Synonym: Withania root, Asgandh, Winter cherry.

Biological source: It consists of dried roots and stem bases of Withania somnifera

Family: Solanaceae

Geographical source: Uttar Pradesh, Punjab plains and North Western parts of India like Gujarat and Rajasthan,

Cultivation, Collection and Preparation

Propagation method and period: Seed The sowing is done towards June-July

Collection: Towards December or January, the plants bear flowers and fruits and during January, harvesting is initiated which lasts up to March. The roots are collected by uprooting the plant and either entire roots or the pieces thereof are dried immediately.

Macroscopic characters Roots:

Colour: Buff to grey yellow outer colour

Odour: Fresh roots smell similar to urine of horse

Taste: Bitter

Shape: Unbranched, straight, conical

Fracture: Smooth and powdery.

• Acyl steryl glucosides viz. Sitoindoside VII andsitoindoside VIII

• The leaves contain steroidal lactones, which are commonly called as "withanolides".

• The withanolides have C28 steroidal nucleus with C9 side chain, having six membered lactone rings

• Two monohydric alcohols called somnitol and somnirol;

• Fatty acids containing cerotic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid and stearic acid.

Uses:

• Sedative and hypnotic

• Hypotensive, respiratory, stimulant actions along with bradycardia.

• Immuno-modulatory agent.

• Sitoindosides (VII and VIII) possess anti-stress activity

• Treatment of rheumatism, gout, hypertension, nervine and skin diseases.

• The leaf extract shows activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Ranikhet virus.