Withania somnifera

Withania somnifera

Ashwagandha or winter cherry (Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal) is a shrub species belonging to the Solanaceae family.

Systematics –
From a systematic point of view it belongs to:
Eukaryota Domain,
Kingdom Plantae,
Subarign Tracheobionta,
Magnoliophyta Division,
Magnoliopsida class,
Subclass Asteridae,
Solanales Order,
Solanaceae family,
Genus Withania,
W. Somnifera species.
Basionimo is the term:
– Physalis somnifera L ..
The terms are synonymous:
– Withania somnifera var. macrocalyx Chiov .;
– Withnia somnifera var. communis Cordem ..
Within this species, two subspecies are recognized:
– Withania somnifera subsp. obtusifolia (Täckh.) Abedin, Al-Yahya, Chaudhary & J.S.Mossa;
– Withania somnifera subsp. somnifera.

Etymology –
The term Withania is a term that according to the botanist Lotte Burkhardt commemorates Henry Thomas Maire Silvertop Witham (1779-1844), an English geologist and paleontologist who studied the internal structure of fossil plants.
The specific epithet somnifera comes from sómnium sleep and from féro bring: due to the sleepy properties of the plant.

Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
Withania somnifera is an evergreen plant that grows wild in India, the Middle East and parts of Africa. It is cultivated or grows spontaneously especially in India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, but also in northern Africa and some areas of the Mediterranean (in Italy mainly Sicily and Sardinia).
Its habitat is often that of the arid sunny parts, often on stony soils; in India the plant is widely distributed in the driest parts, in particular Punjab, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Rajasthan.

Description –
Withania somnifera is a plant that grows in shrub form at a height between 35 and 75 cm but which can also develop at greater heights. The plant is covered with small hairs that give it a cerulean-gray sheen.
It has tomentose branches that extend radially from a central stem.
The leaves are opaque green, elliptical, usually up to 10-12 cm long.
The flowers are small, green-yellow and bell-shaped.
The ripe fruit is orange red.

Cultivation –
Withania somnifera is a plant that grows wild or cultivated in many of the driest regions of India. It is also found in Nepal, Sri Lanka, China and Yemen, where it prefers dry stony soils with partial shade sun.
In general it is a plant that needs warm and dry climates, although it can withstand light frosts; it fits best in sandy and alkaline soils (growth is best when the pH is between 7.5 and 8).
Open field cultivation is possible if the winter is not too harsh and rainy; the field must be plowed and then additions of soil must be made to bring it to the right level before the rainy season.
To obtain a good yield of the crop, it is advisable to integrate with a well humified organic fertilizer.
It is a plant that does not tolerate high water supplies and if grown in containers, attention must be paid to the high risk of root rot.
It is a plant that propagates either by seed, during the spring period. The seeds germinate in 15-20 days at 20 ° C kept in moist sand.
It can also be propagated by cuttings in late spring.

Customs and Traditions –
Withania somnifera is known by various names, including in Sanskrit language “Ashwagandha”, which means “smell of horse sweat”. Plant that has always been used in Ayurvedic medicine, according to some theories it gives its user the strength of a stallion; according to other theories, however, the name is such because the root gives off an odor, probably not very pleasant, which is described as the smell of horse sweat or horse urine or horse skin.
This plant has been known and used since ancient times in Indian medicine (hence the name of Indian ginseng), in particular Ayurvedic, as a tonic and adaptogen, it also has immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties.
Several clinical studies and research carried out on animals support the use of the plant in the treatment of anxiety, neurological and cognitive disorders, and inflammation. Furthermore, its anti-stress, anti-cancer, anticonvulsant, immunological and antioxidant activities have been confirmed. Instead, there are contradictory results regarding the sedative and diuretic activities.
Although it is used as a medicinal herb in Ayurveda medicine and sold in many countries as a dietary supplement, there is still insufficient scientific evidence that it is safe or effective for treating any disease.
Withania somnifera is widely used in herbal medicine for various pathologies. The active and useful chemical principles are mainly present in its roots and are about 80; in particular they are represented by molecules of non-steroidal lactones called withanolides, with mainly anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties and, in lesser quantities, saponins and more some alkaloids such as witanin, witaninin, witasomnina (the latter would favor the regularity of sleep) , mixed with traces of nicotine and scopoletine. It also contains high non-heme iron, so it also has anti-anemic properties.
In the use of Withania somnifera, anti-stress remedies are mainly indicated to improve reaction times.
In various pharmacopoeias it is indicated as a general tonic to increase energy, to improve the general state of health and as a protective adjuvant in the prevention of diseases in athletes and the elderly.
This plant has a phytotherapeutic action on: brain, smooth muscles, various organs, bones, cartilages, joints, blood, hematopoietic system, immune system, autonomic nervous system, central nervous system, uterus and ovaries.
Among the contraindications it should be remembered that high dosages of Whitania somnifera can cause gastrointestinal disturbances, vomiting and diarrhea; in laboratory animals, with an increase in the dose, the sedative effect can increase to lead to respiratory depression. Rats treated with the plant for 10 to 14 days developed kidney, liver and respiratory disorders.
As for drug interactions, due to the sedative effect, the potential drug interactions that may occur with: anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, barbiturates (phenobarbital), phenitonin, primidone, tricyclic antidepressants, valproic acid, zolpidem. For this reason, therefore, Withania should not be associated with drugs that depress the CNS; it should not be taken even during pregnancy as the plant can have abortive effects.
Generally the drug consists of the roots, although there are active ingredients in the leaves and berries.
The analysis of the root, stem and leaves of Withania somnifera confirms the presence of witaferin A and witanolide D in all parts of the plant but with a significant difference in their relationship. In the root, witanolide D appears to be present in a higher percentage (0.193% vs 0.066%). This is instead present in a lower percentage in the leaves, compared to witaferin A (0.003% vs 0.238%). The percentage of the two compounds in the stem is low (0.007% for witanolide D and 0.048% for witaferin A). Both compounds were detected in the commercial products analyzed. In solid products the amount of witaferin A varies from 0.003% to 0.051% while that of witanolide D varies from 0.006% to 0.049%. In liquid commercial products, the amount of witaferin A is in the range 0.027-0.065% and that of witanolide D ranges from 0.238% to 0.364%.
The root of Withania somnifera is present in the list of plant extracts admitted in Italy by the Ministry of Health in food supplements. There are no restrictions on the use of this plant or its active ingredients in Italy.
From an ecological point of view, Withania somnifera is a plant that can be subject to climate change with high risk of extinction. To safeguard the plant (someone) proposed to establish a long-term ecological plan in different eco-regions in India and around the world and to develop conservation strategies.
From an ecological point of view, Withania somnifera is a plant that can be subject to climate change with high risk of extinction. To safeguard the plant (someone) proposed to establish a long-term ecological plan in different eco-regions in India and around the world and to develop conservation strategies.

Preparation Method –
Withania somnifera is ordinarily found in specialized herbalists where it is sold as a dried drug for herbal tea, dry extract, also in association with other plants, in capsules or tablets, fluid extract also in association with other plants.
The minimum effective dose, and mainly recommended, for the acute use of Withania somnifera, is 2-3 grams of root powder and 300-500 mg per day of dry root extract, titrated in total withanolides at least 1.5%. Withania somnifera should be taken with main meals, on average two to three times a day, however, if taken once a day, it should be taken with breakfast.
This plant can be used with other synergistic herbs; among these we mention: Centella asiatica, Curcuma, Eleuterococco, Ginkgo biloba, Ginseng, Frankincense, Teucrio, Polio montano, Rhodiola, Schisandra, Tabebuia and Unicaria.
The two largest root and seed markets of Withania somnifera are located in Madhya Pradesh, India; importers, buyers and producers of Ayurvedic products go there every day. Sold as a food supplement, as a dry extract, the drug is used in tonic and energy preparations, especially in liquid form (drinkable ampoules) but also in solid form (capsules and tablets).

Guido Bissanti

Sources
– Acta Plantarum – Flora of the Italian Regions.
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
– Useful Tropical Plants Database.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (ed.), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora of Italy, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Treben M., 2000. Health from the Lord’s Pharmacy, Advice and experiences with medicinal herbs, Ennsthaler Editore.
Photo source:
– https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/211239352/original.jpeg

Warning: Pharmaceutical applications and alimurgical uses are indicated for informational purposes only, they do not represent in any way a medical prescription; therefore no responsibility is taken for their use for curative, aesthetic or food purposes.