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Medicinal Plant details |
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Information |
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| Sanskrit Name |
Asvagandha, Varahakarni (WOA, 1998). |
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| Common name in English |
Winter cherry |
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| Botanical Name |
Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal
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| Etymology |
1) Asvagandha, Vajigandha, Tauragandha and Hyagandha: are combinations of synonyms of horse and odour, signify some similarity in the odour of the plant or the drug to that of a horse.
2) Balya, Varada and Vajikari: drug capable of giving great strength or vigour health and longevity (Patwardhan, 1988). |
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| Parts Used |
Roots and Leaves. |
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| Human Medicinal Usage |
The tuberous roots are astringent, bitter, acrid, somniferous, thermogenic, stimulant, aphrodisiac, diuretic and tonic (Andallu, 2000).
They are used in vitiated conditions of vata, leucoderma, constipations, insomnia, tissue building and nervous breakdown. The leaves are bitter and recommended in fever, painful swellings and opthalmitis (Kurup, 1956). A paste of roots and bruised leaves are applied to carbuncles, ulcers and painful swellings along with cancer (Anbalagan, 1985; Sharma, 1992).
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| Veterinary Medicinal Usage |
Fermented decoction of the storage tissue of Withania somnifera, leaves of Gynan-dropsis pentaphylla, stem of Cissus quadrangularis, white onion, pepper and ginger is mixed with the same quantity of buttermilk. A litre of this mixture is given to the affected animal to cure asthma (Jogappa, 1997).
Grind 50 g Withania somnifera roots and fed to animals suffering from FMD (Samappa, 1998). Grounded root of Withania somnifera, powdered bark of Butea monosperma; Trigonella foenum- graecum leaves and Musa sapientum fruits are used to manage FMD in cattles (Gupta, 2000).
In order to effect fertility / conception and also to beget healthy calves, leaves of palakodi (Leptadenia reticulata), kernel of Mango (Mangifera indica), Roots of aswagandha (Withania somnifera), and leaves of malaivembu (Melia azedarach) are pounded well and administered for 10 days after the animal is inseminated (Kunde, 2000). |
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| Agriculture Usage |
Aswagandha (Withania somnifera) roots are used for treating seeds of ragi and jowar. Treated seeds produce vigourous seedlings (Mallappa, 2000).
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| Synonyms |
Physalis somnifera L. |
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| Family |
Solanaceae |
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| Description |
An erect, branched, undershrub reaching about 150cm in height usually clothed with minutely stellate tomentum. Leaves are ovate upto 10cm long. Flowers are greenish or lurid yellow in axillary cymes. Fruits are globose berries which are orange colored when mature, enclosed in a persistant calyx. The fleshy roots when dry are cylinderical gradually tapering down with a brownish white surface and pure white inside when broken. Fl. & Fr.: Oct.-Dec. (WOA, 1998). |
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| Common Name in India |
Asgandh, Punir (Hindi); Asvagandha (Gujarati); Viremaddinagaddi, Kiremallinagida (Kannad); Amukkuram (Malyalam); Amukkira, Amukkirakkilangu (Tamil); Vajigandha, Pannirugadda, Pulivendramu (Telugu) (WOA, 1998).
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| Common Name in Other Countries |
Genessblaar (Africans) |
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| Habitat |
It is found to be growing throughout the drier parts of India in waste places also cultivated (WOA, 1998).
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| Rainfall |
It can tolerate dry climate |
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| Soil (Physical/Chemical) |
Various all types. |
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| Regional Distribution |
It is distributed throughout India especially in the drier subtropical regions. It has been recorded from up Bengal, Gujarat, Konkan, Deccan, districts, Mysore Coimbatore, Coramandel etc. (WOA, 1998). |
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| Harvest |
Harvesting is done in January and continues till March. Entire plant is uprooted for roots, which are separated by cutting the stem 1-2cm above the crown. |
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| Pests / Diseases |
Damping off is a major disease of ashvagandha which results in heavy seedling mortality. Under field conditions, the plant is subject to leaf blight, die back, seed rot, and infestation by mites, aphids and lady bird beetle (Epilachna vigintioctopunctata). Cultivated types were found more susceptible to fungal infections whereas wild types were prone to mites and insect pests. Dithane M-45 at 0.5% concentration used as seed dressing and soil disinfection were found to be most suitable for controlling damping off disease. Leafblight is checked to some extent by 0.3% Dithane M-45 foliar sprays. A combination of 0.5% malathion and 0.1-0.3% Kelthane as foliar spray at 10-15 day intervals was found highly useful against mites and insect attacks.
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| Chemical composition |
Alcoholic extract showed potentiation of barbiturate hynosis and decreased locomoter activity in rats. It induced depletion of acetylcholine and actecholamines in brain and increased levels of serotonin and histamins in whole brain tissues. A C-28 steroid lactone is isolated from roots and identified as 5,20alfa-dihydroxy-6alfa, 7alfa- epoxy-1- oxowitha -2,24-dienolide (withanolide); nine new sterodal lactones - withanolides E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L and M - isolated from leaves. Seven of these characterised as 20-hydroxy -1-oxo-20R, 22R-witha-2,5,8(14),24- tetraenolide (withanolide H), 20 -hydroxy-1-oxo-20R,22R-witha-3,5,8(14),24- tetraenolide (withanolide I), 17,20 -dihydroxy-1- -hydroxy-1-oxo-20S,22R-witha-2,5,8(14),24- tetraenolide (withanolide J), 17,20 -dihydroxy-1- -hydroxy-1-oxo-20S,22R-witha-3,5,8(14),24- tetraenolide (withanolide K),17,20 -dihydroxy-1- -hydroxy-1-oxo-20S,22R-witha-2,5,8,14,24- tetraenolide (withanolide L) and 17,20 -dihydroxy-1- -hydroxy -1-oxo-20S,22R-witha-2,5,8(14),24- tetraenolide (withanolide M); another withanolide -WS-1- isolated from seeds; structures of withanolides E,F,P and S determined (Aral, 1975; Asthana, 1989; Ganzera, 2003).
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| Herbarium No |
1 |
REFERENCES |
| SR No. |
NAME |
ARTICLE TITLE |
AUTHOR |
PLACE OF PUBLICATION |
VOLUME/ISSUE |
YEAR |
PUBLISHER |
COMMENT |
| 1 |
The wealth of india |
The wealth of india |
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new delhi india |
vol-10/p-581-585 |
1952 |
c.s.i.r |
A dictionary of indian raw materials and industrial products |
| 2 |
Glossary of indian medicinal plants |
Glossary of indian medicinal plants |
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new delhi india |
vol-8/series-1/p-31-38 |
1956 |
c.s.i.r |
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| 3 |
Nighantu adrash purvardh |
Nighantu adrash purvardh |
Vaidya Bopalal G |
surat |
p-436-438 |
1965 |
Atmanand saraswati ayurved pharmacy |
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| 4 |
Indian medicinal plants |
Indian medicinal plants |
P.S.Varier's arya vaidya sala |
kottakkal |
vol-5/p-409 |
1997 |
longman limited |
A compendium of 500sps. |
| 5 |
Pharmacognosy of ayurvedic drugs of travan core cochin |
Pharmacognosy of ayurvedic drugs of travan core cochin |
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Trivendrum |
p-258 |
1951 |
Central research institute |
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| 6 |
The useful plants of india |
The useful plants of india |
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new delhi india |
p-690 |
1986 |
c.s.i.r |
publications and information directorate |
| 7 |
Central Council for Research in Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy. |
Pharmacognosy and phytochemistry of Withania somnifera (Linn.) Dunal (ashwagandha) |
Aral, CK, Gupta, OP, Raghunathan, K, Dhar, KL. |
New Delhi. |
80 p. |
1975. |
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| 8 |
Indian Drugs. |
Pharmacology of Withania somnifera, a review. |
Asthana, A, Raina, MK. |
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26(5): 199-205. |
1989. |
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| 9 |
IJEB. |
Hypoglycemic, diuretic and hypocholesterolemic effect of winter cherry (Withania somnifera Dunal) root. |
Andallu, B, Radhika, B. |
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38(6): 607-609. |
2000. |
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| 10 |
Honey Bee. |
Managing Foot and Mouth Disease Through Innovative Traditions. |
Anonymous. |
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11(2): 7-8. |
2000. |
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| 11 |
Journal of the National Integrated Medical Association. |
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) - A review. |
Patwardhan, B, Panse, GT, Kulkarni, PH. |
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30(6): 7-10. |
1988. |
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| 12 |
Indian Drugs. |
1992 |
Sharma, K, Dandiya, PC. . Withania somnifera Dunal, present status. |
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29(6): 247-253. |
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| 13 |
International Journal of Crude Drug Research. |
Withania somnifera (ashwagandha), a rejuvenating herbal drug which controls alpha-2-macro-globulin synthesis during inflammation |
Anbalagan, K, Sadique, J. |
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23(4): 177-183. |
1985 |
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| 14 |
IJEB. |
Hypoglycemic, diuretic and hypocholesterolemic effect of winter cherry (Withania somnifera Dunal) root. |
Andallu, B, Radhika, B. |
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38(6): 607-609. |
2000. |
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| 15 |
JREIM.
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Some problems in cultivation of Withania somnifera (L) Dunal (ashwagandha) in Jammu region of India |
Gupta, S, Arun Kumar, Thakur, RN. |
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12(3): 23-27. |
1993. |
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| 16 |
Current Science. |
Antibiotic principle of the leaves of Withania somnifera. |
Kurup, PA. |
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25(2): 57-58. |
1956b. |
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| 17 |
Fitoterapia. |
Quantitative HPLC analysis of withanolides in Withania somnifera. |
Ganzera, M, Choudhary, MI, Khan, IA. |
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74(1): 68-76. |
2003. |
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| 18 |
WOA |
The Wealth of Asia |
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New Delhi |
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1998 |
National Institute of Science Communication, CSIR |
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