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Review
. 2023 Jan 26;28(3):1208.
doi: 10.3390/molecules28031208.

Biodiversity, Biochemical Profiling, and Pharmaco-Commercial Applications of Withania somnifera: A Review

Harshita Gaurav  1 , Divyanshu Yadav  1 , Ankita Maurya  1 , Himanshu Yadav  1 , Ramanand Yadav  1 , Amritesh Chandra Shukla  1 , Minaxi Sharma  2 , Vijai Kumar Gupta  3   4 , Javier Palazon  5
Affiliations
Review

Biodiversity, Biochemical Profiling, and Pharmaco-Commercial Applications of Withania somnifera: A Review

Harshita Gaurav et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

Withania somnifera L. Dunal (Ashwagandha), a key medicinal plant native to India, is used globally to manage various ailments. This review focuses on the traditional uses, botany, phytochemistry, and pharmacological advances of its plant-derived constituents. It has been reported that at least 62 crucial and 48 inferior primary and secondary metabolites are present in the W. somnifera leaves, and 29 among these found in its roots and leaves are chiefly steroidal compounds, steroidal lactones, alkaloids, amino acids, etc. In addition, the whole shrub parts possess various medicinal activities such as anti-leukotriene, antineoplastic, analgesic, anti-oxidant, immunostimulatory, and rejuvenating properties, mainly observed by in vitro demonstration. However, the course of its medical use remains unknown. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of W. somnifera, which will be useful for mechanism studies and potential medical applications of W. somnifera, as well as for the development of a rational quality control system for W. somnifera as a therapeutic material in the future.

Keywords: Withania somnifera; ashwagandha; botany; pharmacological and biological activity; phytochemistry; traditional use.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Botanical description of W. somnifera.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Various classes of bioactive compounds present in Withania somnifera.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Various chemical structures of different withanolides.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Various chemical structures of different withanolides.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Pathway of the biosynthesis of withanolides in W. somnifera [5].
Figure 5
Figure 5
Chemical structure of withaferin A and withanone.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Various chemical structures of different withanamides.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Various alkaloids present in different parts of W. somnifera.
Figure 8
Figure 8
W. somnifera possesses various biological activities.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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