Ashwagandha(Withania somnifera) - Health benefits, application, chemical constituents, side effects and many more

                   Ashwagandha

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Ashwagandha(Withania somnifera) is a powerful gift of nature. It is the herb which includes a lot of properties. It has been used form centuries in traditional Indian medicine. It is described as ashwa means horse and gandha means smell. In simple words when we crush leaf or root of ashwagandha, it smells like horse. The herb is also called Indian ginseng or winter cherry. Roots and leaves of ashwagandha is used as medicine.

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera, fam. Solanaceae) is commonly known as “Indian Winter cherry” or “Indian Ginseng”. It is one of the most important herb of Ayurveda (the traditional system of medicine in India) used for millennia as a Rasayana for its wide ranging health benefits. Rasayana is described as an herbal or metallic preparation that promotes a youthful state of physical and mental health and expands happiness. These types of remedies are given to small children as tonics, and are also taken by the middle-aged and elderly to increase longevity. Among the ayurvedic Rasayana herbs, Ashwagandha holds the most prominent place. It is known as “Sattvic Kapha Rasayana” Herb. Most of the Rasayana herbs are adaptogen / anti-stress agents.

Ashwagandha is commonly available as a churna, a fine sieved powder that can be mixed with water, ghee (clarified butter) or honey. It enhances the function of the brain and nervous system and improves the memory. It improves the function of the reproductive system promoting a healthy sexual and reproductive balance. Being a powerful adaptogen, it enhances the body's resilience to stress. Ashwagandha improves the body's defense against disease by improving the cell-mediated immunity. It also possesses potent antioxidant properties that help protect against cellular damage caused by free radicals.

Ashwagandha has different names in different languages such as in Hindi(Asgandha, Asgandh, Ashwagandha), Telugu(Penneru Gadda, Dommadolu Gadda),  Tamil (Amukura, Askulang), Malayalam(Amukkura),  Marathi(Asandh, Doragunj),  Gujarathi(Aasandha, Ghoda Aakun),  Bengali(Asvagandha),  Kannada(Ashvagandhi)

Ashwagandha and coronavirus

Natural compounds from Ashwagandha have emerged as a potential drug against Covid-19. It is revealed in a collaborative study of DAILAB at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Japan.

The researchers targeted the main SARS-CoV-2 enzyme for splitting proteins, known as the Main protease (Mpro). Mpro plays a key role in replication of the virus. The researchers have discovered that a chemical Withanone (Wi-N) – C28H38O6, derived from Ashwagandha and Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester (CAPE), an active ingredient of New Zealand Propolis, has the potential to block the activity of Mpro. Withanone also potentially blocks the entry of virus through the cell membrane.

• Withanone is a steroidal lactone, present in the roots of Ashwagandha. It belongs to a group of compounds called Withanolides.

Chemical composition of ashwagandha

• alkaloids - isopelletierine, anaferine, cuseohygrine, anahygrine, etc.

• steroidal lactones - withanolides, withaferins(withanone, withanolide WS-1, withanolide A to Y).

With this it also contain some compound such as somnirol, somnitol, withasomniferin A, nicotine, preudotropine, tropine, solasodine, withasomnine, Sitoindosides VII-X, sominone, Sominolide etc.

 

Other properties of Ashwagandha for Covid-19

1) It is a natural Antioxidant and is also useful in the treatment of fever and respiratory tract infections.

2) It is widely used to improve body strength, immunity and to relieve stress.

3) With all these positive points, it can be said that it is wise to include Ashwagandha in your herbal tea.

Some of the important properties of 

ashwagandha which is researched:

 It is used for various kinds of disease processes and specially as a nervine tonic. Considering these facts many scientific studies were carried out and its adaptogenic / anti-stress activities were studied in detail.

In experimental models it increases the stamina of rats during swimming endurance test and prevented adrenal gland changes of ascorbic acid and cortisol content produce by swimming stress. 

Pretreatment with Withania somnifera (WS) showed significance protection against stress induced gastric ulcers. 

It have anti-tumor effect on Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell carcinoma.

It was also found effective against urethane induced lung-adenoma in mice. In some cases of uterine fibroids, dermatosarcoma, long term treatment with WS(Withania somnifera)  controlled the condition.

It has a Cognition Promoting Effect and was useful in children with memory deficit and in old age people loss of memory. 

It was also found useful in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, Huntington's and Alzeimer's diseases. 

It has GABA mimetic effect and was shown to promote formation of dendrites. 

It has anxiolytic effect and improves energy levels and mitochondrial health. It is an anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic agent and was found useful in clinical cases of Rheumatoid and Osteoarthritis. 

                            (Refrance from ncbi  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3252722/)

Health benefits and properties of ashwagandha

Properties

• Rasa (taste) – Katu (pungent), Tikta (bitter),  Kashaya (astringent)

• Guna (qualities) – Snigdha (oiliness, unctuousness), Laghu (lightness)

• Veerya(potency) – Ushna(Hot) 

• Taste conversation after digestion – Katu 

• Effect on Tridosha – Balances Tridosha, especially Kapha and Vata.

Health benefits:

• Balaprada Balya – improves strength and immunity

• Vaajikari – improves sexual performance, useful in premature ejaculation and in some cases of erectile dysfunction.

•  Vrushya – acts as aphrodisiac

• Rasayani – improves life expectancy, anti aging, elixir.

• Pushtiprada – improves body nourishment

• Kaasam hanti – useful in cough, cold

• Anilam hanti – useful in Vataja disorders – neurological and neuro-muscular disorders like paralysis

• Vranaan hanti – useful to bring about quick wound healing

•  Shophahara– brings down inflammation

• Kanduhara – relieves itching, useful in pruritis

• Vishahara – anti toxic, useful in detox programs

• Shvitrahara – useful in leucoderma, on internal usage and external application

• Krumihara – useful in intestinal worm infestation,

• Shwasahara – useful in asthma, chronic respiratory diseases

• Kshatahara – useful in injury healing

• Kshayahara – useful in treating muscle wasting, emaciation, post tubercular treatment to improve muscle mass and strength

• Ati Shukrala – improves semen quantity and quality.

Benefits of ashwagandha

1) reduce inflammation

Studies found that it increases the activity of natural killer cells, which are immune cells that fight infection and reduce inflammation

2) reduce stress, depression, sleep disorder and anxiety:

Cartisol which is called as stress hormone and it releases in response to stress. By reducing cartisol hormone it reduce stress and depression. Person with this disease ashwagandha gives proper or good sleep

3) reduce blood sugar

Ashwagandha is very effective in improving insulin sensitivity and in increasing insulin secretions, controlling the blood glucose level. It is also helpful in maintaining the blood sugar levels in both healthy and diabetics person. With this anti oxidants and hypoglycemic activity is very useful in treating diabetes.

Ayurvedic remedies or mixtures for 

1) For to relieve pain, inflammation, healing wound, swelling : 

Paste of ashwagandha leaf or root and Sesame oil is applied on area.

        - The paste formed when roots are crushed with water is applied to reduce the inflammation at the joints.

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2) To boost immunity it should be taken with milk.

3) Antiviral herbal tea mix:

Guduchi, ginger, pepper, Cinnamon, clove, ashwagandha. Boil 4-5 minutes, filter and drink.

           Click here for more information about Cinnamon/Dalchini

4) For allergic swelling/ inflammation of upper respiratory tract:

1-1 gram mixture of ginger, ashwagandha, turmeric are taken along with warm water and milk in early morning or evening before food.

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 5) To improve sperm count :

Ashwagandha Powder with Honey and Ghee

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           Click here for more information about Ghee/Clarified butter

6) It is also locally applied in carbuncles, ulcers and painful swellings

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Note: 

           1) It has diuretic action.

           2) dosage is according to doctors consultation. Normally it should be taken 250 – 500 mg – once or twice a day in tablet or powdered format.

           3) some studies shows that Ashwagandha has testosterone boosting property.

           4) Ashwagandha has been shown to increase muscle mass, reduce body fat, and increase strength in men.

           5) Ashwagandha has a very good  anti oxidant effect.

           6) it boost immunity by increasing WBC.

           7) it is mostly used in making Chyawanprash.

           8) it's high antioxidant property shows anti-aging.

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Refrence : 

1) Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. Published online 2011.   PMCID: PMC3252722

2) International Journal of Pharmaceutical & Biological Archives 2016; 7 ( 1):  1- 11 ; ISSN 0976 – 3333

3) AYU (An International Quarterly Journal of Research in Ayurveda)  |  Year : 2015  |  Volume : 36  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 63-68

4) Cureus.  Published online 2019 Dec 25. PMCID: PMC6979308

5) J Ayurveda Integr Med.  2012 Oct-Dec; 3(4): 209–214.  PMCID: PMC3545242

6) World Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research; 2019,5(7), 230-233; ISSN 2455-3301

7) Int J Mol Sci. 2009 May; 10(5): 2367–2382.  Published online 2009 May 20. PMCID: PMC2695282

8) NCBI

9) PUBMED

10) Sciencedirect.com

11) Local tradition and knowledge

12) Pharmacognosy Reviews , Vol 1, Issue 1, Jan- May, 2007