Agricultural-based challenges, genetic enhancement, and obstacles to an industrially important medicinal plant, ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal): A review

Abstract

In the pharmaceutical enterprise, traditional/herbal remedies and commercial drug sources Withania somnifera and Withania coagulans received excellent scores. Numerous studies have been conducted on the phytochemistry and pharmacology of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal. However, the toxicity of plant components extracted using different solvent systems is yet to be ascertained. It is important to find out and isolate active ingredients. Advanced analytical and separation chemistry studies will reveal data on the toxicity, isolation of novel compounds, chemotypic diversity, and ethnobotany of the Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal. Modern tools of speed breeding can be applied, and micropropagation technology can be developed and used to ensure the supply of superior germplasm/improved varieties with genetic fidelity for farming. Genomics-assisted breeding, transgenic technologies, and gene-, genome-, and epigenome editing approaches may be considered new potential tools for metabolic engineering beneficial compounds from Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal.