Family

Solanaceae

Genus

Withania

Common Name

Ashwagandha

Plant Figure

Description

Withania somnifera, commonly referred to as Ashwagandha, belongs to the Solanaceae family together about 3000 other species, which are grouped into 84 genera and have a worldwide distribution. W. somnifera is one of the most important plants in the Indian system of medicine, among other things, because of its antioxidant-, anti-inflammatory-, adaptogenic-, immune-modulatory-, bone healing-properties. The important pharmacological activities of this herbal medicine are attributed to the specific triterpenoid ancestry secondary metabolites known as withanolides.