1st Edition
Ashwagandha Potential Drug Candidate from Ancient Ayurvedic Remedy
About the Editors
List of Contributors
Foreword
Chapter 1 Controversies in Ashwagandha Research and Commercialisation
Dilip Ghosh
Chapter 2 Scientific Evidence against Traditional Claims of Ashwagandha in Unani System of Medicine
Md Reyaz Alam, Bushra Parveen, Rabea Parveen, and Sayeed Ahmad
Chapter 3 Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera): Translating Traditional Wisdom into Evidence-Based Applications
Ashwinikumar Raut, Raakhi Tripathi, Padmaja Marathe, Vallabh Mulay, Lal Hingorani, and Rama Vaidya
Chapter 4 Ashwagandha: An Overview of Cultivation, Propagation, Extraction, and Its Phytochemistry
Vallabh Mulay, Mayur Nandikar, Pravin Surwade, Manolina Karmakar, Ganesh Saste, and Lal Hingorani
Chapter 5 Optimizing Withanolide Production through Innovative: In Vitro Propagation and Genetic Manipulation in Hairy Root Cultures
Bishop Debnath, Saikat Kumar Basu, and Suparna Sanyal Mukherjee
Chapter 6 Ashwagandha Species, Cultivars, and Agronomic Practices
Benny Cherian and Benny Antony
Chapter 7 Ashwagandha¯: Pharmacological Review and Traditional Uses in Sri Lanka
W. A. L. Chandrasiri Waliwita and W. A. L. C. Manuravi
Chapter 8 Steroidal Lactones of Ashwagandha: Influence of Geographical Variations and Molecular Insights
Mandar Muley, Ayusha Dondulkar, Yogesh Nikam, Natasha Akojwar, Satyendra Prasad, and Prakash Itankar
Chapter 9 Adaptogenic Health Benefits of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera L. Dunal): Phytochemical and Pharmacological Perspectives
Amit Kar, Soma Chowdhury, Barun Das Gupta, Srijon Gayen, and Pulok K. Mukherjee
Chapter 10 Leveraging Ashwagandha’s Anti-Inflammatory Potential: Clinical Insights on Stress Management, Cognitive Enhancement, and Well-Being
Sneha Shashank Desai
Chapter 11 Preclinical Studies with Ashwagandha: An Overview
Nishant Kumar Gupta and Merina Benny
Chapter 12 Ashwagandha: A Promising Immunomodulatory Therapeutic Drug
Bhushan Patwardhan
Chapter 13 Pharmacokinetics of Ashwagandha Actives: A Novel Research Avenue and Its Clinical Relevance
Shefali Thanawala
Chapter 14 A Comprehensive Synopsis of Current Research on the Therapeutic Actions of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
Pratibha Shah
Chapter 15 Role of Withania somnifera as Androgenic
Neelesh Malviya, Rajiv Saxena, Sapna Malviya, Kamal Shah, Umesh K. Patil, and Nagendra Singh Chauhan
Chapter 16 Immunomodulatory Role of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera): A Review of Important Traditional Therapeutic Constituents in Ayurveda
Joyeta Ghosh, Khusboo Singh, Sudrita Roy Choudhury, and Samarpita Koner
Chapter 17 Withaferin A in Human Health
Anand Swaroop
Chapter 18 Systems Pharmacology Perspective of Withania somnifera in Immunomodulation and Multi-Organ Protection against Cytokine Storm in Viral Respiratory Infections
Subhadip Banerjee, Amit Kar, and Pulok K. Mukherjee
Chapter 19 Comprehensive Insights into the Pharmacological Marvels and Biopreservative Prowess of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal for Cardiovascular and Neurological Well-Being
Saikat Kumar Basu, Bishop Debnath, and Suparna Sanyal Mukherjee
Chapter 20 Ashwagandha: Mechanism and Therapeutic Benefits
Binu T. Kuruvilla, Swati Kaushik, and Iwin Joseph Benny
Chapter 21 Ayurvedic Remedy: Harnessing Ashwagandha to Alleviate Stress, Anxiety, Insomnia, and Cognitive Impairments
Isha Agrawal, Komal Thakur, Pankaj, and Manish Vyas
Chapter 22 The Impact of Withania somnifera on Cardiovascular Health: A Comprehensive Review
Milirani Das, Sahitya Uppada, Rana Yukta, Anagha Ranade, Sachin Kumar, Manoj Kumar Barthwal, and Madhu Dikshit
Chapter 23 Science of Ashwagandha: Therapeutic Potential in Reproductive and Sexual Health
Charu Sharma and Kartick Sharma
Chapter 24 Neurotherapeutic Potential of Withania somnifera: Insights from Ayurvedic Medicine
Pankaj Kumar
Chapter 25 Adaptogens Unveiled: Ashwagandha’s Multifaceted Role in Sports Nutrition and Mind-Body Health
Vanita Sharma
Chapter 26 Alzheimer’s and Ashwagandha: A Natural Approach to Cognitive Health
Jai Malik, Sunayna Choudhary, and Subash C. Mandal
Chapter 27 Ashwagandha: Potential Drug Candidate from Ancient Ayurvedic Remedies
Anup Thakar
Chapter 28 Efficacy and Safety of Withania somnifera (Indian Ginseng) in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review of Evidence from Experimental Studies to Clinical Trials
Sharanbasappa Durg, Sachin Bavage, Neelima Satrasala, and Charan Chabbanahalli S.
Chapter 29 Looking beyond the Roots: Exploring the Untapped Potential of Withania somnifera
Acharya Balkrishna, Brijesh Kumar, Swati Haldar, and Anurag Varshney
Chapter 30 Ashwagandha: The Magical Herb
Neeraj Thakur
Chapter 31 Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal): Clinical Experiences
Shivani Ghildiyal, Shalini Rai, and Rajagopala S.
Chapter 32 Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Dunal): A Comprehensive Ayurveda Review on Health Promoting and Therapeutic Profiles
Tanuja Manoj Nesari, Shivani Ghildiyal, and Rajagopala S.
Chapter 33 Overview of Ashwagandha for Human Health and Diseases
Sampriti Giri, Saurabh Kumar Gupta, and Vikram Gota
Chapter 34 Overview of Ashwagandha Supplements
Nipen Lavingia and Jomy Jose
Chapter 35 Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (Linn.) Dunal): A Review on Safety, Efficacy and Toxicological Aspects
Anu Ruhila and Galib
Chapter 36 Ashwagandha: A Global Herbal Market Crusader
Sasibhushan Vedula, Hari Venkatesh K.R., Ravi Kumar Reddy, and Arvind Varchaswi
Index
Biography
Dr. Dilip Ghosh has received his PhD in biomedical science from India & post-doc from USDA-ARS, HNRCA at Tufts University, Boston. He is an international speaker, facilitator and author and professionally associated with Nutriconnect, Australia; Adjunct-Industry Fellow, NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University. He is also a Visiting Professor, Kasturba Health Society, Medical Research Center, Mumbai, Jamia Hamdard University at Food Technology, Delhi, India & Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. He is a fellow of American College of Nutrition (ACN), professional member of Australian Institute of Food Science & Technology (AIFST), an advisor and executive board member of Health Foods and Dietary Supplements Association (HADSA), The Society for Ethnopharmacology, India (SFE-India), Council for Ayurveda Research, USA, Australasian Ayurvedic Association, Australia and also in editorial board of several journals. Dr. Ghosh has published more than 100 papers in peer reviewed journals, numerous articles in food and nutrition magazines and books. His few recent books, “Pharmaceutical to Nutraceutical: A Paradigm shift in disease prevention”, “Natural Medicines-Clinical efficacy, Safety and Quality”, “Nutraceutical in Brain Health & beyond” & “Fenugreek-Traditional & Modern Medicinal Uses” have been published under CRC Press, and Elsevier/Academic Press, USA. His new book, “Nutrition science, marketing nutrition, health claims and public policy” is published last year. Two new books, “Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine for Neurocognition" and "Ashwagandha: Potential Drug Candidate from Ancient Ayurvedic Remedy" are currently in the press.
Dr Ghosh is also a recipient of IASTAM-Zandu Oration Award 2022-23. Dr Ghosh has very recently nominated as Consultant, WHO-Global Traditional Medicine Center (GTMC).
Dr. Benny Antony is a distinguished scientist and entrepreneur at the forefront of botanical research and nutraceutical innovation. As the Co-founder and Joint Managing Director of Arjuna Natural Private Limited, he has played a pivotal role in establishing the company as a global leader in standardized herbal and spice extracts, including high-potency Ashwagandha, with exports to over 60 countries.
Holding a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Mahatma Gandhi University and an M.Sc. in Applied Chemistry from Maharajas College, Dr. Benny has dedicated his career to advancing natural health solutions through rigorous scientific research. With over 120 granted patents worldwide and 28 ongoing applications, his expertise spans bioavailability enhancement, extraction technologies, and clinical validation of herbal actives. His pioneering work on BCM-95® curcumin has set new industry benchmarks, earning him international acclaim.
Dr. Benny’s contributions to the field of Ashwagandha research are central to this book. Leveraging his deep scientific insights, he explores its bioactive constituents, therapeutic potential, and innovative formulations that enhance efficacy and absorption. His work has been recognized with prestigious honours, including the National Intellectual Property Award (2019) from the Government of India, the WIPO Medal for Inventors, and the Best Innovator of the Year Award (2010-11) by the Spices Board of India.
Bringing decades of research and industry expertise, Dr. Benny provides a compelling scientific perspective on Ashwagandha, offering readers an in-depth understanding of its role in modern nutraceuticals and evidence-based wellness solutions.
