www.jpccr.eu REVIEW ARTICLE Ashwagandha ( Withania somnifera ) – a herb with versatile medicinal properties empowering human physical and mental health Sonu Gupta 1,A-F , Ravinder Nath Bansal 2,E , Surender Pal Singh Sodhi 1,E , Gursimrat Kaur Brar 1,D , Mehak Malhotra 1,D 1 Dasmesh Institute of Research & Dental Sciences, Faridkot, India 2 Guru Gobind Singh Medical Hospital, Delhi, India A – Research concept and design, B – Collection and/or assembly of data, C – Data analysis and interpretation, D – Writing the article, E – Critical revision of the article, F – Final approval of the article Gupta S, Bansal RN, Sodhi SPS, Brar GK, Malhotra M. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) – a herb with versatile medicinal properties empowering human physical and mental health. J Pre-Clin Clin Res. doi: 10.26444/jpccr/141582 Abstract Introduction. Ashwagandha is a rasayana of Ayurveda system of medicines. It is a real potent regenerative tonic possessing several pharmacological properties like neuro-protective, anti-stress, anti-arthritic, antitumor, analgesic and anti-infammatory. Objective. To illustrate applications and limitations of Ashwagandha in detail. Materials and method. Data was collected from various review and research publications. Literature review involved animal studies and human studies. Emphasis was given on versatility of medicinal properties. Results. Ashwagandha plays an important role in improving quality of life and performance at work and possess several pharmacologic actions. Each part of this herb i.e. from root to fruit possess medicinal properties. Conclusions. Ashwagandha possesses wide variety of therapeutic uses in each and every system of human body. The plant has also been widely studied for its various pharmacological activities like antioxidant, anxiolytic, adaptogen, memory enhancing, antiparkinsonian, antiinfammatory, antitumor properties. Irrespective of such large network of benefts this herb has some limitations of use in certain situations. Key words Ashwagandha, active constituents, therapeutic uses, herb, Ayurveda Key message Ashwagandha being a natural herb possess numerous medicinal benefts for the human body. It can be easily cultivated in home lawns thereby increasing its socio-economical utility. The herb is enriched with many unidentifed, unbelievable and miraculous properties INTRODUCTION Winter cherry, Indian ginseng, and Ajagandha, Queen of Ayurveda, called by so many names, Withania somnifera Dunal (Ashwagandha; Family-Solanaceae ), is a plant used in ayurvedic medicine in the traditional system and indicated for the management of several neurological disorders. Ashwagandha (ASH) is a Rasayana of Ayurveda – a real potent regenerative tonic possessing several pharmacological properties, such as neuro-protective, anti-stress, anti-arthritic, antitumour, analgesic and anti-infammatory [1]. Fresh root of the Ashwagandha herb ‘smells like horse’ so-called Ashwagandha, because there is the belief that anyone who consumes the herb is given the power and strength of a horse) [1, 2, 3]. It is also referred to as a ‘royal herb’ possessing multiple therapeutic efects in the diferent human body systems: immune system, neurological and endocrinal system, the aerobic energy-production system, as well as the reproductive system [3, 4]. Te presented study depicts the miraculous role of Ashwagandha in Ayurveda possessing versatile medicinal properties empowering human physical and mental health. Versatile roles of Ashwagandha. Ashwagandha as a whole plant including each part serves therapeutic uses (Table 1). Several therapeutic properties of ashwagandha are associated with presence of chemical consituents in the herb (Table 2). In the era of evidence-based medicine research and innovation is a practical phenomenon [5]. Ashwagandha has been also used successfully in ayurvedic research. Rasayana Ashwagandha as a herb promotes the health of body and brain by increasing stress tolerance and reinforcing the immune system. Ashwagandha is available as churna, a fne powder that can be mixed with water or ghee honey which has various medicinal benefts. It improves the memory and increases the function of the central nervous system (CNS) [5, 6]. Tis miraculous beneft of the herb has been proved by a study in which the Morris water maze test was conducted to assess the efect of W. somnifera, where rats pre-treated with the herb showed signifcant alterations towards normal in comparison to control groups (disease group) [7–10]. Te Morris water maze test and maze test were also used in a study to assess the efect of W. Somnifera on 3-NP (3-nitropropionic acid) induced Huntington’s disease (HD) [11]. In both tests the Morris water maze and maze test, W. somnifera (100 and 200 mg/kg) treatment for two Address for correspondence: Ravinder Nath Bansal, Guru Gobind Singh Medical Hospital, Medical Campus, Faridkot, 1639, Faridkot, India E-mail: RNbansal@gmail.com Received: 05.05.2021; accepted: 25.08.2021; frst published: 06.09.2021 Journal of Pre-Clinical and Clinical Research ST ONLINE FIRS ONLINE FIRST