Withania Somnifera herb Information and health benefit by
Ray Sahelian, M.D.
December 15 2016
Withania somnifera, known as ashwagandha, is a shrub cultivated in India and North America whose roots
have been used for thousands of years by Ayurvedic practitioners. Withania
somnifera root contains flavonoids and many active ingredients of the
withanolide class. Several studies over the past few years have looked into the
role of withania somnifera in having anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-stress,
antioxidant, mind-boosting, immune-enhancing, and rejuvenating properties. Historically
withania root has also been
noted to have sex-enhancing properties.
Withania Somnifera root extract
This herb that
is extensively used in Ayurveda, the traditional health care system in India. It is used as a general tonic and "adaptogen", helping the body adapt
to stress. In addition, this herb has been shown to possess antioxidant activity as well as an ability to support a healthy immune system.
For more information on
Ashwagandha or to
purchase this product.
Suggested Use: As an herbal
dietary supplement, take half or 1 capsule a few times a week.
In some individuals a slight drowsiness could occur. Others who
are restless or anxious may feel a relaxation but no drowsiness.
Aphrodisiac benefits, works also in women
Biomed Res Int. 2015. Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha Withania somnifera Root Extract in Improving Sexual Function in Women:
A Pilot Study. Many women experience sexual dysfunction
where there are orgasm disorders and sexual difficulties. Withania
somnifera is an herb known to improve the body's physical and
psychological condition. The purpose of the study was to
determine the efficacy and safety of a high-concentration ashwagandha
root extract supplementation for improving sexual function in
healthy females. 50 study subjects were randomized to either 300 mg herb-treated group or
placebo for 8 weeks. Sexual function was assessed using two
psychometric scales, the Female Sexual Function Index
Questionnaire and the Female Sexual Distress Scale, and by the
number of total and successful sexual encounters. Treatment led to
significantly higher improvement, relative to placebo, for "arousal" "lubrication"
"orgasm" and "satisfaction" and the number of successful
sexual encounters. This study demonstrated
that oral administration of ashwagandha extract improves sexual function
and libido in healthy
women.
Semen and sperm health, role in infertility
Seventy-five men were given a preparation of W. somnifera. Treatment
effectively reduced oxidative stress, as assessed by decreased levels of various
oxidants and improved level of diverse antioxidants. The levels of T, LH, FSH
and PRL, good indicators of semen quality, were also reversed in infertile
subjects after treatment with the herbal preparation. Fertil Steril. 2010.
Withania somnifera improves semen quality by regulating reproductive hormone
levels and oxidative stress in seminal plasma of infertile males.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2013. Efficacy of Withania somnifera on seminal plasma metabolites of infertile males. Centre of Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, SGPGIMS Campus, Lucknow, India. Traditional Indian systems of medicine use roots of Withania somnifera for impotence, infertility treatment, stress, and the aging process. Our study uses high-resolution Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to explore the scientific basis to reveal the pre- and post-treatment efficacy of WS on seminal plasma of infertile men-which remains unexplored to date. Withania somnifera therapy repairs the disturbed concentrations of lactate, alanine, citrate, GPC, histidine, and phenylalanine in seminal plasma and recovers the quality of semen of post-treated compared to pre-treated infertile men. Serum biochemistry was also improved over post-therapy in infertile men. Our findings reveal that it not only reboots enzymatic activity of metabolic pathways and energy metabolism but also invigorates the harmonic balance of seminal plasma metabolites and reproductive hormones in infertile men. The results suggest that WS may be used as an empirical therapy for clinical management and treatment of infertility.
Cancer patients
Integr Cancer Ther. 2013 .Effect of Withania somnifera on the
development of chemotherapy-induced fatigue and quality of life in
breast cancer patients. Withania somnifera is an herb with antioxidant,
anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antistress, and adaptogenic properties.
Previous studies have shown its antistress effects in animals.
Traditional Indian medicine has used it for centuries to alleviate
fatigue and improve general well-being. This is an open-label
prospective nonrandomized comparative trial on 100 patients with breast
cancer in all stages undergoing either a combination of chemotherapy
with oral Withania somnifera or chemotherapy alone. WS has
potential against cancer-related fatigue, in addition to improving the
quality of life.
Glioblastoma
J Neurooncol. 2016.
Withaferin A and its potential role in glioblastoma (GBM). Within
the Ayurvedic medical tradition of India, Ashwagandha (Withania
somnifera) is a well-known herb. A large number of withanolides have
been isolated from both its roots and its leaves and many have been
assessed for their pharmacological activities. Amongst them, Withaferin
A is one of its most bioactive phytoconstituents. Due to the lactonal
steroid's potential to modulate multiple oncogenic pathways, Withaferin
A has gained much attention as a possible anti-neoplastic agent. This
review focuses on the use of Withaferin A alone, or in combination with
other treatments, as a newer option for therapy against the most
aggressive variant of brain tumors, Glioblastoma. We survey the various
studies that delineate Withaferin A's anticancer mechanisms, its
toxicity profiles, its pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and its
immuno-modulating properties.
Melanoma
PLoS One. 2015. Withania somnifera Root Extract Has Potent Cytotoxic
Effect against Human Malignant
Melanoma Cells.
Muscle strength, sports
J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015. Examining the effect of Withania somnifera
supplementation on muscle strength and recovery: a randomized controlled
trial. Subjects in the treatment group consumed 300 mg of ashwagandha
root extract twice daily, while the control group consumed starch
placebos. Withania supplementation is associated with significant
increases in muscle mass and strength and suggests that ashwagandha
supplementation may be useful in conjunction with a resistance training
program.
Tardive dyskiesia, a neurological complication of certain
medications
Tardive dyskinesia is one of the major side effects of long-term neuroleptic
treatment. The term neuroleptic refers to the effects on cognition and behavior
of antipsychotic drugs that reduce confusion, delusions, hallucinations, and
psychomotor agitation in patients with psychoses. Oxidative stress and products
of lipid peroxidation are implicated in the pathophysiology of tardive
dyskinesia.
Effect of Withania somnifera root extract on reserpine -induced
orofacial dyskinesia and cognitive dysfunction.
Phytother Res. 2006. Pharmacology Division, University
Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh,
India.
Vacuous chewing movements in rats are widely
accepted as an animal model of tardive dyskinesia. Repeated treatment with reserpine on alternate days for
a period of 5 days significantly induced vacuous chewing
movements and tongue protrusions in rats. Chronic treatment with withania
somnifera root extract for a period of 4 weeks to reserpine treated animals
significantly and dose dependently reduced the reserpine-induced
vacuous chewing movements and tongue protrusions. Reserpine treated animals also
showed poor retention of memory in the elevated plus maze task paradigm. Chronic
withania
somnifera administration significantly reversed reserpine -induced retention deficits.
Biochemical analysis revealed that chronic reserpine treatment significantly
induced lipid peroxidation and decreased the glutathione (GSH) levels in the
brains of rats. Chronic reserpine treated rats showed decreased levels of
antioxidant defense enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase. Chronic
administration of withania
somnifera root extract dose dependently and
significantly reduced the lipid peroxidation and restored the decreased
glutathione levels by chronic reserpine treatment. It also significantly
reversed the reserpine-induced decrease in brain SOD and catalase levels in
rats. The major findings of the present study indicate that oxidative stress
might play an important role in the pathophysiology of reserpine-induced
abnormal oral movements. In conclusion, Withania somnifera root extract could be
a useful drug for the treatment of drug-induced dyskinesia.
Antioxidant properties of
withania somnifera root
Researchers from Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi, India, have discovered
that some of the chemicals within withania somnifera are powerful antioxidants.
They tested these compounds for their effects on rat brain and found an increase
in the levels of three natural antioxidants — superoxide dismutase, catalase and
glutathione peroxidase. They say, "These findings are consistent with the
therapeutic use of Withania somnifera as an Ayurvedic rasayana (health
promoter). The antioxidant effect of active principles of Withania somnifera
root may explain, at least in part, the reported anti-stress,
cognition-facilitating, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging effects produced by
them in experimental animals, and in clinical situations."
Ashwagandhanolide, a Bioactive Dimeric Thiowithanolide
Isolated from the Roots of withania somnifera.
J Nat Prod. 2006. Laila Research Center, Jawahar Autonagar, Vijayawada, India, and Bioactive Natural
Products and Phytoceuticals, Department of Horticulture and National Food Safety
and Toxicology Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824.
A new dimeric withanolide, ashwagandhanolide, was isolated from the roots of an
Ayurvedic medicinal herb, withania somnifera. Ashwagandhanolide displayed growth
inhibition against human gastric, breast (MCF-7), central nervous system
(SF-268), colon (HCT-116), and lung (NCI H460) cancer cell lines. In addition,
ashwagandhanolide inhibited lipid peroxidation and the activity of the enzyme
cyclooxygenase-2 in vitro.
Aphrodisiac properties of withania somnifera
This plant is historically used as an aphrodisiac. Withania somnifera is
mentioned in the ancient Kama Sutra as an herb to be used for heightening sexual
experience,
Laboratory studies show withania somnifera can produce nitric oxide which is
known to dilate blood vessels. Withania somnifera has the ability to restore
sexual health and improve overall vitality while promoting a calm state of mind.
I have included a withania somnifera extract in a libido product called Passion
Rx.
A mood enhancing and anti-anxiety herb
The roots of Withania somnifera are used extensively in Ayurveda, the classical
Indian system of medicine, and Withania somnifera is categorized as a rasayana,
which are used to promote physical and mental health, to provide defense against
disease and adverse environmental factors and to slow the aging process. In
rodent studies Withania somnifera has been shown to reduce anxiety and have
positive effect on mood. See here for a list of
Ayurvedic herbs.
Mental effects, influence on brain
Withania somnifera is used in India to treat mental deficits in geriatric
patients, including amnesia. Researchers from the University of Leipzig in
Germany, wanted to find out which neurotransmitters were influenced by Withania
somnifera. After injecting some of the chemicals in withania somnifera into
rats, they later examined slices of their brain and found an increase in
acetylcholine receptor activity. The researchers say, "The drug-induced increase
in acetylcholine receptor capacity might partly explain the cognition-enhancing
and memory-improving effects of extracts from Withania somnifera observed in
animals and humans."
A study done in 1991 at the Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas
Health Science Center indicated that extracts of Withania somnifera had GABA-like
activity. This may account for this herb’s anti-anxiety effects.
A 2002 laboratory study indicates Withania somnifera stimulates the growth of
axons and dendrites. A 2001 study in rodents showed it had
memory boosting ability. A 2000 study with rodents showed Withania somnifera to
have anti-anxiety and anti-depression effects.
Pharmacognosy Res. Jan 2014. Effect of standardized
aqueous extract of Withania somnifera on tests of cognitive and psychomotor
performance in healthy human participants. These results suggest that Withania
somnifera extract can improve cognitive and psychomotor performance and may,
therefore, be a valuable adjunct in the treatment of diseases associated with
cognitive impairment.
Additional benefits
One small study found withania somnifera was able to reduce
blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and had a diuretic effect.
Ayu. 2015. Efficacy of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera in
improving cardiorespiratory endurance in healthy athletic adults. Ashwagandha (Withania
somnifera [L.] Dunal) has been traditionally used for various actions ranging
from vitalizer, improve endurance and stamina, promote longevity, improve
immunity, and male and female fertility. However, clinical studies are needed to
prove the clinical efficacy of this herb, especially in cardiovascular endurance
and physical performance. The findings suggest that Ashwagandha root extract
enhances the cardiorespiratory endurance and improves quality of life in healthy
athletic adults.
Withania somnifera side effects, safety, danger, risk
Withania somnifera does not have any significant side effects reported in the
medical literature, but long term studies are not yet available. Nevertheless,
it is best to take breaks from use, for instance, one can take a week off each
month or take it 3 or 4 times a week as opposed to daily.
Sedation may be a side effect with some preparations depending on
dosage and extract potency.
Withania somnifera monograph.
Altern Med Rev. 2004.
Withania somnifera, also known as Indian ginseng, or winter
cherry, has been an important herb in the Ayurvedic and indigenous medical
systems for over 3000 years. Historically, the plant has been used as an
aphrodisiac, liver tonic, anti-inflammatory agent, and more recently to treat
asthma, ulcers, insomnia, and senile dementia. Clinical trials and animal
research support the use of Withania somnifera for anxiety, cognitive and
neurological disorders, inflammation, and Parkinson's disease. Withania
somnifera's chemopreventive properties make it a potentially useful adjunct for
patients undergoing radiation and chemotherapy. Ashwaganda is also used
therapeutically as an adaptogen for patients with nervous exhaustion, and
debility due to stress, and as an immune stimulant in patients with low white
blood cell counts.
Questions
I read with interest your article. I noted it could lower
blood glucose levels, does that mean someone with low blood sugar levels, should
not take withania? I really enjoy all your articles, and find them very
informative.
I have not seen any research that would indicate that those with
low blood sugar would have a problem with withania, but as with any herb or
supplement it is a good idea to use low dosages initially even if it means
taking a portion of a capsule or tablet.