INTRODUCTION
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), or Indian cherry, has a special place in Ayurveda health supplements, known as “rasayana,” meaning “a rejuvenating tonic.” Although all parts possess some health benefits, the root is the main biologically active constituent. When it comes to leaves, we cannot pass over ashwagandha’s identity.
ashwagandha
Recently FSSAI has banned the use of its leaf and its extract, allowing only roots and its potent liquid distillate in nutraceuticals and Ayurvedic preparations. They have chemical constituents known as withaferin A.
Let’s discuss something about Withaferin A
In the current scenario, it is one of the hottest topics of clinical research studies due to the wide health benefit. The market for ashwagandha is estimated at Rs 8598 crore, while the nutraceutical industry is worth Rs 7.09 lakh crore. Leaves and roots are the source of withaferin A.
Structure: Withanolides are steroidal lactones having an ergostane framework and are the key structure to diverse pharmacological and biological activities.
Withaferin helps to tackle following diseases-
- Anticancer and tumor-suppressive effects: multifaceted signal transduction pathway inhibitors such as NF-kB, PI3K/Akt, P53, and STAT3.
- Antidiabetic: decreases fat by acting as a leptin sensitizer, leading to reduced glucose levels.
- Anti-inflammatory: inhibits the NF-kB pathway responsible for inflammatory signals.
- Osteoporosis: acts as a proteasome inhibitor that assists osteogenesis while concurrently suppressing bone resorption.
- Neuroprotective: by impeding beta-amyloid integration, oxidative stress, inflammatory signals, and tau aggression.
- Cardioprotective: stimulate the AMPK-dependent pathway, upregulate the Bcl2 to Bax ratio, hamper MI/R caspase-9, mitophagy, etc.
- Anti-Hepatitis: Protect liver inflammation by reducing NLRP3, NF-kB, etc. Antioxidant via NRF2 activation. Decrease non-alcoholic hepatitis steatosis (NAHS) by reducing ceramide accumulation in blood cells and tissue.
But did you notice one thing: that the FSSAI only banned the leaves and not the root, whereas withaferin is found in both? What could be the reason behind it?
This is because the concentration of withaferin is higher in the leaves than in the root, which has a content of 1.69% w/w. Which can cause liver toxicity, neurotoxicity, and gastrointestinal disturbance.
Would you like to share something about Ahwagandha?
MBH/PS
