Pharmacologic overview of Withania somnifera, the Indian Ginseng

Abstract

Withania somnifera, also called 'Indian ginseng', is an important medicinal plant of the Indian subcontinent. It is widely used, singly or in combination, with other herbs against many ailments in Indian Systems of Medicine since time immemorial. Withania somnifera contains a spectrum of diverse phytochemicals enabling it to have a broad range of biological implications. In preclinical studies, it has shown anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-stress, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, and anti-diabetic properties. Additionally, it has demonstrated the ability to reduce reactive oxygen species, modulate mitochondrial function, regulate apoptosis, and reduce inflammation and enhance endothelial function. In view of these pharmacologic properties, W. somnifera is a potential drug candidate to treat various clinical conditions, particularly related to the nervous system. In this review, we summarize the pharmacologic characteristics and discuss the mechanisms of action and potential therapeutic applications of the plant and its active constituents.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Anti-arthritic; Anti-bacterial; Anti-cancer; Anti-diabetic; Anti-inflammatory; Anti-stress; Cardio-protective; Parkinson’s disease; Stroke hypoxia; Withania somnifera.

Fig. 1

Withania somnifera exerts multiple pharmacologic actions such as neuroprotection (reducing oxidative stress by restoring antioxidant levels, clearance of Aβ levels, attenuating synaptic and dendritic loss and reversing SOD, CAT, GPx, NO and LPO levels), cardio-protection (anti-oxidant balance and activating Nrf-2 and stimulating phase-II detoxification enzymes) anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-stress (inhibiting NFκ-β transcription, MAPK signaling pathways, TNF-α, NO, ROS and IL-8, reducing T-cell population and up-regulating Th1 cytokines), anti-diabetic (stabilizing blood glucose, urine sugar, and glucose-6-phosphate levels significantly), anti-bacterial (inhibiting acid formation, acid tolerance, biofilm formation, spore germination, and hyphal growth) and anti-cancer (cell cycle arrest and activation of p53, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, activation of caspase cascade and PARP-1)