Ashwagandha

Also known as Withania somnifera

Family: Solanaceae

Adaptogen

• Full spectrum Ashwagandha root extract improved resistance to stress resulting in improved (self-assessed) quality of life. Integr Cancer Ther. 2013 Jul;12(4):312-22.
• In a stress model using rats it had signiicant antistress activity
  Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2003 Jun;75(3):547-55.

Antibacterial

• Significant antibacterial action, as well as antioxidant. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2012 Oct 7;12:175

Antioxidant

• “Strong free radical scavenging activity”
  Acta Pol Pharm. 2012 Nov-Dec;69(6):1095-101.
• Antioxidant activity helpful in epileptic rats. Neurochem Res. 2012 Sep;37(9):1915-27
• Strong anti-inflammatory and muco-restorative action. Potential in inflammatory bowel disease. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2011 Apr 28;11:34
• Dehydration-induced oxidative stress in rats.
  Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl. 2010 Jan;21(1):75-80.
• Protecting nephrons. Ren Fail. 2009;31(9):814-21
• Potential for Parkinson’s disease according to mouse model. J Ethnopharmacol. 2009 Sep 25;125(3):369-73.
• Safe and multiple actions to it’s antitumoural effect. Eur J Cancer. 2009 May;45(8):1494-509.

Cancer

• Potential therapeutic agent for prostate cancer. J Nat Prod. 2013 Sep 30
• “Withania somnifera Root Extract Inhibits Mammary Cancer Metastasis…” PLoS ONE 8(9): e75069.
• May be useful for preventing cancer-related fatigue. Integr Cancer Ther. 2013 Jul;12(4):312-22.
• Ashwagandha for tumours – molecular evidence that Ashwagandha selectively kills tumour cells. (Clin Cancer Res. 2007 Apr 1;13(7):2298-306)
• Potential role in oncology. Altern Med Rev. 2006 Dec;11(4):269-77.

Cardiovascular

• Potential cardioprotective Free Radic Biol Med. 2013 Mar;56:102-11.
• Cardioprotective Clin Nutr. 2008 Aug;27(4):635-42. Mol Cell Biochem. 2004 May;260(1-2):39-47.
• Cholesterol in rat model. Even decreased lipid profiles in normal subjects. Phytomedicine. 2007 Feb;14(2-3):136-42.

Diabetes

• Both the extract from the leaf and from the root “restored the levels to normal.” Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2010 Jun;65(2):91-8
• “Ameliorate metformin-induced hypothyroidism in Type 2 diabetic subjects” Phytother Res. 2009 Aug;23(8):1140-5

Inflammation

• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) model showed potent reductionin inflammation with Ashwagandha. Inflammopharmacology. 2012 Aug;20(4):195-205
• Significant help in a rat model of arthritis. Fundam Clin Pharmacol. 2007 Apr;21(2):157-64.
• For “gouty arthritis”. Chem Biol Interact. 2006 Dec 15;164(3):174-80

Misc

• This free full article covers aspects such as GABA mimetic effect, anxiolytic effect, anti-inflammaroy effect, stress, and more. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 2011;8(5 Suppl):208-13.

Neuroprotective

• In a study on mice it was found to be neuroprotective.
  Cent Nerv Syst Agents Med Chem. 2013 Mar;13(1):43-56.
• Potential according to an animal model of Huntington’s Disease. J Med Food. 2009 Jun;12(3):591-600.
• Neuroprotective ability in mice. Cell Mol Biol Lett. 2007;12(4):473-81

Performance

• May be used for “generalized weakness and to improve speed and lower limb muscular strength and neuro-muscular co-ordination” Int J Ayurveda Res. 2010 Jul;1(3):144-9

Reproductive Health

• In small human study it improved semen quality. Fertil Steril. 2010 Aug;94(3):989-96