and xylose, protected mice against ra diatio and enhanced the formation of
macrophages.
Wigandia caracasana Kunth.
Family Hydrophyllaceae.
Habitat Native to tropical America; Withania ashwagandha
introduced into Indian gardens. Kaul (cultivated var.)
Action Leaves and branch tips— W somnfera (Linn.) Dunal (Chemo decoction is used in rheumatism; type I, II, III: Israele.)
also for whooping cough and Family Solanaceae.
respiratory problems. Habitat Throughout the drier and
subtropical parts of India.
Solvent extracts of the leaves (ethanol,
acetone and n-hexane) were found English Winter Cherry. (Physalis
active against Gram-positive bacte- alkekengi is also known as Winter
na. Cherry.)
Withania ashwagandha Kaul (cultivated var.)
Ayurvedic Ashwagandhaa, Hayagandhaa, Ashwakanda, Gandharvagandhaa, Turaga, Turagagandhaa, Turangagandhaa, Vaajigandhaa, Gokarnaa, Vrishaa, Varaahakarni, Varadaa, Balyaa, Vaajikari. (A substitute for Kaakoli and Kshirakaakoli.) Cultivated var.: Asgandh Naagori. (Indian botanists consider the cultivated plants distinct from the wild ones.)
Unani Asgandh.
Siddha Amukkuramkizhangu.
Action Root—used as an anti- inflammatory drug for swellings, tumours, scrofula and rheumatism; and as a sedative and hypnotic in anxiety neurosis. Leaf— anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antibacterial. Fruits and seeds—diuretic. Withanine— sedative, hypnotic. Withaferin A—major component of biologically active steroids; as effective as hydrocortisone dose for dose. Antibacterial, antitumour, antiarthritic, significantly protective against hepatotoxicity in rats.
The root contains several alkaloids, including withanine, withananine, withananinine, pseudo-withanine,
W) somnine, somniferine, somniferinine.
