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Latin Name: Withania somnifera
Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Withania
Common Names: ashwagandha, Indian ginseng, poison gooseberry, or winter cherry
Distribution Area: is cultivated in many of the drier regions of India. It is also found in Nepal, China and Yemen
Botanical Information: This plant is a low, delicate perennial shrub of 35–75 cm tall. Lanuginous boughs run on radially from a main stem. Leaves are dark green, ovate, usually up to 10–12 cm long. The flowers are miniature, green and in the form of bell. The full-grown fruit is orange-red.
Ashwagandha is a widespread plant in India.
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
The roots and fruits of ashwagandha contain a large number of such biologically active substances as:
- phytosterols,
- alkaloids (isopelletierin, anaferin, somniferin)
- coumarins
- phenolic acids
- sitoindosides
- steroid lactones (vitanolides, vitaphernins)
- saponins
“Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises”
Pedro Calderon de la Barca
*This article is for informational purposes only. We suggest consulting with a physician before using these or any other herbal supplements.
