Withania somnifera (Linn.) Dunal: a review of chemical and pharmacological diversity

Withania somnifera Dunal, is a commonly used herb in Indian Ayurvedic medicine system. Due to its pharmacological value and an inexhaustible source of novel biologically active compounds, it has been a great interest for researchers. The plant is known to possess anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antist...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Phytochemistry reviews 2017-10, Vol.16 (5), p.953-987
Main Authors: Kalra, Rishu, Kaushik, Nutan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alternative medicine
Antioxidants
Bioactive compounds
Biochemistry
Biological activity
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Chemistry/Food Science
Ecotypes
Herbal medicine
Immunomodulation
Inflammation
Lactones
Life Sciences
Organic Chemistry
Pharmacology
Plant Genetics and Genomics
Plant Sciences
Species classification
Withania somnifera
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Summary:Withania somnifera Dunal, is a commonly used herb in Indian Ayurvedic medicine system. Due to its pharmacological value and an inexhaustible source of novel biologically active compounds, it has been a great interest for researchers. The plant is known to possess anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antistress, antioxidant, immunomodulatory and hemopoetic properties. Various withanolides, steroidal lactones, have been isolated from W. somnifera and were known to have high therapeutic value. Based on the differences in the substitution patterns of withanolides the species has been classified into various chemotypes. So far, three different chemotypes have been identified, which have been further classified into ecotypes based on the contents of withanolides. Present review summarizes the phytochemical variability and pharmacological advances reported in literature.
ISSN:1568-7767
1572-980X
DOI:10.1007/s11101-017-9504-6