Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, often referred to as Ashwagandha or Indian ginseng, is a renowned
medicinal herb widely utilized in traditional medical practices, especially Ayurveda, and it belongs to
the Solanaceae family. The plant has attracted considerable scientific interest because of its wide range
of pharmacological effects and therapeutic possibilities. Different sections of this plant, particularly the
roots and leaves, possess bioactive components that enhance its therapeutic properties. Many

experimental and clinical studies have shown that the plant possesses antioxidant, neuroprotective, anti-
inflammatory, anti-stress, and immunomodulatory properties. It has been used traditionally to boost

physical power, enhance mental performance, and support overall health. Recent studies also indicate
its possible involvement in controlling chronic issues like arthritis, neurodegenerative diseases,
diabetes, anxiety diseases, and cancer. The adaptogenic properties of W. somnifera assist the body in
managing physiological stress by balancing hormones and minimizing oxidative harm. Moreover, its
comparatively low toxicity and favourable tolerability render it a strong contender for extended
therapeutic application. Even with widespread traditional use and increasing scientific support,
additional rigorously designed clinical trials are necessary to determine standardized dosages, safety
profiles, and mechanisms of action. In general, it is a significant medicinal plant with substantial
potential for creating new herbal formulations and additional therapeutic agents.

Keywords: Withania somnifera, withanolides, adaptogen, diabetic, inflammatory

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1. Połumackanycz M, Forencewicz A, Wesołowski M, Viapiana A. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera L.)—The plant with proven health-promoting properties. Farm Pol. 2020;76:442–447.
2. Kale S, Lopresti A, Suri R, Garg N, Langade D. Safety and efficacy of Ashwagandha root extract on cognition, energy and mood problems in adults: Prospective randomized placebo-controlled study. J Psychoactive Drugs. 2024;1–13.
3. Tiwari S, Atluri V, Kaushik A, Yndart A, Nair M. Alzheimer’s disease: Pathogenesis, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Int J Nanomedicine. 2019;14:5541–5554.
4. Leonard M, Dickerson B, Estes L, Gonzalez DE, Jenkins V, Johnson S, et al. Acute and repeated Ashwagandha supplementation improves markers of cognitive function and mood. Nutrients. 2024;16:1813.
5. Atluri VSR, Tiwari S, Rodriguez M, Kaushik A, Yndart A, Kolishetti N, et al. Inhibition of amyloid-beta production, associated neuroinflammation, and histone deacetylase 2-mediated epigenetic modifications prevent neuropathology in Alzheimer’s disease in vitro model. Front Aging Neurosci. 2020;11:342.
6. Rauch JN, Luna G, Guzman E, Audouard M, Challis C, Sibih YE, et al. LRP1 is a master regulator of tau uptake and spread. Nature. 2020;580:381–385.
7. Dubey S, Kallubai M, Subramanyam R. Improving the inhibition of β-amyloid aggregation by withanolide and withanoside derivatives. Int J Biol Macromol. 2021;173:56–65.
8. Mukherjee S, Kumar G, Patnaik R. Withanolide A penetrates brain via intra-nasal administration and exerts neuroprotection in cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury in mice. Xenobiotica. 2020;50:957–966.
9. Bhargava P, Malik V, Liu Y, Ryu J, Kaul SC, Sundar D, et al. Molecular insights into Withaferin-A-induced senescence: Bioinformatics and experimental evidence to the role of NFκB and CARF. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2019;74:183–191.
10. Park CW, Hong KB, Suh HJ, Ahn Y. Sleep-promoting activity of amylase-treated Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera L. Dunal) root extract via GABA receptors. J Food Drug Anal. 2023;31:278–288.
11. Raja Sankar S, Manivasagam T, Surendran S. Ashwagandha leaf extract: A potential agent in treating oxidative damage and physiological abnormalities seen in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease. Neurosci Lett. 2009;454:11–15.
12. Rojas NG, Cesarini ME, Peker G, Da Prat GA, Etcheverry JL, Gatto EM. Review of Huntington’s disease: From basics to advances in diagnosis and treatment. J Neurol Res. 2022;12:93–113.
13. Owais M, Sharad KS, Shehbaz A, Saleemuddin M. Antibacterial efficacy of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) an indigenous medicinal plant against experimental murine salmonellosis. Phytomedicine. 2005;12:229–235.
14. Fakhri S, Piri S, Moradi SZ, Khan H. Phytochemicals targeting oxidative stress, interconnected neuroinflammatory, and neuroapoptotic pathways following radiation. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2022;20:836–856.
15. Jahanbakhsh SP, Manteghi AA, Emami SA, Mahyari S, Gholampour B, Mohammadpour AH, et al. Evaluation of the efficacy of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) root extract in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Complement Ther Med. 2016;27:25–29.
16. Salve J, Pate S, Debnath K, Langade D. Adaptogenic and anxiolytic effects of Ashwagandha root
17. extract in healthy adults: A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical study. Cureus. 2019;11:e6466.
18. Alam N, Hossain M, Mottalib MA, Sulaiman SA, Gan SH, Khalil MI. Methanolic extracts of Withania somnifera leaves, fruits and roots possess antioxidant properties and antibacterial activities. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2012;12:1–8.
19. Thakur DA, Dey A, Chatterjee S, Kumar V. Reverse Ayurvedic pharmacology of Ashwagandha as an adaptogenic antidiabetic plant: A pilot study. Curr Tradit Med. 2015;1:51–61.
20. Gupta M, Kaur G. Withania somnifera as a potential anxiolytic and anti-inflammatory candidate against systemic lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammation. Neuromol Med. 2018;20:343–362.
21. Kumari M, Gupta RP. In vitro antibacterial effect of Withania somnifera root extract on Escherichia coli. Vet World. 2015;8:57.

Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, often referred to as Ashwagandha or Indian ginseng, is a renowned
medicinal herb widely utilized in traditional medical practices, especially Ayurveda, and it belongs to
the Solanaceae family. The plant has attracted considerable scientific interest because of its wide range
of pharmacological effects and therapeutic possibilities. Different sections of this plant, particularly the
roots and leaves, possess bioactive components that enhance its therapeutic properties. Many

experimental and clinical studies have shown that the plant possesses antioxidant, neuroprotective, anti-
inflammatory, anti-stress, and immunomodulatory properties. It has been used traditionally to boost

physical power, enhance mental performance, and support overall health. Recent studies also indicate
its possible involvement in controlling chronic issues like arthritis, neurodegenerative diseases,
diabetes, anxiety diseases, and cancer. The adaptogenic properties of W. somnifera assist the body in
managing physiological stress by balancing hormones and minimizing oxidative harm. Moreover, its
comparatively low toxicity and favourable tolerability render it a strong contender for extended
therapeutic application. Even with widespread traditional use and increasing scientific support,
additional rigorously designed clinical trials are necessary to determine standardized dosages, safety
profiles, and mechanisms of action. In general, it is a significant medicinal plant with substantial
potential for creating new herbal formulations and additional therapeutic agents.

Keywords: Withania somnifera, withanolides, adaptogen, diabetic, inflammatory

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. Połumackanycz M, Forencewicz A, Wesołowski M, Viapiana A. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera L.)—The plant with proven health-promoting properties. Farm Pol. 2020;76:442–447.
2. Kale S, Lopresti A, Suri R, Garg N, Langade D. Safety and efficacy of Ashwagandha root extract on cognition, energy and mood problems in adults: Prospective randomized placebo-controlled study. J Psychoactive Drugs. 2024;1–13.
3. Tiwari S, Atluri V, Kaushik A, Yndart A, Nair M. Alzheimer’s disease: Pathogenesis, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Int J Nanomedicine. 2019;14:5541–5554.
4. Leonard M, Dickerson B, Estes L, Gonzalez DE, Jenkins V, Johnson S, et al. Acute and repeated Ashwagandha supplementation improves markers of cognitive function and mood. Nutrients. 2024;16:1813.
5. Atluri VSR, Tiwari S, Rodriguez M, Kaushik A, Yndart A, Kolishetti N, et al. Inhibition of amyloid-beta production, associated neuroinflammation, and histone deacetylase 2-mediated epigenetic modifications prevent neuropathology in Alzheimer’s disease in vitro model. Front Aging Neurosci. 2020;11:342.
6. Rauch JN, Luna G, Guzman E, Audouard M, Challis C, Sibih YE, et al. LRP1 is a master regulator of tau uptake and spread. Nature. 2020;580:381–385.
7. Dubey S, Kallubai M, Subramanyam R. Improving the inhibition of β-amyloid aggregation by withanolide and withanoside derivatives. Int J Biol Macromol. 2021;173:56–65.
8. Mukherjee S, Kumar G, Patnaik R. Withanolide A penetrates brain via intra-nasal administration and exerts neuroprotection in cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury in mice. Xenobiotica. 2020;50:957–966.
9. Bhargava P, Malik V, Liu Y, Ryu J, Kaul SC, Sundar D, et al. Molecular insights into Withaferin-A-induced senescence: Bioinformatics and experimental evidence to the role of NFκB and CARF. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2019;74:183–191.
10. Park CW, Hong KB, Suh HJ, Ahn Y. Sleep-promoting activity of amylase-treated Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera L. Dunal) root extract via GABA receptors. J Food Drug Anal. 2023;31:278–288.
11. Raja Sankar S, Manivasagam T, Surendran S. Ashwagandha leaf extract: A potential agent in treating oxidative damage and physiological abnormalities seen in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease. Neurosci Lett. 2009;454:11–15.
12. Rojas NG, Cesarini ME, Peker G, Da Prat GA, Etcheverry JL, Gatto EM. Review of Huntington’s disease: From basics to advances in diagnosis and treatment. J Neurol Res. 2022;12:93–113.
13. Owais M, Sharad KS, Shehbaz A, Saleemuddin M. Antibacterial efficacy of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) an indigenous medicinal plant against experimental murine salmonellosis. Phytomedicine. 2005;12:229–235.
14. Fakhri S, Piri S, Moradi SZ, Khan H. Phytochemicals targeting oxidative stress, interconnected neuroinflammatory, and neuroapoptotic pathways following radiation. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2022;20:836–856.
15. Jahanbakhsh SP, Manteghi AA, Emami SA, Mahyari S, Gholampour B, Mohammadpour AH, et al. Evaluation of the efficacy of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) root extract in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Complement Ther Med. 2016;27:25–29.
16. Salve J, Pate S, Debnath K, Langade D. Adaptogenic and anxiolytic effects of Ashwagandha root
17. extract in healthy adults: A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical study. Cureus. 2019;11:e6466.
18. Alam N, Hossain M, Mottalib MA, Sulaiman SA, Gan SH, Khalil MI. Methanolic extracts of Withania somnifera leaves, fruits and roots possess antioxidant properties and antibacterial activities. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2012;12:1–8.
19. Thakur DA, Dey A, Chatterjee S, Kumar V. Reverse Ayurvedic pharmacology of Ashwagandha as an adaptogenic antidiabetic plant: A pilot study. Curr Tradit Med. 2015;1:51–61.
20. Gupta M, Kaur G. Withania somnifera as a potential anxiolytic and anti-inflammatory candidate against systemic lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammation. Neuromol Med. 2018;20:343–362.
21. Kumari M, Gupta RP. In vitro antibacterial effect of Withania somnifera root extract on Escherichia coli. Vet World. 2015;8:57.