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Talk:Withania somnifera (botany): Difference between revisions
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{{SubstanceBox/Ashwagandha}} | {{SubstanceBox/Ashwagandha}} | ||
'''Ashwagandha''' (also known as '''Withania somnifera''', '''Indian ginseng''', '''Poison gooseberry''' and '''Winter cherry''') is an adaptogenic<ref>Withania somnifera: an Indian ginseng. |http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17959291</ref> plant in the ''Solanaceae'' or Nightshade family that is used as a herbal treatment in Ayurvedic medicine. Ashwagandha contains flavonoids such as Withanolide A and Withaferin-A, which are believed to be responsible for Ashwagandha's psychoactive properties. | '''Ashwagandha''' (also known as '''Withania somnifera''', '''Indian ginseng''', '''Poison gooseberry''' and '''Winter cherry''') is an adaptogenic<ref>Withania somnifera: an Indian ginseng. |http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17959291</ref> plant in the ''Solanaceae'' or Nightshade family that is used as a herbal treatment in Ayurvedic medicine. Ashwagandha contains flavonoids such as Withanolide A and Withaferin-A, which are believed to be responsible for Ashwagandha's psychoactive properties.[[File:Withania_somnifera-3.jpg|thumb|right|upright|200px|An ashwagandha plant found in nature.]] | ||
Ashwagandha has been well-researched for a multitude of health benefits, including [[anxiety suppression|anxiety reduction]]<ref> Naturopathic care for anxiety: a randomized controlled trial ISRCTN78958974. | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19718255</ref>, stress reduction<ref>A prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety in adults. | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23439798</ref>, physical performance enhancing<ref>Effects of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) and Terminalia arjuna (Arjuna) on physical performance and cardiorespiratory endurance in healthy young adults. | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21170205</ref><ref>Examining the effect of Withania somnifera supplementation on muscle strength and recovery: a randomized controlled trial.| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26609282</ref>, depression relief<ref>A double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of the anxiolytic efficacy of an ethanolic extract of withania somnifera. | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21407960 </ref>, and fatigue relief<ref>Naturopathic care for anxiety: a randomized controlled trial ISRCTN78958974. | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19718255</ref>. | Ashwagandha has been well-researched for a multitude of health benefits, including [[anxiety suppression|anxiety reduction]]<ref> Naturopathic care for anxiety: a randomized controlled trial ISRCTN78958974. | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19718255</ref>, stress reduction<ref>A prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety in adults. | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23439798</ref>, physical performance enhancing<ref>Effects of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) and Terminalia arjuna (Arjuna) on physical performance and cardiorespiratory endurance in healthy young adults. | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21170205</ref><ref>Examining the effect of Withania somnifera supplementation on muscle strength and recovery: a randomized controlled trial.| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26609282</ref>, depression relief<ref>A double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of the anxiolytic efficacy of an ethanolic extract of withania somnifera. | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21407960 </ref>, and fatigue relief<ref>Naturopathic care for anxiety: a randomized controlled trial ISRCTN78958974. | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19718255</ref>. | ||
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==Chemistry== | ==Chemistry== | ||
{{Chemistry}} | {{Chemistry}} | ||
Withanolides are present in all plants in the Solanaceae family of plants, of which Withania Somnifera(Ashwagandha) is the highest in concentrations. These Withanolides are believed to be the prime component of Ashwagandha's psychoactive profile.<ref>A standardized root extract of Withania somnifera and its major constituent withanolide-A elicit humoral and cell-mediated immune responses by up regulation of Th1-dominant polarization in BALB/c mice. | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17336338</ref>There has been reported to be high variability in the amount of active withanolides in common nutritional supplements, which may be due to lack of standardization of root powder.[[File:Withanolide_series.png|thumb|right|upright| | Withanolides are present in all plants in the Solanaceae family of plants, of which Withania Somnifera(Ashwagandha) is the highest in concentrations. These Withanolides are believed to be the prime component of Ashwagandha's psychoactive profile.<ref>A standardized root extract of Withania somnifera and its major constituent withanolide-A elicit humoral and cell-mediated immune responses by up regulation of Th1-dominant polarization in BALB/c mice. | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17336338</ref>There has been reported to be high variability in the amount of active withanolides in common nutritional supplements, which may be due to lack of standardization of root powder.[[File:Withanolide_series.png|thumb|right|upright|450px|Chemical structure of Withanolides found in Ashwagandha]] | ||
==Pharmacology== | ==Pharmacology== | ||