Ashwagandha: The Hero Plant

Withaniasomnifera L. is a multipurpose medicinal plant of family Solanaceae occurring abundantly in sub-tropical regions of the world. W. somnifera is rich in numerous treasured secondary metabolites such as steroids, withanolidealkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, saponins, and glycosides. In recent years, there has been a significant surge in reports on the health-promoting benefits of winter cherry also known as Ashwagandha. The present review states its potential use as neuroprotective, sedative, adaptogenic anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, cardioprotective and anti-diabetic properties. The antitumor and anticarcinogenic bio-functional compounds make it most sought after plant for pharmaceutical industries. It also has antioxidant, anxiolytic and adaptogenic properties, making it a Hero plant, but it is fast diminishing from the wild and its sustainable use and conservation is the need of the hour.