Ashwaganda information from". Drugs.com. Retrieved 2010-05-06.
- ^ van der Hooft CS, Hoekstra A, Winter A, de Smet PA, Stricker BH (2005). "[Thyrotoxicosis following the use of ashwagandha]". Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde (in Dutch). 149 (47): 2637–8. PMID 16355578.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Panda S, Kar A (1998). "Changes in thyroid hormone concentrations after administration of ashwagandha root extract to adult male mice". The Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. 50 (9): 1065–8. PMID 9811169.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Panda S, Kar A (1999). "Withania somnifera and Bauhinia purpurea in the regulation of circulating thyroid hormone concentrations in female mice". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 67 (2): 233–9. doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(99)00018-5. PMID 10619390.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)
8. http://indianmedicine.eldoc.ub.rug.nl/root/D/16172/?pFullItemRecord=ON
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