• 농업과학연구
• /
• 제46권1호
• /
• pp.151-161
• /
• 2019

Ashwagandha (Withania sominifera Duanal) is an important medicinal herb with increased demand after discovering its anti-stress and sex stimulating properties that are attributed to the presence of biologically active alkaloid compounds. The aim of this study was to elucidate a proper agro technological package that ensures the optimum growth of Ashwagandha to obtain the finest quality without degrading the pharmacologically active constituents. Mixtures of organic and inorganic fertilizers were combined with direct seeding and transplanted as four different treatments in this study. The fresh and dry weights of the tubers were recorded up to 12 months starting from two months after sowing (MAS) while the shoot height, root length, number of leaves, fresh and dry weights of the shoot and the root with a shoot ratio of up to 6 MAS were determined. The results revealed that the growth of Ashwagandha was not affected significantly by the method of planting, type of fertilizer or their combinations during most of the harvests. However, tubers harvested at 6 MAS had the highest recorded dry tuber weight per plant in all four treatments compared to the early harvests where two direct seeded treatments had the best results. Comparison of the phytochemical compounds showed that direct seeding with organic fertilizer had the highest recorded values for alkaloid and withaferine A contents with a lower percentage of fiber compared to the treatments with inorganic fertilizer. In conclusion, direct seeding with organic fertilizer and tubers harvested at 6 MAS are recommended as the best cultivation conditions and harvesting stage to obtain high quality tubers of Ashwagandha, respectively.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
• /
• 제36권3호
• /
• pp.207-218
• /
• 2020

Ashwagandha is an important ancient medicinal crops, being affected with many diseases, among which leaf blight caused by Alternaria alternata has become the constraint resulting in huge yield losses. Continuous usage of chemical methods leads to environment, soil and water pollution. Whereas biological control of diseases is long lasting, inexpensive, eco-friendly and harmless to target organisms. In this context, it is aimed to evaluate five Trichoderma strains viz. Trichoderma virens IMI-392430, T. pseudokoningii IMI-392431, T. harzianum IMI-392432, T. harzianum IMI-392433 and T. harzianum IMI-392434 as bio-control efficacy against A. alternata and growth promoting effect in Ashwagandha. All the Trichoderma strains had varied antagonistic effects against the pathogen. In dual culture technique, the strain T. harzianum IMI-392433 showed maximum percentage inhibition of mycelial growth (54.89%) followed by T. harzianum IMI-392432 (53.83%), T. harzianum IMI-392434 (48.94%) and T. virens IMI-392430, (43.62%) against the pathogen, while the least inhibition percentage was observed with the T. pseudokoningii IMI-392431 (36.60%). The culture filtrate of the Trichoderma strain, T. harzianum IMI-392433 recorded highest inhibition on the mycelial growth (39.05%) and spore germination (80.77%) of pathogen and the lowest was recorded in T. pseudokoningii IMI-392431 (20.45 and 50%). Moreover, seeds treated with spore suspension of the strain T. harzianum IMI-392433 reduced the percentages of disease severity index significantly. The strain T. harzianum IMI-392433 also significantly increased seed germination %, seedling vigor and growth of Ashwagandha. The correlation matrix showed that root yield per plant of Ashwagandha had significant and positive correlation with plant height (r=0.726^⁎⁎), number of leaf (r=0.514^⁎⁎), number of primary branch (r=0.820^⁎⁎), number of secondary branch (r=0.829^⁎⁎), fresh plant weight (r=0.887^⁎⁎), plant dry weight (r=0.613^⁎⁎), root length (r=0.824^⁎⁎), root diameter (r=0.786^⁎⁎), root dry weight (r=0.739^⁎⁎) and fresh root weight (r=0.731^⁎⁎). The significant and negative correlation (r=-0.336^⁎⁎) was observed with the root yield and percentages of disease severity index. The study recognized that the T. harzianum IMI-392433 strain performed well in inhibiting the mycelial growth and reduced the percentages of disease severity index of pathogen as well as increased the plant growth in Ashwagandha.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• 제42권2호
• /
• pp.158-164
• /
• 2018

Background: The study was carried out to assess the genetic variability present in ashwagandha and to examine the nature of associations of various traits to the root yield of the plant. Methods: Fifty-three diverse genetic stocks of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) were evaluated for 14 quantitative characteristics. Analysis of variance, correlation, and path coefficient analysis were performed using the mean data of 2 years. Results: Analysis of variance revealed that the genotypes differed significantly for all characteristics studied. High heritability in conjunction with high genetic advance was observed for fresh root weight, 12 deoxywithastramonolide in roots, and plant height, which indicated that selection could be effective for these traits. Dry root weight has a tight linkage with plant height and fresh root weight. Further, in path coefficient analysis, fresh root weight, total alkaloid (%) in leaves, and 12 deoxywithastramonolide (%) in roots had the highest positive direct effect on dry root weight. Conclusion: Therefore, these characteristics can be exploited to improve dry root weight in ashwagandha genotypes and there is also scope for the selection of promising and specific chemotypes (based on the alkaloid content) from the present germplasm.

• 셀메드
• /
• 제5권1호
• /
• pp.1.1-1.13
• /
• 2015

Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) is an important Rasayana herb and widely considered as Indian ginseng in Ayurveda. In traditional system of Indian medicine, it is used as tonic to rejuvenate the body and increase longevity. In Ayurvedic preparations, various parts of the plant have been used to treat variety of ailments that affect the human health. However, dried roots of the plant are widely used for the treatment of nervous and sexual disorders. The major active chemical constituents of this plant are withanolides, which is responsible for its wide range of biological activities. Since the beginning of the $20^{th}$ century, a significant amount of research has been done and efforts are ongoing to further explore other bioactive constituents, and many pharmacological studies have been carried out to describe their disease preventing mechanisms. In this chapter, we have reviewed the chemistry and pharmacological basis of W. somnifera in various human ailments.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
• /
• 제5권2호
• /
• pp.127-134
• /
• 2011

The biotransformation potential of cell suspension cultures generated from Withania somnifera leaf was investigated, using withanolides, i.e. withanolide A, withaferin A, and withanone as precursor substrates. Interestingly, the cell suspension cultures showed inter-conversion of withanolides, as well converted to some unknown compounds, released to the culture media. The bio-catalyzed withanolide was detected and quantified by TLC and HPLC, respectively. There is noticeable conversion of withanolide A to withanone, and vice versa though at a lower level. The type of reaction of this biotransformation appears to be substitution of 20-OH group to 17-OH in withanolide A. In this paper, we present for the first time the possibility of biotransformation by inter-conversion of withanolides of pharmacological importance through cell suspension culture of W. somnifera. The possible role of putative cytochrome $P_{450}$ hydroxylases is implicated in the conversion.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제51권3호
• /
• pp.205-212
• /
• 2024

Objective: Cyclophosphamide (CP) is an alkylating agent commonly used in cancer treatment. It is known to have detrimental effects on the reproductive system, including the potential to cause infertility. Recently, herbal remedies have gained traction as a complementary approach to addressing these side effects. In this study, our goal was to investigate whether the aqueous-alcoholic extract of Withania somnifera (WS) could mitigate the adverse impacts of CP on testicular tissue. Methods: Animals were randomly assigned to one of the following groups: control, WS (500 mg/kg), CP (100 mg/kg), CP+WS pre-treatment, and CP+WS post-treatment. WS was administered orally through gavage for 1 month. We assessed sperm parameters, testicular histopathology, and the expression of the Bax and Bcl2 genes in the experimental groups. Results: Sperm parameters (including count, viability, and motility), the number of spermatogonia, the seminiferous tubule diameter, and Bcl2 gene expression, significantly decreased after CP injection (p<0.05). Conversely, the number of immotile sperm and Bax gene expression significantly increased (p<0.05). Treatment with WS, especially when administered as a pre-treatment, ameliorated the sperm parameters, histological alterations, and the expression of apoptosis-related genes (p<0.05). Conclusion: The data suggest that WS may mitigate the detrimental effects of CP on testicular tissue by reducing apoptosis. Consequently, WS has the potential to be used as an adjunctive therapy to reduce the complications associated with CP treatment.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• 제65권3호
• /
• pp.143-152
• /
• 2022

본 연구는 고지방식이(HFD)를 제공한 비만동물모델에서 Momordica charanatia (MC)와 Withania somnifera (WS) 추출물의 혈청 콜레스테롤 및 내장지방 감소효과를 분석하였다. 유산균으로 발효한 MC와 WS 추출물의 조합(FMCWS) 및 비발효 추출물(MCWS)의 조합을 HFD로 유도된 비만마우스에 8주 동안 경구 투여하였다. 실험 기간 동안 체중, 식이섭취량, 총 콜레스테롤, 중성지방, HDL-콜레스테롤 수치를 분석하였다. 체중과 총 콜레스테롤 및 중성지방 수치는 정상대조(NC)군과 비교하여 HFD를 섭취한 HFD군에서 유의하게 증가했다. 그러나, 추출물의 투여로 인해 비만마우스의 체중증가가 감소되는 경향을 확인하였고 더불어 HDL-콜레스테롤의 증가와 함께 총 콜레스테롤 및 중성지방 수치를 유의적으로 감소시켰다. 복부지방 무게와 부고환 지방조직 내 지방세포의 크기는 NC군에 비해 HFD군에서 유의하게 증가하였다. 그러나, FMCWS와 MCWS를 각각 투여한 군은 HFD군에 비해 복부지방 무게와 부고환 지방세포의 크기가 유의하게 감소하였다. 또한, HFD군의 간 조직에서 관찰되는 거대 소포성 지방구의 침착이 이들 군에서는 현저하게 감소하였다. 이러한 결과는 MC와 WS 추출물의 조합이 체중 증가에 대한 감소 경향이 있을 뿐만 아니라 내장지방 및 혈청 지질 수준을 현저히 낮추는 데 강력한 시너지 효과가 있어 HFD 유발 비만마우스에서 항비만 활성을 향상시키는 효능이 있음을 시사한다.