Bot. name: Withania somnifera
Sanskrit Name: Ashwagandha Balada, Vajini, Pushtida, Vataghni
Hindi name : Ashwagandha
Urdu name : Asgandh
English Name: Winter Cherry
Family Name: Solanaceae
Parts used: Leaves, roots, seeds
Medicinal uses of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) :Ashwgandha has long been considered as an excellent rejuvenator, a general health tonic and a cure for a number of health complaints. It is a sedative, diuretic, anti-inflammatory and generally respected for increasing energy, endurance, and acts as an-adaptogen that exerts a strong immunostimulatory and an-anti-stress agent.
Ashwagandha is taken for treating cold and coughs, ulcers, emaciation, diabetes, conjunctivitis, epilepsy, insomnia, senile dementia, leprosy, Parkinson’s disease, nervous disorders, rheumatism, arthritis, intestinal infections, bronchitis, asthma, impotence and a suppressant in HIV/AIDS patients.
According to Indian Herbal System (Ayurveda), Ashwagandha is considered one of the most important herbs and the best adaptogenic. It contains constituents like cuseohygrine, anahygrine, tropine, and anaferine, glycosides, withenolide with starches and amino acid. Withanolide consists of steroidal molecules which is said to fight inflammation.
Ashwagandha stimulates the immune system, combats inflammation, increases memory, and helps maintain general health and wellness. Ashwagandha is known to increase the production of bone marrow, semen, and acts anti-aging. Ashwagandha anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory agents are approved in several studies. Its steroidal is much higher than that of hydrocortisone which is a common treatment in cancer cases.
Diseases like TB, chronic upper respiratory diseases and HIV have been added to the list of Ashwagandha due to its strong immunostimulatory activity, and it is recognized as a blood tonic, especially in gynecological disorders including anemia and irregular menstruation.
Patients with anxiety can also benefit from Ashwagandha. During clinical trials, 30 sufferers of anxiety were given 40ml of Ashwagandha twice a day and after 30 days, all anxiety symptoms including panic attacks and paranoia had virtually disappeared.
Ashwagandha effects on the Brain Chemicals:
GABA-mimetic activity having anxiolytic effect.
Inhibiting Cholinesterase and thereby retaining Acetylcholine for longer time.
Slowing down of tolerance of the analgesic effects of morphine.
Induction of axon and dendrite outgrowth, there by resulting in neuritis regeneration and synaptic reconstruction.
Ashwagandha Immunostimulatory effect:
Immunity stimulating effect through Macrophages.
Raised antibody titer against Bordetella pertusis strains (Combats Diphtheria).
Protective effect in Cyclophosphamide induced myelosuppression.
Beneficial in Ageing and Copper induced lipid peroxidation.
Ashwagandha helping in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Ashwagandha as an adaptogenic and Anti-Stress agent:
Respected as Ginseng in Chronic stress models.
Protective effect in stress induced neuronal degeneration.
Helping to achieve better state to fight against stress.
Prevents stress related ulcer.
Ashwagandha Rejuvenative and Reproductive action:
Increases libido and sexual function.
Supports female reproductive system, and increases ovarian weight and folliculogenesis.
Ashwagandha is approved as a greatest rejuvenative herb in Indian Herbal System.
Useful in treating arthritis, diabetes and hypertension.
Ashwagandha is a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis and it is respected for its phytochemical
Ashwagandha in Cancer Patients:
Acts as anti-carcinogenic.
Growth inhibitor of human tumor cell lines.
Counteracting mutagenic effect.
Ashwagandha possesses anti-proliferative agent.
Respected as a natural source of potent radiosensitizer in chemotherapy.
Recommended in Ascitic Sarcoma.
Useful in Melanoma induced metastasis.
Supports DMBA induced Squamous cell carcinoma.
Enhances cellular immune response to mitogens.
Reversing Paclitaxel induced Neutropenia.
Ashwagandha in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease:
An L-dopa in an herbal formulation found in Ashwagandha.
Enhances memory through cholinergic channels.
Stabilizes mood, improves learning ability.
Ashwagandha as a Free Radical Scavenger & Antioxidant:
Increases the three natural antioxidants in brain.
Stimulates Immune system through Nitric oxide production in Macrophage.
Dose dependent free radical scavenging and protective effect on DNA cleavage.
It has a good effect in Iron overload and Lead toxicity.
Prevents Neuroleptic induced extra pyramidal side effects.
Ashwagandha on Anxiety and Depression:
Ashwagandha is comparable to Bacopa Monnieri in anxiety and depression
Anxiolytic effect comparable to Lorazepam.
Antidepressant effect comparable to Imipramine.
Found nontoxic in doses up to 100 mg per kg of body weight.
As calming, anticonvulsant and antispasmodic effect.
Able to stimulate endocrine glands.
Ashwagandha as a Cardiovascular Protector
Able to protect Cardiovascular system against ischemic and reperfusion injury.
Beneficial in Focal ischemia.
Supports anti-atherogenic activity in polyherbal formula.
Possesses a mild hypoglycemic, diuretic and an anti-hypercholesterolemic agent.
Supports Streptozotocin induced diabetes.
Withania somnifera-Ashwagandha
Withania somnifera seeds/Leafs/Roots are available for personal use only
For more details: http://jkmpic.blogspot.com
The Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre-JKMPIC
POB: 667 GPO Srinagar SGR JK 190001
Ph: 09858986794/01933-223705
e-mail: jkmpic@gmail.com
Sanskrit Name: Ashwagandha Balada, Vajini, Pushtida, Vataghni
Hindi name : Ashwagandha
Urdu name : Asgandh
English Name: Winter Cherry
Family Name: Solanaceae
Parts used: Leaves, roots, seeds
Medicinal uses of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) :Ashwgandha has long been considered as an excellent rejuvenator, a general health tonic and a cure for a number of health complaints. It is a sedative, diuretic, anti-inflammatory and generally respected for increasing energy, endurance, and acts as an-adaptogen that exerts a strong immunostimulatory and an-anti-stress agent.
Ashwagandha is taken for treating cold and coughs, ulcers, emaciation, diabetes, conjunctivitis, epilepsy, insomnia, senile dementia, leprosy, Parkinson’s disease, nervous disorders, rheumatism, arthritis, intestinal infections, bronchitis, asthma, impotence and a suppressant in HIV/AIDS patients.
According to Indian Herbal System (Ayurveda), Ashwagandha is considered one of the most important herbs and the best adaptogenic. It contains constituents like cuseohygrine, anahygrine, tropine, and anaferine, glycosides, withenolide with starches and amino acid. Withanolide consists of steroidal molecules which is said to fight inflammation.
Ashwagandha stimulates the immune system, combats inflammation, increases memory, and helps maintain general health and wellness. Ashwagandha is known to increase the production of bone marrow, semen, and acts anti-aging. Ashwagandha anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory agents are approved in several studies. Its steroidal is much higher than that of hydrocortisone which is a common treatment in cancer cases.
Diseases like TB, chronic upper respiratory diseases and HIV have been added to the list of Ashwagandha due to its strong immunostimulatory activity, and it is recognized as a blood tonic, especially in gynecological disorders including anemia and irregular menstruation.
Patients with anxiety can also benefit from Ashwagandha. During clinical trials, 30 sufferers of anxiety were given 40ml of Ashwagandha twice a day and after 30 days, all anxiety symptoms including panic attacks and paranoia had virtually disappeared.
Ashwagandha effects on the Brain Chemicals:
GABA-mimetic activity having anxiolytic effect.
Inhibiting Cholinesterase and thereby retaining Acetylcholine for longer time.
Slowing down of tolerance of the analgesic effects of morphine.
Induction of axon and dendrite outgrowth, there by resulting in neuritis regeneration and synaptic reconstruction.
Ashwagandha Immunostimulatory effect:
Immunity stimulating effect through Macrophages.
Raised antibody titer against Bordetella pertusis strains (Combats Diphtheria).
Protective effect in Cyclophosphamide induced myelosuppression.
Beneficial in Ageing and Copper induced lipid peroxidation.
Ashwagandha helping in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Ashwagandha as an adaptogenic and Anti-Stress agent:
Respected as Ginseng in Chronic stress models.
Protective effect in stress induced neuronal degeneration.
Helping to achieve better state to fight against stress.
Prevents stress related ulcer.
Ashwagandha Rejuvenative and Reproductive action:
Increases libido and sexual function.
Supports female reproductive system, and increases ovarian weight and folliculogenesis.
Ashwagandha is approved as a greatest rejuvenative herb in Indian Herbal System.
Useful in treating arthritis, diabetes and hypertension.
Ashwagandha is a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis and it is respected for its phytochemical
Ashwagandha in Cancer Patients:
Acts as anti-carcinogenic.
Growth inhibitor of human tumor cell lines.
Counteracting mutagenic effect.
Ashwagandha possesses anti-proliferative agent.
Respected as a natural source of potent radiosensitizer in chemotherapy.
Recommended in Ascitic Sarcoma.
Useful in Melanoma induced metastasis.
Supports DMBA induced Squamous cell carcinoma.
Enhances cellular immune response to mitogens.
Reversing Paclitaxel induced Neutropenia.
Ashwagandha in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease:
An L-dopa in an herbal formulation found in Ashwagandha.
Enhances memory through cholinergic channels.
Stabilizes mood, improves learning ability.
Ashwagandha as a Free Radical Scavenger & Antioxidant:
Increases the three natural antioxidants in brain.
Stimulates Immune system through Nitric oxide production in Macrophage.
Dose dependent free radical scavenging and protective effect on DNA cleavage.
It has a good effect in Iron overload and Lead toxicity.
Prevents Neuroleptic induced extra pyramidal side effects.
Ashwagandha on Anxiety and Depression:
Ashwagandha is comparable to Bacopa Monnieri in anxiety and depression
Anxiolytic effect comparable to Lorazepam.
Antidepressant effect comparable to Imipramine.
Found nontoxic in doses up to 100 mg per kg of body weight.
As calming, anticonvulsant and antispasmodic effect.
Able to stimulate endocrine glands.
Ashwagandha as a Cardiovascular Protector
Able to protect Cardiovascular system against ischemic and reperfusion injury.
Beneficial in Focal ischemia.
Supports anti-atherogenic activity in polyherbal formula.
Possesses a mild hypoglycemic, diuretic and an anti-hypercholesterolemic agent.
Supports Streptozotocin induced diabetes.
Withania somnifera-Ashwagandha
Withania somnifera seeds/Leafs/Roots are available for personal use only
For more details: http://jkmpic.blogspot.com
The Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre-JKMPIC
POB: 667 GPO Srinagar SGR JK 190001
Ph: 09858986794/01933-223705
e-mail: jkmpic@gmail.com
