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Talk:Withania somnifera (botany): Difference between revisions
>White m Mind Control moved page Talk:Ashwagandha to Talk:Withania somnifera (botany): Moved to it's scientific name like other botany articles |
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{{BotanyBox/Withania somnifera}} | |||
'''Withania somnifera''' (Commonly known as '''Ashwagandha''', '''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 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. | Withanolides are present in all plants in the Solanaceae family of plants{{citation needed}}, 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. | ||
==Pharmacology== | ==Pharmacology== | ||
[[File:Withanolide_series.png|400px|thumb|Chemical structure of Withanolides found in Ashwagandha]] | |||
Theanine is structurally similar to the excitatory [[neurotransmitter]] [[glutamate]], and in accordance, binds to glutamate [[receptor]]s, though with much lower affinity in comparison. Specifically, it binds to ionotropic glutamate receptors including the [[AMPA]] and [[kainate]] receptors and, to a lesser extent, the [[NMDA]] receptor.<ref>The neuropharmacology of L-theanine(N-ethyl-L-glutamine): a possible neuroprotective and cognitive enhancing agent (PubMed.gov / NCBI) | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17182482</ref><ref>Inhibition by theanine of binding of [3H]AMPA, [3H]kainate, and [3H]MDL 105,519 to glutamate receptors (PubMed.gov / NCBI) | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12596867</ref><ref>Neuroprotective effects of theanine and its preventive effects on cognitive dysfunction (PubMed.gov / NCBI) | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21477654</ref><ref>Neuroprotective effects of the green tea components theanine and catechins (PubMed.gov / NCBI) | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12499631</ref> It acts as an [[antagonist]] of the former two sites<ref>Neuroprotective effects of the green tea components theanine and catechins (PubMed.gov / NCBI) | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12499631</ref> and as an [[agonist]] of the latter site.<ref>Behavioral and molecular evidence for psychotropic effects in L-theanine (PubMed.gov / NCBI) | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21861094</ref> In addition, it inhibits glutamine transporters and glutamate transporters, and thus acts as [[reuptake inhibitor]] of glutamine and glutamate.<ref>Neuroprotective effects of the green tea components theanine and catechins (PubMed.gov / NCBI) | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12499631</ref><ref>Inhibition of glutamate transporter by theanine enhances the therapeutic efficacy of doxorubicin (PubMed.gov / NCBI) | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11325559</ref><ref>Theanine and glutamate transporter inhibitors enhance the antitumor efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents (PubMed.gov / NCBI) | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14643924</ref> | Theanine is structurally similar to the excitatory [[neurotransmitter]] [[glutamate]], and in accordance, binds to glutamate [[receptor]]s, though with much lower affinity in comparison. Specifically, it binds to ionotropic glutamate receptors including the [[AMPA]] and [[kainate]] receptors and, to a lesser extent, the [[NMDA]] receptor.<ref>The neuropharmacology of L-theanine(N-ethyl-L-glutamine): a possible neuroprotective and cognitive enhancing agent (PubMed.gov / NCBI) | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17182482</ref><ref>Inhibition by theanine of binding of [3H]AMPA, [3H]kainate, and [3H]MDL 105,519 to glutamate receptors (PubMed.gov / NCBI) | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12596867</ref><ref>Neuroprotective effects of theanine and its preventive effects on cognitive dysfunction (PubMed.gov / NCBI) | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21477654</ref><ref>Neuroprotective effects of the green tea components theanine and catechins (PubMed.gov / NCBI) | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12499631</ref> It acts as an [[antagonist]] of the former two sites<ref>Neuroprotective effects of the green tea components theanine and catechins (PubMed.gov / NCBI) | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12499631</ref> and as an [[agonist]] of the latter site.<ref>Behavioral and molecular evidence for psychotropic effects in L-theanine (PubMed.gov / NCBI) | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21861094</ref> In addition, it inhibits glutamine transporters and glutamate transporters, and thus acts as [[reuptake inhibitor]] of glutamine and glutamate.<ref>Neuroprotective effects of the green tea components theanine and catechins (PubMed.gov / NCBI) | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12499631</ref><ref>Inhibition of glutamate transporter by theanine enhances the therapeutic efficacy of doxorubicin (PubMed.gov / NCBI) | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11325559</ref><ref>Theanine and glutamate transporter inhibitors enhance the antitumor efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents (PubMed.gov / NCBI) | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14643924</ref> | ||
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==Subjective effects== | ==Subjective effects== | ||
The effects listed below are based upon the [[subjective effect index]] and personal experiences of [[PsychonautWiki]] [[Special:TopUsers|contributors]]. The listed effects will rarely (if ever) occur all at once, but heavier dosages will increase the chances and are more likely to induce a full range of effects. | The effects listed below are based upon the [[subjective effect index]] and personal experiences of [[PsychonautWiki]] [[Special:TopUsers|contributors]]. The listed effects will rarely (if ever) occur all at once, but heavier dosages will increase the chances and are more likely to induce a full range of effects. | ||
===Physical effects=== | ===Physical effects=== | ||
*'''[[Effect::Sedation]]''' ''and'' '''[[Effect::Stimulation]]''' - Theanine is mildly stimulating at [[Dosage#light|light]] to [[Dosage#common|common]] dosages but becomes sedating with [[Dosage#Strong|strong]] dosages at around 300mg. | *'''[[Effect::Sedation]]''' ''and'' '''[[Effect::Stimulation]]''' - Theanine is mildly stimulating at [[Dosage#light|light]] to [[Dosage#common|common]] dosages but becomes sedating with [[Dosage#Strong|strong]] dosages at around 300mg. | ||
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It is strongly recommended that one use [[responsible drug use|harm reduction practices]] when using this drug. | It is strongly recommended that one use [[responsible drug use|harm reduction practices]] when using this drug. | ||
===Tolerance and addiction potential=== | ===Tolerance and addiction potential=== | ||
Theanine is [[Addiction potential::not habit-forming]] and the desire to use it can actually decrease with use. It is most often self-regulating. | Theanine is [[Addiction potential::not habit-forming]] and the desire to use it can actually decrease with use. It is most often self-regulating. | ||
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*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theanine Theanine (Wikipedia)] | *[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theanine Theanine (Wikipedia)] | ||
*[https://examine.com/supplements/theanine/ Theanine (Examine)] | *[https://examine.com/supplements/theanine/ Theanine (Examine)] | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist|2}} | {{reflist|2}} | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Botany]] | ||
[[Category:Plant]] | |||
[[Category:Solanaceae (family)]] | |||