Medicinal Evaluation of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal(Ashwagandha)

Abstract

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) or winter cherry, or `Indian Ginseng' as some may refer to it, is well known for years as an important drug in Ayurvedic literature. All the parts of the plant have shown their remarkable importance in the field of pharmacology. The roots, twigs, leaves, seeds, fruits and even the bark of the plant possess a potential to cure many painful and deadly diseases like asthma, rheumatism, tuberculosis, piles, bronchitis, leucorrhoea, ulcers, eye disorders, chest complaints, female sterility, sexual weakness, spermatorrhoea and many more. Thus, the plant seems to be a precious gift of nature. To evaluate the further medicinal values of the plant, the present report has been organized with the help of recent literature findings.