A Review on Withania Somnifera for Its Potential Pharmacological Actions

Abstract

T he herbal plants are used for treatment of various diseases because of their safety and effectiveness from ancient time. Withania somnifera is an important member of plant family Solanacea. Commonly known as Ashwagandha. It is found in throughout the drier parts of South East Asia including India, Bangladesh, Sri-Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, different parts of Australia, Africa and America. Withania somnifera is cultivated in many of the drier regions of India. In India, it is widely distributed in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab Gujarat and Rajasthan. Its roots, leaves, flowers, and pods contain carbohydrate, protein, aminoacids, steroids, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, phenolic compounds, oxalic acid, inorganic compounds, saponins and withanoloides. Pharmacological investigations have revealed the presence of several activities like antioxidant, antibacterial, analgesic, antipyretic, antiinflammatory, hypoglycemic, diuretic and hypo cholesterolemic, anxiolytic, antitumor activity, anticancer, antifungal, hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic activities. This article is an attempt to present the overview of pharmacognostical, phytochemical and pharmacological studies reported on Withania somnifera.