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.

Herbal composition for treating male sexual dysfunction

Abstract: Disclosed herein is synergistic herbal composition comprising extracts of herbal ingredients of Tribulus terrestris, Withania somnifera, Curculigo orchioides, Mucuna pruriens, Asparagus adscendens, Asteracantha longifolia, Asphaltum , and optionally the extracts of Piper longum and Anacyclus pyrethrum for the treatment of disorders associated with Male Sexual Dysfunction.

Bioremedial effect of Withania somnifera on ultra-structure of sertoli cells of endosulfan exposed mice

Abstract: Endosulfan is an organochlorine pesticide used primarily to kill insects and mites on crops, vegetables and grains. Endosulfan acts like xenoestrogen may impair the normal embryonic development and disrupt normal reproductive functions in adulthood. Present study aims to illustrate bioremedial impact of Withania somnifera on endosulfan exposed ultrastructure of sertoli cells and testosterone of mice. The control group of mice received distilled water as drinking water. The ‘treatment’ groups received Endosulfan 3 mg/kg b.w daily by gavage method for five weeks followed by five weeks administration of aqueous extract of roots of Withania somnifera (800 mg/kg/b.w/day). Animals were sacrificed after the scheduled treatment. Sertoli cells of five weeks endosulfan administered mice show many osmiophilic granules condensed in cytoplasm. Degenerated tail of spermatozoa was also observed. Deshaped nucleus and degenerated mitochondria were clearly observed with many vacuolated spaces. Sertoli cells of five weeks endosulfan administered mice followed by five weeks administration of Withania somnifera show almost normal Plasma membrane. Restoration was prominently observed in mitochondria. Plasma membrane of sertoli cells was almost normal. Thus it is concluded from study that Withania somnifera plays vital role in detoxification of endosulfan toxicity on ultra-structure of sertoli cells and testosterone level of mice.

Agrobacterium Tumefaciens-Mediated Transformation of Withania Somnifera (L.) Dunal: An Important Medicinal Plant

Abstract: This report describes Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of Withania somnifera—an important Indian medicinal plant. A. tumefaciens strain LBA4404, containing the binary vector pIG121Hm was used for transformation, along with the gusA reporter gene with intron under the transcriptional control of the Cauliflower Mosaic Virus (CaMV) 35S promoter. The leaf segments from two-and-a-half-month-old green house-grown seedlings were more efficient in transformation, as compared to those from the in vitro-grown shoots. Second expanded leaf from the shoot tip gave the highest transient transformation efficiency. Selection of transgenic shoots was done in the presence of 50 mg l−1 kanamycin. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of T0 transgenic plants showed the presence of gusA and nptII genes. The expression of these transgenes in T1 progeny was confirmed by RT-PCR. The integration of gusA gene was confirmed by Southern blot analysis. The transformation efficiency was found to be 1.67%.

Effect of medicinal botanical extracts on survivability of silkworm Bombyx mori (PM × CSR2)

Abstract: Experiment on effect of some plant leaf extracts on larval and pupal mortality of Bombyx mori L. revealed that the larvae fed on mulberry leaf treated with aqueous extract of Psoralea coryleifolia registered lower larval and pupal mortality (3.00 and 3.08%). Among the botanicals tested, lower larval mortality (3%) was noticed in Psoralea coryleifolia followed by Phyllanthus niruri (5%), Tribulus terrestris (7%), Withania somnifera (12%) and Adathoda vasica (13%) and was significantly higher in control without any botanical treatment (24%). Further, the formulation 1:3 of all the botanicals exhibited lower (9.33%) larval mortality than 1:1 formulation (12%). The pupal mortality was also significantly influenced by feeding mulberry treated with different medicinal plant extracts during fifth instar. In addition Phylllanthus niruri (5.00 and 4.21%), Tribulus terrestris (7.00 and 5.39%), Withania somnifera (12.00 and 5.73%) and Adathoda vasica (13.00 and 11.63%), registered increased level of mortality when compared to Psoralea coryleifolia. However, these values were found significantly superior to control (24.00 and 18.41%). Among the formulations prepared by using distilled water and botanical extracts, 1:3 proportion registered better performance with respect to larval and pupal mortality (9.33 and 6.65%) and was significantly superior to 1:1 proportion (12.00 and 9.50%).