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.

Formulation of withania somnifera based herbal cookies using response surface methodology

Abstract: Herbal based functional foods are extensively used for the prevention and treatment of several health disorders. The present study aims to formulate herbal cookies using Withania somnifera leaf powder, an ayurveda component with enhanced the nutraceutical value. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize five influencing components in cookies preparation. It includes refined wheat flour, Withania somnifera leaf powder, sugar powder, butter and cocoa powder. All the selected five ingredients were choose as the variables and sensory parameters such as appearance, colour, texture, taste and flavour obtained through Nine-point hedonic scale analysis were the responses. After initial trial of experiment, the upper and lower limits for the independent variables were fixed. The relatively high coefficient values were obtained for all the selected responses and hence developed models are statistically accurate. Through three-dimensional response surface plots optimal range independent variables were optimized. The shelf life of the product assessed through microbial analysis and sensory evaluation gave favourable results. Hence, herbal cookies optimized through RSM tool will be novel herbal supplement and could find a prominent position in the both pharmaceutical and food sector

Withania somnifera and Centella asiatica Extracts Ameliorate Behavioral Deficits in an In Vivo Drosophila melanogaster Model of Oxidative Stress

Abstract: Due to an increase in the aging population, age-related diseases and age-related changes, such as diminished cognition and sleep disturbances, are an increasing health threat. It has been suggested that an increase in oxidative stress underlies many of these changes. Current treatments for these diseases and changes either have low efficacy or have deleterious side effects preventing long-time use. Therefore, alternative treatments that promote healthy aging and provide resilience against these health threats are needed. The herbs Withania somnifera and Centella asiatica may be two such alternatives because both have been connected with reducing oxidative stress and could therefore ameliorate age-related impairments. To test the effects of these herbs on behavioral phenotypes induced by oxidative stress, we used the Drosophila melanogaster sniffer mutant which has high levels of oxidative stress due to reduced carbonyl reductase activity. Effects on cognition and mobility were assessed using phototaxis assays and both, W. somnifera and C. asiatica water extracts improved phototaxis in sniffer mutants. In addition, W. somnifera improved nighttime sleep in male and female sniffer flies and promoted a less fragmented sleep pattern in male sniffer flies. This suggests that W. somnifera and C. asiatica can ameliorate oxidative stress-related changes in behavior and that by doing so they might promote healthy aging in humans.

Comparative Phytochemical Screening of Six Different Plant Species of Uttarakhand Region

Abstract: In the present study, an attempt was made to investigate comparative phytochemical evaluation of six different medicinal plant species like Aegle marmelos (Linn.)/Beal, Saraca asoca, Syzygium cumini/Jamun, Ginkgo biloba, Camellia sinensis/Green tea and Withania somnifera/Aswagandha of Dehradun district, Uttarakhand region. Each of these plant extracts were prepared in ethanol (80%), methanol (80%) and distilled water respectively and were tested for the availability of different bioactive components such as Flavonoids, Alkaloids, Saponins, Terpenoids, proteins etc.