@article {2514, title = {Discover How Ashwagandha May Impact Health: A Comprehensive Review}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {17}, year = {2025}, month = {June 2025}, pages = {394-398}, type = {Review Article}, chapter = {394}, abstract = {

Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) is a medicinal herb that has been commonly utilized in traditional medicine for millennia, particularly in Ayurvedic practices. The root of the plant is pharmacologically active and has been used for its aphrodisiac, diuretic, anti-helminthic, narcotic, tonic, and stimulant properties. Additionally, other parts of ashwagandha, including the leaves, shoots, seeds, and berries, contribute to its health-promoting effects and the potential for improving longevity. This plant is composed of many bioactive compounds which exhibit a myriad of health-enhancing properties. Contemporary research has focused on the multifaceted bioactivities of ashwagandha, revealing promising impacts such as anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities, among other therapeutic applications. This review was planned to find the most recent findings, providing an examination of the active constituents of ashwagandha, their biological activities, and a critical assessment of any associated safety concerns and potential toxicity.

}, keywords = {Anti-inflammatory, Anticancer dosage, Antioxidant, Ashwagandha, Toxicity, Withania somnifera}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2025.17.49}, author = {Omar Naseem Alzrigat and Yazeed Nabeel Al-Qusous and Dema Maher Masadeh and Madleen Nabeel Al-Qusous} } @article {320, title = {Ashwagandha Root Extract Inhibits Acetylcholine Esterase, Protein Modification and Ameliorates H2O2-Induced Oxidative Stress in Rat Lymphocytes}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {9}, year = {2017}, month = {April 2017 }, pages = {302-309}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {302}, abstract = {

Background: Herbs have long been the basis of medical treatment but the practice of herbalism is not strictly based on evidences gathered using scientific methods. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera L.) is a traditional medicinal herb used in the treatment of various ailments. Objective: In current study we have evaluated the acetylcholine esterase (AChE) inhibitory and antioxidant potential of Ashwagandha root extract (ARE) in in-vitro and ex-vivo models to give a scientific base to its use in herbal medicine. Methodology: Simplest extraction e.g. maceration method was performed for preparation of extracts using methanol as solvent. Both in vitro and in vivo experimental trial were executed to evaluate the efficacy of root extract. Result and Discussion: ARE substantially scavenged free radicals and effectively prevented protein degradation as well as modification as studied by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. Pre-treatment with ARE protected rat lymphocytes against H2O2-induced oxidative damage. H2O2 treatment resulted in DNA fragmentation and significantly decreased the activities of key antioxidant enzymes namely superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase while decreased and increased the content of glutathione and malondialdehyde, respectively. ARE pre-treatment almost reversed these changes indicating its efficiency to suppress hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress. Conclusion: The study provides the scientific basis of pleiotropic functions of Ashwagandha.

}, keywords = {Acetylcholine esterase, Antioxidants, Ashwagandha, DNA damage, Protein carbonylation, Rat lymphocytes}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2017.3.52}, url = {/files/PJ-9-3/10.5530pj.2017.3.52}, author = {Ajay Pal and Kandikattu Hemanth Kumar and Bharat Bhushan and Vinod Saharan} }