Withania somnifera

About: Withania somnifera is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 2116 publications have been published within this topic receiving 43404 citations. The topic is also known as: Ashwaganda & Indian ginseng.

Effect of the Energy of Consciousness (The Trivedi Effect®) on Withania Somnifera Root Extract Using Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Abstract: Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) root extract is very popular ancient herbal medicine. The objective of the study was to characterize and evaluate the impact of The Trivedi Effect® - Energy of Consciousness Healing Treatment (Biofield Energy Healing) on phytoconstituents present in the ashwagandha root extract using GC-MS and NMR. Ashwagandha root extract was divided into two parts. One part was denoted as the control, while the other part was defined as The Trivedi Effect® - Biofield Energy Treated sample, which received The Trivedi Effect® - Energy of Consciousness Healing Treatment remotely from eighteen renowned Biofield Energy Healers. The GC-MS data indicated that the peak height and peak area of The Trivedi Effect® treated sample were found to be altered compared with the control sample. The peak height of the phytoconstituents present in the treated ashwagandha sample was altered significantly in the range of -8.32% to 89.25% compared with the control sample. Similarly, the peak area of the treated sample was altered significantly in the range of -4.28% to 216.30% compared with the control sample. Overall, the change in the peak area% of the treated sample was significantly altered in the range of -18.29% to 170.18% compared with the control sample. The GC-MS and NMR analysis results identified the presence of withanolides such as glyco-withanolides, alkaloids, and sugars in the root extract in both the sample. The peak area of 2,3,4,5-tetrahydropyridazine (1), methyl ethyl sulfoxide (2), 5,6-dihydro-2-methyl-4(H)pyran-3,4-dione (4), diethoxy-2-methyl-propane (5), 2,3,4,5-tetrahydroxy-tetrahydro-pyran (6), and 3,4-dimethyl-2(3H)-furanone (7) were significantly increased by 170.18%, 58.21%, 7.74%, 139.50%, 23.16%, and 45.63%, respectively in the treated sample compared with the control sample. On the contrary, the peak area% of 2-hydroxy--butyrolactone (3) was decreased by -14.96% in the treated ashwagandha compared with the control sample. From the results, it can be hypothesized that The Trivedi Effect® - Biofield Energy Treatment might have the impact on the intrinsic physicochemical properties of the phytoconstituents present in the ashwagandha root extract and responsible for the alteration in the relative peak height/area of treated sample compared with the control sample. As a result, the concentrations of the phytoconstituents assumed to be increased in treated sample compared with the control sample. This treated ashwagandha root extract would be helpful for designing better nutraceutical/pharmaceutical formulations which might be providing a better therapeutic response against autoimmune diseases, nervous and sexual disorders, infectious diseases, antiaging, diabetes, cancer, immunological disorders, stress, arthritis, etc.

Eco friendly management of early blight of tomatousing botanical plant extracts

Abstract: Antifungal activities of 9 plant extracts were evaluated against Alternaria solani causing early blight of tomato using radial growth technique. While all tested plant extracts produced some antifungal activities, the results revealed that Azadirachta indica (neem), Datura stramonium (datura) and Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) showed significant antifungal activities. The leaf extract of Ashwagandha (W. somnifera) was most effective in inhibiting the mycelial growth of A. solani (62.56%). Extract of D. stramonium (34.65%) and A. indica (25.27%) exhibited moderate activity with average mycelial inhibition of 34.65 and 25.27% respectively. Allium crispum (jungli pyaj), Mentha requienii (pudina), Lepidium sativum (chandrasur), Ocimum tenuiflorum (Tulsi) and Calotropis gigantia (Aak) also inhibited mycelial growth of A. solani. Sporulation per microscopic field was found maximum in C. gigantia (89.11) and minimum in A. crispum (1.44).

Bacillus mojavensis, a Metal-Tolerant Plant Growth-Promoting Bacterium, Improves Growth, Photosynthetic Attributes, Gas Exchange Parameters, and Alkalo-Polyphenol Contents in Silver Nanoparticle (Ag-NP)-Treated Withania somnifera L. (Ashwagandha)

Abstract: Discharge of nanoparticles (NPs) into aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems during manufacturing processes and from various commercial goods has become a significant ecotoxicological concern. After reaching soil systems, NPs cause deleterious effects on soil fertility, microbial activity, and crop productivity. Taking into consideration the medicinal importance of Withania somnifera (L.) (ashwagandha), the present study assessed the potential hazards of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) and the toxicity amelioration by a metal-tolerant plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR). Bacillus mojavensis BZ-13 (NCBI accession number MZ950923) recovered from metal-polluted rhizosphere soil, tolerated an exceptionally high level of Ag-NPs. The growth-regulating substances synthesized by B. mojavensis were increased with increasing concentrations (0–1000 μg mL–1) of Ag-NPs. Also, strain BZ-13 had the ability to form biofilm, produce alginate and exopolysaccharides (EPSs), as well maintain swimming and swarming motilities in the presence of Ag-NPs. Soil application of varying concentrations of Ag-NPs resulted in a dose-related reduction in growth and biochemical features of ashwagandha. In contrast, following soil inoculation, B. mojavensis relieved the Ag-NPs-induced phytotoxicity and improved plant productivity. Root, shoot length, dry biomass, and leaf area increased by 13, 17, 37, 25%, respectively, when B. mojavensis was applied with 25 mg/kg Ag-NPs when compared to noninoculated controls. Furthermore, the soil plant analysis development (SPAD) index, photosystem efficiency (Fv/Fm), PS II quantum yield (FPS II), photochemical quenching (qP), non-photochemical quenching (NpQ), and total chlorophyll and carotenoid content of BZ-13-inoculated plants in the presence of 25 mg Ag-NPs/kg increased by 33, 29, 41, 47, 35, 26, and 25%, respectively, when compared to noninoculated controls that were exposed to the same amounts of NPs. In addition, a significant (p ≤ 0.05) increase in 48, 18, 21, and 19% in withaferin-A (alkaloids), flavonoids, phenols, and tannin content, respectively, was recorded when plants were detached from bacterized and Ag-NP-treated plants. Leaf gas exchange parameters were also modulated in the case of inoculated plants. Furthermore, bacterial inoculation significantly decreased proline, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes, and Ag-NP’s absorption and build-up in phyto-organs. In conclusion, soil inoculation with B. mojavensis may possibly be used as an alternative to protect W. somnifera plants in soil contaminated with nanoparticles. Therefore, phytohormone and other biomolecule-synthesizing and NP-tolerant PGPR strains like B. mojavensis might serve as an agronomically significant and cost-effective remediation agent for augmenting the yield and productivity of medicinally important plants like ashwagandha raised in soil contaminated with nanoparticles in general and Ag-NPs in particular.

Protected cultivation of medicinal plant in composite climate of Indian State Rajasthan.

Abstract: Adoption of greenhouse technology can improve yield and productivity of medicinal crop in off season cultivation. The study was conducted with two medicinal crops viz: Withania somnifera and Psoralea croylifolia to evaluate cultivation performance and compare with field condition. The experimental results shows that mean plant height of Withania somnifera and Psoralea croylifolia in greenhouse condition was 78.9 cm and 125 cm whereas it was 2802 cm and 50 cm in field condition respectively. The collar diameter for withania somnifera was 9.8 mm and 5.68 mm for greenhouse and field condition respectively. The collar diameter for psoralea corylifolia, it was 10.8 mm in greenhouse and 5.96 mm for field condition was recorded. Total dry matter from Withania somnifera and Psoralea croylifolia inside the greenhouse was 92.9 g per plant and 118.7 g per plant whereas it was 25.8 g per plant and 40.3 g per plant at field conditions. The above experimental results shows that off season cultivation of medicinal plants under greenhouse condition will increase the production of these high value medicinal plants and permit round year production of these crops.