Withania somniferum / Ashwagandha / Solanaceae (Nightshade family)

Information

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Other Names

Ashwagandha, Indian ginseng, Winter cherry, Ajagandha, Kanaje Hindi and Samm Al Ferakh

Contents

Ashwagandha contains several alkaloids and steroidal lactones. The most common alkaloids are withanine, anaferin, anahygrine, cuscohygrine, pseudotropine, somniferinine, somniferiene, tropanol, pseudo-tropine, 3-a-gloyloxytropane and choline. Ashwagandha also contains steroidal lactones including withaferin A and withanolides (A-Y). Much of Ashwagandha's pharmacological properties has been attributed to two withaloides, withaferin A and withanolide D. (1)(6)

Historical

Withania somnifera is a herb that has been used for thousands of years in Ayurveda and folk medicine in India. "It is most commonly used to treat inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis, fever, tumors, and a wide range of infectious diseases." (4) It is also used as an "aphrodisiac, anti-inflammatory, liver-tonic".(6) "It has been used in rheumatism, consumption and debility".(11) The specific name "somnifera" refers to its sedative qualities and literally means "sleep inducer".

Recent studies have shown that Ashwagandha contains compounds known as withanolides that are steroidal in molecular construction and are similar to compounds found in Panax ginseng. It is for this reason that Ashwagandha has earned the nickname "Indian Ginseng" by some. Not surprisingly, Ashwagandha also shares many qualities with Panax ginseng and has been shown to "increase energy levels, improve overall health, improve the body's resistance to stress and stimulate the immune system".(5)(6)(7) It has also been shown to "help support good cognitive performance and memory while also calming the mind".(6)(7)(8)

Its rejuvenating properties are now being confirmed by scientific studies. According to a double-blind clinical trial on males between 50-59 years old "A significant improvement in hemoglobin, red blood cell count, hair melanin, and seated stature was observed" and "71.4 percent reported improvement in sexual performance".(6)

Several other studies have indicated that Ashwagandha may also have important anti-carcinogenic properties. One such study found that "A significant increase in the life span and a decrease in the cancer cell number and tumour weight were noted in the tumour-induced mice after treatment with REMS (Ashwangandha extract)".(10)

Plant Description

Withania somnifera is an evergreen, erect, woody shrub that reaches up to 170 cm in height. Its leaves are simple, petiolate, ovate and glabrous and the whole body of the plant is covered in star shaped hairs. (11) It grows in the subtropical parts of India and also in parts of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Spain, Afghanistan and many parts of Africa. Its fruit which are berry like and bright red are usually harvested in the Fall and its flowers are greenish or bright yellow in color. (1)(3)

Legal Remarks

This product is illegal or somehow problematic to send to the following countries. Click on the country link for further information.

• Norway

References

(1) Withania somnifera, Wikipedia
(2) Herbal Medicine and Botanical Medical Fads, Frank W. Hoffmann, Martin Manning
(3) The 5-minute Herb and Dietary Supplement Consult, Adriane Fugh-Berman
(4) The New Anti-aging Revolution, Ronald Klatz, Robert Klatz, Robert Goldman
(5) Document: NL E116-0-REF
(6) Document: Withania somnifera, Alternative Medicine Review
(7) The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, first edition part I, Government of India, Ministry Of Health And Family Welfare, Department of Indian Systems of Medicine & Homoeopathy
(8) Document: NL-E76-0-REF Ashwagandha
(9) Withanolides potentiate apoptosis, inhibit invasion, and abolish osteoclastogenesis through suppression of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation and NF-kappaB-regulated gene expression, Ichikawa H, Takada Y, Shishodia S, Jayaprakasam B, Nair MG, Aggarwal BB.
(10) Anticarcinogenic activity of Withania somnifera Dunal against Dalton’s Ascitic Lymphoma, A. J. M. Christina, D. Gladwin Joseph, M. Packialakshmi, R. Kothai, S. Jerry Heison Robert, N. Chidambaranathan and M. Ramasamy
(11) Rayasana, Harbans Singh Puri