Health Benefits of Ashwagandha

 

 Health Benefits of Ashwagandha

 



a. What is ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha is an ancient medicinal herb.

The earliest historical records of herbs are found from the Sumerian civilization, where hundreds of medicinal plants including opium are listed on clay tablets. The Ebers Papyrus from ancient Egypt, c. 1550 BC, describes over 850 plant medicines.

It’s classified as an adaptive, meaning that it can help your body manage stress.


b. How to identify ASHWAGANDHA is organic or fake product.


Ashwagandha is a perfume like animal (horse) .

c.Meaning of ASHWAGANDHA ?

Ashwa = animal  gandha = perfume.       


 

1.Brain Positivity & Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha benefits the brain and some of the neurochemicals

positively.It is used in India to treat mental deficits in geriatric patients,

including amnesia.

It also benefits by helping to de-addict from morphine. Additionally it

possesses nootropic like effect on brain and nerves.

A study at Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas, found

GABA like activity in Withania somnifera. The results suggested that the W.

somnifera extract contains an ingredient which has a GABA-mimetic

activity. This activity was correlated with Anti-anxiolytic effect (Mehta,

1991)

Researchers in Pakistan isolated six withanolides from Ashwagandha.

Out of six, four withanolides displayed inhibitory potential against

butyrylcholinesterase, while three were active against acetylcholinesterase.

This activity helps to retain Acetylcholine for longer time by slowing down

its breakdown. (Choudhary et al., 2005)

Studies showed that treatment with Ashwagandha slowed the

development of tolerance to analgesic effect of morphine.WS (100 mg/kg)

also suppressed morphine-withdrawal jumps, a sign of the development of

dependence to opiate. (Kulkarni et el., 1997)

Ashwagandha (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg; orally) also reversed the

scopolamine (0.3 mg/kg)-induced disruption of acquisition and retention and

attenuated the amnesia produced by acute treatment with electroconvulsive

 


2. Ashwagandha: potential in cancer

Ashwagandha or Withania is one such herb whose role as anticancer

herb is widely studied. It doesn't possess properties like chemotherapy but

showed anti- proliferate and preventive properties against many chemicals

that possess carcinogenic effect.

In Ayurveda, the extracts from W. somnifera are distinctively

employed for the treatment of arthritis and menstrual disorders. Because

these conditions involve angiogenic processes it was hypothesized that the

W. somnifera extracts might contain angiogenesis inhibitors.

The applicability of this drug as a radio sensitizer in cancer therapy needs to

be explored. (Devi et al., 1996).

Twelve Withanolides from the leaves of withania somnifera were

tested for anti-proliferative activity in lungs, colon, breast, central nervous

system human tumor cell lines. Withaferine A showed inhibitory activity.

Thus it was concluded that Adding WS as dietary supplement might prevent

the growth of tumor in human. (Jayaprakasam et al., 2003)

 



3. Cardiovascular & Diabetic protection with Withania somnifera

Ashwagandha or Withania somnifera has in its arsenal the weapons

for cardiac and diabetic disorders as well. This botanical is truly versatile in

the beneficial effects for us. The cardiac protective action is exerted by

helping in ischemic and reperfusion injury. It supports focal ischemia as

well. (Gupta, 2004)

A study showed Cardio-protection against Ischemic & reperfusion

Injury by Ashwagandha (Manikandan, 2004).In yet another study

effectiveness of WS was reported in focal ischemia. Pretreatment with its

extract for 30 days prevented motor impairment and significantly decreased

the raised levels of MDA (Malondialdehyde), the marker of oxidative

stress). (Chaudhary et al., 2003)                                              

Six mild NIDDM and hypercholesterolemic persons were treated with

Withania somnifera for one month. At the end of one month, the blood

glucose level was lower comparable with oral hypoglycemic drug. There

was significant increase in urine volume, urine Na+ while serum cholesterol,

triglycerides, LDL & VLDL cholesterol were reduced. This reflected

hypoglycemic, diuretic and anti-hypercholesterolemic effects of

Ashwagandha (Andallu, 2000)


4.Ashwagandha:ImmunityBoosting Herbal Remedy

Withania somnifera enhances body’s immunity and safeguards against

various diseases and infections. Strengthening of immunity is done in

various ways i.e. by promoting the bodily defense mechanisms

like increasing the White blood cells count.

Methanolic extract of Withania somnifera root was investigated for its

immunostimulant effect on Nitric oxide (NO) production in J774

macrophages. Ashwagandha caused dose dependent rise in nitric oxide

production. Induction of nitric oxide production in macrophages explains its

immune boosting effects. (Esposito and Iuvone, 2003).

Another study suggested that administration of an extract from the

powdered root of Ashwagandha stimulates immunological activity in mice.

( www.holistic-herbalist.com)

Aggarwal et al studied immunomodulatory activity of Ashwagandha

extract in experimental immune inflammation. A protective effect in

cyclophosphamide-induced myelosuppression was observed in animals

treated with its extract, revealing a significant increase in white blood cell

counts and platelet counts. (Agarwal, 1999)

Ashwagandha & Alzeimer’s disease

Ashwagandha is found to support Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's

disease. Both of these affect the senior citizens most and are incapacitating

in one way or the other. With Parkinson's disease, the patient is left to greatmental trauma because of the tremors and with Alzheimer's disease, the

person experiences dementia.

 


5. Antibacterial Activity of Ashwagandha:

Researchers evaluated alcoholic and aqueous extract of Ashwagandha

against experimental murine salmonellosis. It was found to possess strong

anti-bacterial activity against a range of bacteria including Salmonella

typhimurium. WS didn't induce the lysis of erythrocytes like

Chloramphenicol. Treated animals revealed better survival rate and lesser

bacterial load in vital organs. (Owais et al., 2005)

Another study also found potent antibacterial activity against S.

typhimurium and E. coli. In Ashwagandha. Additionally it exerted

synergistic effect with Isoniazid and Rifampicin. ( Okunade , 2004 )

The methanolic and ethanolic extracts of the aerial parts of the plant

showed significant antimicrobial activity against gram positive bacteria.

However none of these extract were effective against gram negative bacteria.

(Jaffer et al 1988)

Withanolides from WS could also be used in curing the side effects of

anti-fungal drug carbendazim. The drug affects renal tubules and

hepatocytes advesely. Treatment of carbendazim-treated rats with the

powder of tuberous root of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) for 48 days

resulted in complete cure of these organs. The results indicate that

Ashwagandha would be an effective curative for carbendazim-induced

histopathological changes in the liver and kidney. (Akbarsha , 2007).

6. Anti inflammatory properties

The anti inflammatory activity and protective effect against ccl4

induced hepato- toxicity of the alcoholic extract of leaves of W. somnifera

has also been assessed.

The leaves were found to possess marked effects in sub acute

inflammation and hepato toxicity. A comparison of the anti – inflammatory

properties revealed the extract (at 1 g/kg dose) to be as active as 50 mg / kg

of phenylbutzoneand 10 mg/kg of hydrocortisone (Sudhir et al., 1986).

Ashwagandha and Arthiritis

Ashwagandha is a good natural remedy for Arthritis. Most of the

joints pain in arthritis is a result of degenerative disease in body due to

wrong posture, wear and tear of tissues and aging.

In clinical studies Ashwagandha root powder has been found to be

useful in cases of acute rheumatoid arthiritis especially of recent onset & to

some extent in cases of acute exacerbations of chronic rheumatoid arthiritis.

(Bector, 1968).

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