Assessment of Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Activity of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha)

Abstract

Withania somnifera L. (Dunal), a member of the Solanaceae family, has been used by Ayurvedicpractitioners for thousands of years. The root of Withania somnifera contains flavonoids,alkaloids, steroids, and other useful functional components. It contains a high concentration ofbioreactors, or secondary metabolites, such as steroidal lactones, alkaloids, and flavonoids, all ofwhich have beneficial properties and are used in ninety Ayurvedic formulations. Ashwagandhahas long been recognized as a potent rejuvenator, general health tonic, and treatment for awide range of ailments. It is a sedative, diuretic, and anti-inflammatory herb that is well knownfor increasing energy and endurance while also acting as an adaptogen with high immunestimulatory and anti-stress properties. Ashwagandha is used to treat colds, cough, emaciation,diabetes, conjunctivitis, epilepsy, insomnia, senile dementia, leprosy, Parkinson’s disease,mental disorders, rheumatic, arthritis, intestinal infections, bronchitis, asthma, impotence, andalso used as HIV/AIDS suppressant. According to the Indian Herbal System, ashwagandha isone of the most important herbs and the best adaptogenic (Ayurveda). Withanolide is made upof steroidal molecules that are supposed to help with inflammation. Ashwagandha boosts theimmune system, reduces inflammation, improves cognition, and promotes overall health andwell-being. Ashwagandha is a shrub that promotes bone marrow and sperm production, as wellas acting as an anti-aging. By using the agar well diffusion method, the antibacterial activity ofdifferent solvent extracts of Withania somnifera stem was assessed against the gram-negativebacteria Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. When testedagainst several test microorganisms, all of the extracts showed strong antibacterial activity. E.coli was the investigation’s most vulnerable bacterium, and all of the plant extracts displayedzones of inhibition when used against it. The methanol extract of W. somnifera stem and leafhad the strongest antibacterial effect against E.coli, followed by S. aureus and Pseudomonas.All bacterial strains were least inhibited by DH2O extract. The MIC of the extracts that wererecorded ranged from 8 mm to 26 mm. In the current experiment, methanol extract had thelowest MIC value (8 mm) against S. aureus and Pseudomonas. Different phytochemicals werefound in different extracts of Withania according to qualitative phytochemical analysis. Severalstudies have found that Ashwagandha has anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory properties. It has asignificantly greater steroidal than hydrocortisone, which is a typical cancer treatment.