In this study, a novel technique for biosynthesizing of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) using Withania somnifera as reductants and stabilizers is reported. Biosynthesis of anisotropic gold nanoparticles using ethanolic extract of Withania somnifera leaf and their potential as IR blockers has been demonstrated. The phenolic groups (–OH) residue was identified as the active functional group for gold io...

Withania somnifera, commonly known as Ashwagandha, is an important medicinal plant that has been used in Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine for over 3,000 years. In view of its varied therapeutic potential, it has also been the subject of considerable modern scientific attention. The major chemical constituents of the Withania genus, the withanolides, are a group of naturally occurring C28-stero...

The yield parameters and cost economics of Withania somnifera were studied using Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) treatments. Withania somnifera is cultivated in around 10,780 ha with a production of 8429 tones in India. The annual demand of this herb increased from 7028 tones (2001-2002) to 9127 tones (2004-2005). The field experiment was conducted at the research farm of Department of Pla...

Seed treatment with aqueous colchicine solution was carried out for induction of autotetraploidy in ashwagandha in four accessions (Shilpa, Acc. 17, Bydyanath and MWS-327). Increased stomatal size and decrease in stomata density aided in detection of autotetraploids. Among four ashwagandha accessions tried, Acc. 17 was more responsive for the induction of autotetraploids. Colchicine at 0.5 per ...

Biotransformation of artemisinin was investigated with two different cell lines of suspension cultures of Withania somnifera. Both cell lines exhibited potential to transform artemisinin into its nonperoxidic analogue, deoxyartemisinin, by eliminating the peroxo bridge of artemisinin. The enzyme involved in the reaction is assumed to be artemisinin peroxidase, and its activity in extracts of W....

A crucial virulence factor for intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis survival is Protein kinase G (PknG), a eukaryotic-like serinethreonine protein kinase expressed by pathogenic mycobacteria that blocks the intracellular degradation of mycobacteria in lysosomes. Inhibition of PknG results in mycobacterial transfer to lysosomes. Withania somnifera, a reputed herb in ayurvedic medicine, compr...

Withania somnifera recently categorized as threatened plant of Rajasthan and known for its high medicinal value has been studied for existing genetic variations in four accessions collected from four different locations. From the present studies it is apparent that the gametic number of W. somnifera is n = 24 and 2n = 48. From the combined information generated by present author and earlier wor...

The present study was undertaken to investigate the antihyperammonemic efficacy of Withania somnifera root, which has been used in Indian traditional medicine for many centuries. We studied the effect of oral administration of powdered root of W. somnifera (500 mg/kg; b.wt) on blood ammonia, plasma urea, uric acid, non-protein nitrogen and serum creatinine in control and ammonium chloride (AC) ...

The neuroprotective effects of W. somnifera were studied on stressed adult female Swiss albino rats. Experimental rats were subjected to immobilization stress for 14 h and were treated with a root powder extract of W. somnifera available as Stresscom capsules (Dabur India Ltd). Control rats were maintained in completely, non stressed conditions. Thionin stained serial coronal sections (7 microm...