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.

Antimicrobial and immunomodulatory potential of endophytic fungus fusarium solani isolated from withania somnifera

Abstract: Recent research indicate that pharmaceutical compounds produced by medicinal plants can also be produced by their inhabitant endophytes and this paves way to a new methodology of science utilizing endophytes as a source of bioactive compounds. This study aimed to add more information on endophyte driven biodiversity and bioactive potential of Withania. About 29 endophytic fungal isolates belonging to 16 different species were isolated from Withania root segments. Preliminary screening for antibacterial agents against common pathogenic bacteria led to isolation six endophytic fungi viz, F.semitectum, F.avenaceum, Fusarium sp, F.oxysporum, Aspergillus sp and F. redolens. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the extracts ranged in concentrations 21-78µg/ml. Endophytic isolate Fusarium solani also possessed immunomodulatory role and bioactive compounds in its the ethyl acetate extract were analysed by GC-MS. Based on its antibacterial and immunomodulatory potential, Fusarium solani was selected, characterized genotypically by 18S rDNA typing and the sequence was deposited in NCBI database under accession number KJ193849. The current study also describes F.solani as a suitable source for biocompound extraction due to its antibacterial and immunomodulatory role. Works on the mycotic biodiversity of endophytes of Withania and their potential to produce novel bioactive compounds are meager and this work becomes relevant.

In vitro and in vivo studies on the hypoglycaemic potential of ashwagandha (withania somnifera) root

Abstract: Hypoglycaemic effects of the herb ashwagandha, Withania somnifera, using in vitro assays and its potential in preventing stress induced hyperglycaemia in rat (in vivo) were studied. W. somnifera roots were subjected to extraction using different solvents with increasing polarity. All the extracts were tested for hypoglycaemic effect using in vitro methods viz., glucose uptake by yeast cells, α-amylase inhibitory activity, glucose adsorption and diffusion. Chloroform and ethanolic extracts were more effective in increasing glucose uptake by yeast cells, inhibition of α-amylase activity, increasing glucose adsorption and decreasing diffusion compared to other extracts in in vitro study. In vivo hypoglycaemic action was investigated by treating adult male rats with different doses (5, 10, 20 mg/kg body weight) of ethanol and chloroform extracts prior to exposing them to a stress regime consisting of restraint (1h) followed by forced swimming exercise (15 minutes) after a gap of 4h. Chloroform and ethanolic extracts were potent in attenuating stress induced hyperglycaemia with a minimum effective dose of 10 mg/kg body weight. The study reveals that W. somnifera utilise different mechanisms to exert hypoglycaemic effect and has phytocomponent which can prevent stress induced hyperglycaemia. Hence phytocomponent present in these extracts may be a potential anti stress drug.

Phytochemical analysis and in-vitro antimicrobial activity ofWithania somnifera (Ashwagandha)

Abstract: To investigate the antimicrobial activity and phytochemical screening Ethanol, methanol, Ethyl acetate, acetone, chloroform, Petroleum ether, hexane, hot water, and extracts of Withania somnifera. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the qualitative analysis of phytochemicals and antimicrobial activity of various solvent extracts of Withania somnifera. The antimicrobial activities of different solvent extracts of Withania somnifera were tested against the bacterial strains and fungus by observing the zone of inhibition. The Gram-positive bacteria used in the test were Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Micrococcus luteus, and the Gram-negative bacteria were Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiellapneumoniae, fungus like Aspergillusniger, Aspergillusflavus, Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Candida kefyr. It was observed that ethanol; methanol, ethyl acetate, aceton, chloroform, petroleum ether, hexane and aquas extract showed activity against bacteria and fungus. The Ethanol extract of Withania somnifera showed more activity against Staphylococcus aureus, zone of diameter 20.10±0.17 mm and Methanol extract of Withania somnifera showed more activity against Candida albicans, zone of diameter 14.20±0.40 mm compared to other solvent extracts. In this study Ethanol extract in bacteria and methanol extract in fungus showed a varying degree of inhibition to the growth of tested organism, than Ethyl acetate, chloroform, aceton, Petroleum ether, hexane and hot water extracts.

Composition of eleven herbals for treating cancer

Abstract: A pharmaceutical or medicinal preparation which comprises a mixture of the following eleven herbs: Withania somnifera, Chlorphyton borivilianum, Boerhavia diffusa, Elephantopus scaber, Moringa oleifera, Tecoma undulata, Bauhinia purpurea, Ficus racemosa, Cyperus rotundus, Sphaeranthus acmella and Tinospora cordifolia; or a mixture of the active ingredients that have been extracted from those herbs or chemically synthesised. The herbal formulation of the invention is effective for the treatment of cancer, in particular squamous cell carcinomas, tumours and other metastatic states, including lung cancer.