Withania somnifera (Common Name: Ashwagandha)

 

Botanical Name: Withania somnifera

Common name: Ashwagandha

Part(s) used : Root

Background

Withania somnifera was well described in ancient Ayurvedic literature as an herb with multiple benefit to sustaining health and wellness.  The roots were used for a variety of ailments which included: hiccup, female disorders, cough, rheumatism and dropsy, and as a sedative in cases of senile debility.

Like ginseng and tongkat ali, Ashwagandha is a superior class herb, meaning that it has multiple benefit to the body.  In local culture, many will take Ashwagandha to maintain physical effort and mental ability to cope with stress. The herb is thought to restore normal neural function allowing clarity of mind as well as aiding in age related sleep dysfunctions.   Ashwagandha is also commonly used as an herbal supplement for boosting immune function.

 

Common uses

• Support Brain and Neural function

• Anti-Stress, Anti-Anxiety, Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Arthritic, Anti-Convulsive

• Overall Health and Wellness

• Rejuvenator, Revitalizer, Restorative & Tissue builder

• Support Healthy Cell Growth and Cell Lifecycle

• Support Proper Immune System Function

Research

Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) attenuates antioxidant defense in aged spinal cord and inhibits copper induced
lipid peroxidation and protein oxidative modifications .
Gupta SK, Dua A, Vohra BP, Mar 19,2004.

Induction of nitric oxide synthase expression by Withania somnifera in macrophages.
Iuvone T, Esposito G, Capasso F, Izzo AA, Feb 21, 2003

Adaptogenic and cardioprotective action of ashwagandha in rats and frogs.
Dhuley JN., April 2000.

The in vitro antibacterial/synergistic activities of Withania somnifera extracts.
Arora S, Dhillon S, Rani G, Nagpal A., June 2004.

Mechanisms of cardioprotective effect of Withania somnifera in experimentally induced myocardial infarction.
Mohanty I, Arya DS, Dinda A, Talwar KK, Joshi S, Gupta SK.,
Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-29, India, April 2004.

Immunoprotection by botanical drugs in cancer chemotherapy.
Diwanay S, Chitre D, Patwardhan B.,
Department of Microbiology, Abasaheb Garware College, Pune, India, Jan 2004

Growth inhibition of human tumor cell lines by withanolides from Withania somnifera leaves.
Jayaprakasam B, Zhang Y, Seeram NP, Nair MG.,
Bioactive Natural Products and Phytoceuticals, Department of Horticulture and National Food Safety and Toxicology
Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, Nov 23, 2003.

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