Indian rennet

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Indian rennet
• panirband
• vegetable rennet

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Puneeria coagulans

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Following the subclass Magnoliidae, it is placed under the order Solanales and the family Solanaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Withania, specifically as the species Withania coagulans.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution spanning several key regions across Asia. In Western Asia, its presence is noted within the territories of Afghanistan and Iran. It can also be found extending into the Arabian Peninsula, specifically in Oman. Moving towards the Indian Subcontinent, the species is widely distributed throughout India. Furthermore, its range extends northward into the neighboring country of Nepal.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Withania coagulans is characterized by its preference for specific montane environments, where it thrives within a distinct altitudinal belt. This species is primarily distributed across mid-elevation landscapes, occupying a niche that spans from a minimum elevation of 700 m AMSL to a maximum elevation of 1300 m AMSL. Within this vertical range, the plant adapts to the varying climatic conditions and soil compositions typical of these subtropical or temperate transitional zones. Its presence is often dictated by these elevationally constrained habitats, which influence the moisture availability and temperature regimes necessary for its growth and medicinal potency.

Elevational range max:

1300 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

700 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Withania coagulans is characterized by its classification as a chamaephyte, a growth form where the majority of the plant's regenerative buds are located close to the soil surface. Within the broader spectrum of life forms, it specifically functions as a chamaephyte, meaning its aerial parts are relatively low-growing and often protected by the ground level during unfavorable environmental conditions. This survival strategy allows the plant to persist in its natural habitats by maintaining its vital structures near the substrate, ensuring resilience against seasonal changes or herbivory. As a perennial species, its life cycle involves establishing a robust presence through these low-lying buds, which facilitate regrowth and continued development across successive growing seasons.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Morphology

The morphology of Withania coagulans is characterized by its growth habit as a woody perennial shrub, typically reaching heights of up to 60-90 cm. Structurally, the plant is not a parasite; it functions as an independent organism, meaning it lacks any obligatory or facultative parasitic relationship with host plants and relies on its own physiological processes for nutrient acquisition. The stems are characterized by a woody texture, providing a sturdy framework for its branched architecture. The leaves are simple, ovate to lanceolate in shape, and often exhibit a slightly pubescent or hairy surface. The inflorescence consists of small, greenish-yellow flowers, which eventually give rise to small, globose berries that transition in color as they mature, a hallmark of its reproductive morphology.

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Withania coagulans has 4 reported plant parts identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf, root, stem.

Fruit

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters
3. Journal of Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad : JAMC
4. Metabolic brain disease
5. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

Leaf

1. Gene
2. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology
3. Materials science & engineering. C, Materials for biological applications

Root

1. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine
2. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

Stem

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

Chemicals

Withania coagulans has 39 reported phytochemicals identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Withanolides, Withaferin A, withanolide, (17S,20S,22R)-14alpha,15alpha,17beta,20beta-tetrahydroxy-1-oxowitha-2,5,24-trienolide, 5-hydroxy tryptophan.

Withanolides

1. BMC plant biology
2. Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)
3. Protoplasma
4. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Withaferin A

1. Steroids
2. Natural product communications

withanolide

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences
2. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

(17S,20S,22R)-14alpha,15alpha,17beta,20beta-tetrahydroxy-1-oxowitha-2,5,24-trienolide

1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters

5-hydroxy tryptophan

1. Protoplasma

6-Benzyladenine

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Ajugin E

1. Biology

Caryophyllene oxide

1. PloS one

Coagulin E

1. Biology

Coagulin L

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Activities

Withania coagulans has 18 reported activities identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antihyperglycemic, Antimicrobial, Hepatoprotective, Antibacterial.

Antioxidant

1. Nephro-urology monthly
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. PloS one
4. RSC advances

Antihyperglycemic

1. Nephro-urology monthly
2. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters
3. Biology

Antimicrobial

1. PloS one
2. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
3. Materials science & engineering. C, Materials for biological applications

Hepatoprotective

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
3. Biology

Antibacterial

1. PloS one
2. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Cardiovascular

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
2. Biology

Diuretic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Biology

Hypoglycemic

1. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Anticancer

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Antidepressant

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Conditions

Withania coagulans has 44 reported investigations on conditions identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include asthma, diabetes mellitus, insomnia, Antidiabetic, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

Asthma

1. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica
2. Biology

Diabetes mellitus

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Insomnia

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Biology

Antidiabetic

1. ACS omega

Benign prostatic hyperplasia

1. Nephro-urology monthly

Diabetes mellitus

1. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences

Escherichia coli

1. PloS one

Hypercholesterolemia

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Leishmania major

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Parkinson's disease

1. Metabolic brain disease

Preparations

Withania coagulans has 25 reported preparations identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include crude extracts, extract, Methanolic extract, Methanolic extract of plant material, Withania Coagulans Extract (WCE).

Crude extracts

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Extract

1. Nephro-urology monthly
2. Metabolic brain disease

Methanolic extract

1. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences

Methanolic extract of plant material

1. Steroids

Withania coagulans extract (wce)

1. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine

Withania coagulans extract

1. Steroids

Aqueous extract

1. ACS omega

Aqueous extracts

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Aqueous methanolic fruits (aqmfet) extracts

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Aqueous stem extract

1. PloS one