Chemical and pharmacological review of Withania somnifera

The Solanaceae family is comprised of 84 genera that include about 3,000 species, scattered throughout the world. Members of this family are generally annual shrubs. The genera Withania and Physalis play an important role in the indigenous medicine of South East Asia, e.g. in the Unani and Ayurvedic systems. Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, (Solanaceae), commonly known as ashwagandha, winter cherry, Indian ginseng, or poison gooseberry. Traditionally it is commonly used in emaciation of children, hindrance from old age, rheumatism, vitiated conditions of vata, leucoderma, constipation, insomnia, nervous breakdown, goiter etc. W somnifera and its chemical ingredients are effective in prevention and treatment of different kinds of cancer like colon cancer, lung cancer, blood cancer, skin cancer, breast cancer, renal cancer, fibrosarcoma, prostate cancer and pancreatic cancer. As modern medicine continues to expand, so do the uses of botanical medicines. Withania somnifera shows great potential as a safe and effective in immunomodulation and hematopoiesis. The present study emphasizes the chemical and pharmacological properties of Withania somnifera.