Abstract
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera L. Dunal) roots have been used in Ayurveda for fever, asthma, arthritis,rheumatism, inflammation, tuberculosis, mental diseases, and male sexual disorders. Phytochemical studiesrevealed that the plant mainly contains alkaloids (withanine, sominiferine, tropine, isopelletierine andanaferine), and steroidal lactones (withanolides A-Y, withaferine A, withasominiferols A-C, withanone and sitoindosides) as bioactive metabolites. These constituents and extracts have several pharmacologicalactivities, including antioxidant, antitumour, antimicrobial, antivenom, and anti-parkinsonian activities.The present review presents updated information on ashwagandha based on its phytochemistry andpharmacology. The plant and many of its secondary metabolites have been found to be effective in thetreatment of many human ailments. However, further investigations are still needed to understand the exactmechanism of their actions.
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