Withania somnifera

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Ashwagandha herb
Species name: Withania somnifera



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Parameter Value(s) References
See complete references in the References section at the end
Names of users who have contributed to this species page shwetankverma, gauravm
Date on which this page was first created 2010/07/25
This page was last modified on: 24 November 2010 05:09:31
Name of the species Withania somnifera
ID on Encyclopedia of Life 396531
Synonyms Please check Binomial Classification section for synonyms.
Common English Names Indian Ginseng, Winter cherry
Common Hindi Names अश्वगंधा Ashwagandha
Common Indian names अश्वगंधा Ashwagandha (Hindi); Ashwagandha (Marathi); Kanchuki (Kannada); Vajigandha (Telugu); Amukkuram (Malayalam); Amukkuram (Tamil) Shwetankverma, Gauravm, FoI
Origins/Meanings of the common names Ashwagandha in Sanskrit means "horse's smell," probably originating from the odor of its root which resembles that of a sweaty horse. The species name somnifera means "sleep-inducing" in Latin, indicating that to it are attributed sedating properties, but it has been also used for sexual vitality and as an adaptogen. Some herbalists refer to ashwagandha as Indian ginseng, since it is used in ayurvedic medicine in a way similar to that ginseng is used in traditional Chinese medicine. wiki

Taxonomy from Encyclopedia of Life

If nothing is displayed in this section, it means the EoL ID has not been defined. Please click on Edit with form button on top and follow the instructions for filling in the EoL ID

{{#EoLOnlyHierarchy:396531}} 

Taxonomy filled in form

Angiosperm phylogeny. This image is copyrighted. Rights owned by Theodore C.H.Cole (Heidelberg) and Hartmut H. Hilger (Berlin) 2010. Please obtain copyright permissions before reuse.
Click here for the PDF of the phylogeny
Taxon Value
Regnum (Kingdom) Plantae
Division Magnoliophyta
Class Magnoliopsida
Order Solanales
Family Solanaceae
Genus Withania
Source of data '

Other closely related species

SpeciesDivisionCommon nameCommon Hindi name
Aloe veraAloe vera, Medicinal aloe, Burn plantGheekumari घीकुमारी
Acacia niloticaArabic Gum, Black Piquant, Egyptian thorn, Prickly acaciaबबूल Babool,कीकर Kikar
Saraca indicaAshokaअशोक Ashok
… further results
DivisionTaxon detailsTaxon morphology details
MagnoliophytaAlso called Angiospermae. The ancestors of flowering plants diverged from gymnosperms around 245–202 million years ago, and the first flowering plants known to exist are from 140 million years ago. They diversified enormously during the Lower Cretaceous and became widespread around 100 million years ago, but replaced conifers as the dominant trees only around 60-100 million years ago.These are seed plants like Gymnosperms, but can be differentiated by the presence of flowers, seeds containing endosperm and seeds that produce a fruit. Angiosperms are the most diverse and highly evolutionarily successful group of land plants.
SpeciesClassCommon nameCommon Hindi name
Acacia niloticaMagnoliopsidaArabic Gum, Black Piquant, Egyptian thorn, Prickly acaciaबबूल Babool,कीकर Kikar
Saraca indicaMagnoliopsidaAshokaअशोक Ashok
Adansonia digitataMagnoliopsidaBaobabGorakh imli गोरख इमली
… further results
ClassTaxon detailsTaxon morphology details
MagnoliopsidaMagnoliopsida is the scientific name for dicots. This class contains about ~1,99,350 species of Angiosperms. Eudicots are a subset of Dicots. Based on chloroplast DNA sequences, the divergence date between monocots and dicots is estimated to be ~200 million years, with a 40 million years uncertainty.Dicots are diverse in habit, with half of all the species being more or less woody-stemmed - a reflection of the usual presence of a vascular cambium in the class. Annuals, biennials, vines, epiphytes, aquatics, parasites, and saprotrophs are also well represented in dicots. Vascular bundles of the stem are usually borne in a ring that encloses the pith. Vessel elements present except in some putatively primitive woody or aquatic families. Most dicots have a primary root system derived from the radicle, although some have an adventitious root system commonly seen in the class of monocots. Cotyledons are usually 2, seldom 1, 3, or 4. Leaves are mostly net-veined.
SpeciesOrderCommon nameCommon Hindi name
Datura inoxiaSolanalesDevil's Trumpet, Horn of plenty, Downy thorn appleSafed dhatura सफ़ैद धतूरा
Withania somniferaSolanalesIndian Ginseng, Winter cherryअश्वगंधा Ashwagandha
Solanum virginianumSolanalesThorny Nightshade, Yellow Berried Nightshade, Thai eggplant
SpeciesFamilyCommon nameCommon Hindi name
Datura inoxiaSolanaceaeDevil's Trumpet, Horn of plenty, Downy thorn appleSafed dhatura सफ़ैद धतूरा
Withania somniferaSolanaceaeIndian Ginseng, Winter cherryअश्वगंधा Ashwagandha
Solanum virginianumSolanaceaeThorny Nightshade, Yellow Berried Nightshade, Thai eggplant
SpeciesGenusCommon nameCommon Hindi name
Withania somniferaWithaniaIndian Ginseng, Winter cherryअश्वगंधा Ashwagandha

Based on classification

More details can be found in the Binomial Classification section.

Morphology from Encyclopedia of Life

If nothing is displayed in this section, it means the EoL ID has not been defined. Please click on Edit with form button on top and follow the instructions for filling in the EoL ID

{{#EoLOnlyDescription:396531}} 

General morphology

Parameter Value(s) References
See complete references in the References section at the end
General morphological features of the plant stout shrub - a height of 170 cm (5.6 ft).

it bears yellow flowers and yellow-Orange to red Berry type fruit, though its fruit is berry-like in size and shape"stout shrub - a height of 170 cm (5.6 ft). it bears yellow flowers and yellow-Orange to red Berry type fruit, though its fruit is berry-like in size and shape" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

wiki
Seed dispersal mechanism
Bloom type
Life cycle of the plant

How to identify this species

For a detailed description, refer to the General Morphology details above

Parameter Value(s) References
See complete references in the References section at the end
Type of plant Woody (Tree/Shrub)
Plant height 3 feet to 6 feet Wikipedia
Flower color Yellow wiki
Flower shape
Floral symmetry
Phyllotaxy of leaves
Leaf shape
Is the leaf petiolated or sessile?
Is the leaf simple or compound?

Parameter Value(s) References
See complete references in the References section at the end
IUCN Conservation Status Not Evaluated EoL
Indian States in which the species has been documented
Locations at which the species has been documented
Biotic zones inhabited
Details about the habitat More common in drier parts of India FoI
Is this species native to India? Yes GRIN, FoI
Is the species indigenous/endemic to Sub-Himalayan regions? No
Is the species indigenous/endemic to Western Ghats?
Is the species indigenous/endemic to Eastern Ghats?

More plants native to India

Species nameCommon nameCommon Hindi namePlant typeNative plantBiotic zone
Abelmoschus moschatusOkra, Abelmosk, Ambrette seeds, Annual hibiscus, Bamia Moschata, Galu Gasturi, Muskdana, Musk mallow, Musk okra, Musk seeds, Ornamental okra, Rose mallow seeds, Tropical jewel hibiscus, Yorka okraमुश्कदाना Mushkdana, कस्तूरीदाना Kasturi-dana, जंगली भिंडी Jangli bhindi
Acacia concinnaSoap podशिकाकाई ShikakaiWoody (Tree/Shrub)Northeastern Himalayas
Eastern Ghats
Western Ghats
Central Deccan Plateau
East Coast
West Coast
Indo-Gangetic Plain
Acrostichum aureumGolden leatherfern, Mangrove fernFernNortheastern Himalayas
Eastern Ghats
East Coast
Indo-Gangetic Plain
Outlying Islands
Aegle marmelosBel, Beli fruit, Bengal quince, Stone apple, Wood appleबेल Bel
Allium sativumCultivated Garlicलेह्सन Lehsan
… further results

If no maps are displayed below, it means the required data is absent. Click on "Edit with form" button on top of the page to add this information.

Parameter Value(s) References
See complete references in the References section at the end
Does this species have any medicinal use? Yes

Other plants of the same family having medicinal use:

Species nameCommon nameCommon Hindi nameFamilyAilment typeMedicinal use description
Withania somniferaIndian Ginseng, Winter cherryअश्वगंधा AshwagandhaSolanaceaeInfectious diseases
Pains and Inflammation
Mental disorders
Cancer
Parameter Value(s) References
See complete references in the References section at the end
General types of ailments this species is used for treating Infectious diseases, Pains and Inflammation, Mental disorders, Cancer
Specific ailments for which the species is used Anti-inflammatory, Antitumor, Antistress, Antioxidant, Immunomodulatory, Hemopoetic, mild depressant (tranquilizer) review from Journal
Medicinal systems which use this plant Ayurveda, Unani shwetankverma
Details of Medicinal use
Parts of the plant used for treatment Root, Leaves, Seeds EoL
Names of some medicinal active compounds in this plant, if known.
Details of the active chemical compounds found in this plant
Is the molecular basis of the medicinal action known? Yes
Details of molecular basis of action biologically active components of this plant are alkaloids (isopelletierine, anaferine), steroidal lactones (withanolides, withaferins), saponins containing an additional acyl group (sitoindoside VII and VIII), and withanolides with a glucose at carbon 27 (sitoindoside IX and X). rich in iron.

Flavanoids from this plant are thought to have anti-proliferative action due to their interaction with JAK-STAT pathway. Extracts are also known to have Hypoglycaemic and Hypolipidaemic Effects

review from Journal, Aalinkeel2010, Pubmed search
Are the toxic effects of consumption of this plant known?
Details of the toxic effects of the plant species
Have there been validation/clinical studies related to this plant?
Details of the clinical studies related to the plant species

Parameter Value(s) References
See complete references in the References section at the end
Is this plant/plant-derived product used in food preparations?
Part(s) of the plant used in the food preparations
Details of use in food preparations
Does this species have any religious significance?
Religions which mention/give significance to this species Wikipedia
Religious occasions
Details of religious use

Parameter Value(s) References
See complete references in the References section at the end
Is this plant cultivated commercially in India?
Uses for which the plant is commercially cultivated Medicinal use
Plant parts of commercial value Root, Leaves
Products where this plant is used User-reported
Description of use
States where this plant is cultivated commercially Madhya Pradesh
Best period for planting this plant
Best period for harvesting this plant
Method of propagation
Water requirement of this plant
Pests and Diseases affecting this plant during cultivation
Other considerations while cultivating this plant
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Pubmed Word cloud

This word cloud is obtained using the tool LigerCat by searching the Pubmed database. LigerCat builds the cloud from the most relevant Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms. Each term's relative size indicates how many times it appears in the PubMed search results. Click on a term to access the full LigerCat cloud, with live PubMed search capabilities. LigerCat has been developed for the Biology of Aging Project.

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  • If there is an error message below, it means that there is no retrievable information available on NCBI
  • If the number of nucleotide sequences is less than 100, very little genomic work has been done on this species. A respectable number of nucleotide sequences is above 10000.
  • Most of the nucleotide sequences may come from three sources:
  1. Studies on single genes, where people try to sequence genes such as some specific dehydrogenases important,say, for tannin production
  2. Sequences of Ribosomal Internal Transcribed Spacer, whose sequence is used for generating molecular phylogenetic trees to establish species relationships
  3. Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) which can tell about which genes are present and expressed in the species at a particular time in the given tissue

{{#queryDB:taxonomy |Withania somnifera }}

Parameter Value(s) References
See complete references in the References section at the end
Details of modern scientific knowledge available for this species
Are herbarium specimen available for this species?
Institutes having herbarium samples

References

review from Journal (Journal) : Lakshmi-Chandra Mishra, MD (Ayur), PhD, Betsy B. Singh, PhD, Simon Dagenais, BA (2000),Scientific Basis for the Therapeutic Use of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha): A Review, Alternative Medicine Review:5(4):334. doi={{{doi}}}


Aalinkeel2010 (Journal) : Aalinkeel et al (2010),Genomic Analysis Highlights the Role of the JAK-STAT Signaling in the Anti-proliferative Effects of Dietary Flavonoid—‘Ashwagandha’ in Prostate Cancer Cells, Evid Based Complement Alternat Med.:7(2):177. doi={{{doi}}}


Drugs.com (Web): Drugs.com Ashwagandha, Accessdate=2010-july-04


Wiki (Web): WIkipedia entry, Accessdate=2010-08-07


FoI (Web): Flowers of India, Accessdate=2010-08-07


Pubmed search (Web): [Organism:noexp&pmfilter_Fulltext=off Pubmed search for Withania somnifera], Accessdate=2010-08-07