Ashwagandha - Winter Cherry (Withania somnifera). Leaves and fruits.

Ashwagandha - Winter Cherry - Withania somnifera

Withania somnifera, known commonly as ashwagandha or winter cherry, is an evergreen shrub in the Solanaceae or nightshade family that grows in India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. Several other species in the genus Withania are morphologically similar.

The plant, particularly its root powder, has been used for centuries in traditional Indian medicine. A very important medicinal herb in Ayurveda, where it has a value similar to that of Ginseng in China. Although used in herbal medicine and sold as a dietary supplement, there is insufficient scientific evidence that W. somnifera is safe or effective for treating any health condition or disease.

This species is a short shrub growing 35–75 cm (14–30 in) tall. Tomentose branches extend radially from a central stem. Almost the whole plant is covered with short, fine, silver-grey, branched hairs. The stems are brownish and prostrate to erect, sometimes leafless below. Leaves are dull green, elliptic, narrowed into the 5-20 mm long petioles, almost hairless and green above, densely hairy below, usually up to 10–12 cm (3.9–4.7 in) long.

The flowers are small, green and bell-shaped. The 1-7 inconspicuous bisexual flowers appear at the leaf nodes on 2-5 mm long stalks. The 5-lobed calyx is ± 5 mm long; in fruit it is ± 20 mm long, spherical or urn-shaped, membranous and 5-10-ribbed. The corolla is 5-lobed, narrowly campanulate, 5-8 mm long and light yellow to yellow-green. The 5 stamens are yellow-orange and somewhat exserted.

The fruit is a hairless spherical berry, 5-8 mm across, orange-red to red when ripe and enclosed by the enlarged calyx. The numerous seeds are very pale brown, 2.5 mm across, ± kidney-shaped and compressed with a rough, netted surface.

Withania somnifera can be recognised by the red fruit covered by the brownish, papery, inflated calyx. Collectors have described it as a bad-smelling bush with particularly strong-smelling roots and have also commented on the leaves that have a strong smell of green tomatoes.

Linnaeus first described this plant as Physalis somnifera in 1753. In Flora of Australia (Purdie et al. 1982:184) it is stated that the genus Withania is named after Henry Witham (sic.), an English palaeobotanist of the early 19th century. However, the spelling of the name Withania is conserved under the rules of the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature. The Latin species name somnifera means "sleep-inducing". The name "ashwagandha" is a combination of the Sanskrit words 'ashva', meaning horse, and 'gandha', meaning smell, reflecting that the root has a strong horse-like odor.

Don't confuse ashwagandha with Physalis alkekengi. Both are known as winter cherry. Also, don't confuse ashwagandha with American ginseng, or Panax ginseng.

Its use has spread from India to many other countries. It is mainly gathered from the wild but is also cultivated, especially in India. It is widely sold, especially in India. W. somnifera is cultivated in many of the drier regions of India. It is also found in Nepal, Sri Lanka, China, and Yemen. It prefers dry stony soil with sun to partial shade. It can be propagated from seeds in the early spring or from greenwood cuttings in the later spring.

Withania somnifera contains more than 80 chemical compounds, mainly alkaloids and steroids (withanolides). Numerous studies have been published on the activities of these compounds, mostly obtained from the leaves and roots. These studies have demonstrated antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, anti-tumour and cholesterol-lowering activities. This is an important plant in the traditional medicine of Africa and Asia. Ashwagandha is perhaps the best known of all the plants used in Ayurvedic medicine. It has narcotic, sedative and diuretic properties and counteracts the symptoms of stress. It is widely referred to as 'Indian ginseng', and like the real ginseng from Chinese medicine (Panax ginseng), it is used as a general tonic and considered to be effective against a large number of ailments. Different chemotypes of this plant are known. Wink & and Van Wyk 2008:238 say that W. somnifera has a mind-altering cell toxin which is only slightly hazardous.

Ashwagandha is one of the most widespread tranquillising and adaptogenic herbs used in India, where it holds a position of importance similar to ginseng in China. It acts mainly on the reproductive and nervous systems, where it improves overall physical and mental health and increases longevity and vitality, having an overall rejuvenating effect on the body, and is used to improve vitality and aid recovery after chronic illness.

In traditional medicine in southern Africa the leaves are used to heal open as well as septic, inflamed wounds, abscesses, inflammation, haemorrhoids, rheumatism and syphilis; a paste of leaves is applied or ointments are made with fat or oil. For internal use the dried roots are taken in the form of a decoction, infusion or tincture.

Side effects of the medicinal use of ashwagandha are rarely reported, but a case of thyrotoxicosis caused by its use was reported in the Netherlands. Symptoms disappeared when the treatment was stopped.

The whole plant, but especially the leaves and the root bark, are abortifacient, adaptogenic, antibiotic, aphrodisiac, deobstruent, diuretic, narcotic, strongly sedative and tonic. Internally, it is used to tone the uterus after a miscarriage and also in treating post-partum difficulties

It is also used to treat nervous exhaustion, debility, insomnia, wasting diseases, failure to thrive in children, impotence, infertility, multiple sclerosis etc]. Applied externally, the plant has been applied as a poultice to boils, wounds, swellings and other painful parts]. An ointment made from the leaves is applied to wounds and bed sores[299 ]. The root is harvested in the autumn and dried for later use]. Some caution is advised in the use of this plant since it is toxic]. The fruit is diuretic. The seed is diuretic and hypnotic.

The seeds are used to curdle plant milks in order to make vegetarian cheeses.

The fruit is rich in saponins and can be used as a soap substitute. The leaves are used as an insect repellent. The root is used in Africa to ward off large animals such as lions. The dried root is crushed, then placed in a container and heated so that they give off smoke.

Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Withania_somnifera
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Withania+somnifera
https://pza.sanbi.org/withania-somnifera