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volume 31 issue 4 (december 2010) : 292 - 297

ASHWAGANDHA (WITHANIA SOMNIFERA DUNAL): WONDER MEDICINAL PLANT

K
K.C. Verma
1Department of Biochemistry, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar-263 145, India

  • Submitted|

  • First Online |

  • doi

Cite article:- Verma K.C. (2025). ASHWAGANDHA (WITHANIA SOMNIFERA DUNAL): WONDER MEDICINAL PLANT. Agricultural Reviews. 31(4): 292 - 297. doi: .

ABSTRACT

Withania somnifera is a pantropic native medicinal plant growing all over western and central
India. Ashwagandha is characterized by the presence of steroidal lactones (withanolides), alkaloids
and flavonoids. Root contains maximum amount of alkaloids – nicotine, sominine, somniferin,
somniferinine, withanine, withanonine, pseudo-withanine, tropin, withanolides etc. These
compounds show relaxant and antispasmotic effects against several plasmogens on intestine, uterine,
bronchial, tracheal, and blood vascular muscles. Roots of the plant show hypotensive, bradycardic,
antitumor, respiratory stimulant activities and radiosensitizing effects in animals.

REFERENCES

  1. Ali, M. et al.(1997) Phytochemistry, 44(6):1163-1168.
  2. Al-Hindawi et al. (1989). J Ethnopharmacol., 26(2): 163-168.
  3. Bagatell, R., and Whitesell, L. (2004) Mol. Cancer Ther., 3:1021–1030.
  4. Begum, V. H. and Sadique, J. (1988) Indian J. Exp. Biol., 26:877-882.
  5. Bhatnagar, S. S. et al. (1976) The wealth of India: A dictionary of Indian Raw materials and industrial products. Vol. 10
  6. New Delhi. Publicity and Information Directorate, Council of Social and Industrial Research, 582-585.
  7. Bhattacharya, S. et al. (1997) Indian J. Exp. Biol., 35(3):236-239.
  8. Bhattacharya, S. K. et al. (1987) Phytotherapy Res., 1:32-39.
  9. Buchner, J. (1999) Trends Biochem. Sci., 24:136–141.
  10. Dash, V. B. and Junius, A. M. (1983). A handbook of Ayurveda, Concept Publishing, New Delhi. pp 15-25.
  11. Davis, L. and Kuttan, G. (1998) J. Ethnopharmcol., 2(3):209-214.
  12. Devi, P. U. et al.(1995) Cancer lr., 95(1-2): 189-193.
  13. El-Sissi, H. I. et al. (1967) Plant Mat. Veg., 14:28-36.
  14. Elolemy, M. M. and Kadry, H. A. (1984) Bull. Pharm. Sci., 7:430-443.
  15. Ghosal, S. et al. (1988) Indian J. Nat. Prod., 4:12-13.
  16. Ghosal, S. et al. (1989) Phytotherapy Res., 3:201-206.
  17. Gifri, A. N. (1992) Candollea, 47:613-619.
  18. Gupta, A. P. et al. (1996) J. Medi. Aromatic Plant sci., 18(4): 788-790.
  19. Hartl, F. U. and Hayer-Hartl, M. (2002) Science, 295:1852–1858.
  20. Jolly, C. and Morimoto, R. I. (2000) J. Natl. Cancer Inst., 92:1564–1572.
  21. Kazutoshi, B. and Kaour, B. (1999) Chem. Pharm. Bull. 47(11): 1646-1649.
  22. Khotpal, R. R. and Hakare, H. A. (1993) J. Food Sci. Technol., 30(5): 382-386.
  23. Kumar, S. et al. (1980) Nagrajun, 23:170-174.
  24. Maithani, B. P.(1973) Medicinal Plants of Western Garhwal Khadi Gramodyog,19: 269-278.
  25. Mimnaugh, E. G. et al. (1996) J. Biol. Chem., 271:22796–22801.
  26. Mishra L. C. et al. (2000) Altern. Med. Rev., 5(4)334-346.
  27. Parasa, A. (1960) Mat. Veg., 7:65-136.
  28. Ramteke, A. P. et al. (2003) JNKVV-Res. J., 37(1):109-110.
  29. Reed, J. C. (2001) Trends Mol. Med., 7:314–319.
  30. Roxburg, W. (1874) Medicinally important plants of India. Flora indica (Carey’s edition). London
  31. Vol. 31, No.. 4, 2010 297
  32. Schliebs, R. et al. (1997) Neurochem Int. 30(2):181-190
  33. Schwarting, A. E. et al.(1963) Lloydia, 26:258
  34. Sharad, A. C. et al. (1996) Acta Oncol., 35(1): 95-100
  35. Singh, S. and Kumar, S.(1998) Withania somnifera:The Indian ginseng Ashwagandha: Central Institute Of Medicinal
  36. and Aromatic Plants , Lucknow, India
  37. Tripathi, A. K. et al. (1996) J. Medi. Aromatic Plant Sci., 18:46-62
  38. Warming, M. (1868) Medicinaly important plants of India. Pharmocoepia of India. pp. 247-251
  39. Wegele et al. (2004) Rev. Physiol. Biochem. Pharmacol., 151:1–44
  40. Whitesell, L. et al. (2000) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 91:8324–8328
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    volume 31 issue 4 (december 2010) : 292 - 297

    ASHWAGANDHA (WITHANIA SOMNIFERA DUNAL): WONDER MEDICINAL PLANT

    K
    K.C. Verma
    1Department of Biochemistry, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar-263 145, India

    • Submitted|

    • First Online |

    • doi

    Cite article:- Verma K.C. (2025). ASHWAGANDHA (WITHANIA SOMNIFERA DUNAL): WONDER MEDICINAL PLANT. Agricultural Reviews. 31(4): 292 - 297. doi: .

    ABSTRACT

    Withania somnifera is a pantropic native medicinal plant growing all over western and central
    India. Ashwagandha is characterized by the presence of steroidal lactones (withanolides), alkaloids
    and flavonoids. Root contains maximum amount of alkaloids – nicotine, sominine, somniferin,
    somniferinine, withanine, withanonine, pseudo-withanine, tropin, withanolides etc. These
    compounds show relaxant and antispasmotic effects against several plasmogens on intestine, uterine,
    bronchial, tracheal, and blood vascular muscles. Roots of the plant show hypotensive, bradycardic,
    antitumor, respiratory stimulant activities and radiosensitizing effects in animals.

    REFERENCES

    1. Ali, M. et al.(1997) Phytochemistry, 44(6):1163-1168.
    2. Al-Hindawi et al. (1989). J Ethnopharmacol., 26(2): 163-168.
    3. Bagatell, R., and Whitesell, L. (2004) Mol. Cancer Ther., 3:1021–1030.
    4. Begum, V. H. and Sadique, J. (1988) Indian J. Exp. Biol., 26:877-882.
    5. Bhatnagar, S. S. et al. (1976) The wealth of India: A dictionary of Indian Raw materials and industrial products. Vol. 10
    6. New Delhi. Publicity and Information Directorate, Council of Social and Industrial Research, 582-585.
    7. Bhattacharya, S. et al. (1997) Indian J. Exp. Biol., 35(3):236-239.
    8. Bhattacharya, S. K. et al. (1987) Phytotherapy Res., 1:32-39.
    9. Buchner, J. (1999) Trends Biochem. Sci., 24:136–141.
    10. Dash, V. B. and Junius, A. M. (1983). A handbook of Ayurveda, Concept Publishing, New Delhi. pp 15-25.
    11. Davis, L. and Kuttan, G. (1998) J. Ethnopharmcol., 2(3):209-214.
    12. Devi, P. U. et al.(1995) Cancer lr., 95(1-2): 189-193.
    13. El-Sissi, H. I. et al. (1967) Plant Mat. Veg., 14:28-36.
    14. Elolemy, M. M. and Kadry, H. A. (1984) Bull. Pharm. Sci., 7:430-443.
    15. Ghosal, S. et al. (1988) Indian J. Nat. Prod., 4:12-13.
    16. Ghosal, S. et al. (1989) Phytotherapy Res., 3:201-206.
    17. Gifri, A. N. (1992) Candollea, 47:613-619.
    18. Gupta, A. P. et al. (1996) J. Medi. Aromatic Plant sci., 18(4): 788-790.
    19. Hartl, F. U. and Hayer-Hartl, M. (2002) Science, 295:1852–1858.
    20. Jolly, C. and Morimoto, R. I. (2000) J. Natl. Cancer Inst., 92:1564–1572.
    21. Kazutoshi, B. and Kaour, B. (1999) Chem. Pharm. Bull. 47(11): 1646-1649.
    22. Khotpal, R. R. and Hakare, H. A. (1993) J. Food Sci. Technol., 30(5): 382-386.
    23. Kumar, S. et al. (1980) Nagrajun, 23:170-174.
    24. Maithani, B. P.(1973) Medicinal Plants of Western Garhwal Khadi Gramodyog,19: 269-278.
    25. Mimnaugh, E. G. et al. (1996) J. Biol. Chem., 271:22796–22801.
    26. Mishra L. C. et al. (2000) Altern. Med. Rev., 5(4)334-346.
    27. Parasa, A. (1960) Mat. Veg., 7:65-136.
    28. Ramteke, A. P. et al. (2003) JNKVV-Res. J., 37(1):109-110.
    29. Reed, J. C. (2001) Trends Mol. Med., 7:314–319.
    30. Roxburg, W. (1874) Medicinally important plants of India. Flora indica (Carey’s edition). London
    31. Vol. 31, No.. 4, 2010 297
    32. Schliebs, R. et al. (1997) Neurochem Int. 30(2):181-190
    33. Schwarting, A. E. et al.(1963) Lloydia, 26:258
    34. Sharad, A. C. et al. (1996) Acta Oncol., 35(1): 95-100
    35. Singh, S. and Kumar, S.(1998) Withania somnifera:The Indian ginseng Ashwagandha: Central Institute Of Medicinal
    36. and Aromatic Plants , Lucknow, India
    37. Tripathi, A. K. et al. (1996) J. Medi. Aromatic Plant Sci., 18:46-62
    38. Warming, M. (1868) Medicinaly important plants of India. Pharmocoepia of India. pp. 247-251
    39. Wegele et al. (2004) Rev. Physiol. Biochem. Pharmacol., 151:1–44
    40. Whitesell, L. et al. (2000) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 91:8324–8328
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