Indian ginseng

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• winter-cherry
• Indian Ginseng
• Poison Gooseberry
• Poisonous Gooseberry
• Rennet
• Winter Cherry

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Withania chevalieri
• Withania somnifera var. flexuosa
• Withania somnifera var. macrocalyx
• Withania somnifera subsp. obtusifolia
• Withania sicula
• Withania arborescens
• Alicabon somniferum
• Withania kansuensis
• Withania macrocalyx
• Withania microphysalis
• Withania morisonii
• Physalis scariosa
• Withania mucronata
• Withania obtusifolia
• Physalis flexuosa
• Physalis alpini
• Larnax morrisonii
• Physaloides somnifera
• Withania somnifera var. communis
• Physalis somnifera var. flexuosa
• Physalis somnifera var. communis
• Physalis somnifera

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Withania somnifera, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Solanales and the family Solanaceae. Finally, it is situated within the genus Withania.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several regions of the Mediterranean. Within Southwestern Europe, it can be found growing in the Baleares and Sardegna. It is also documented to inhabit various areas of Spain. Moving toward Southeastern Europe, the species is present in Greece. Finally, its range extends to the island of Kriti.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Withania somnifera is characterized by its ability to thrive across a broad topographical gradient, demonstrating significant adaptability to diverse altitudinal shifts. This species is found distributed within a wide elevational range, spanning from as low as 15 m AMSL to a maximum altitude of 2300 m AMSL. This extensive vertical distribution allows the plant to colonize various ecological niches, ranging from arid, low-lying plains to more temperate, mountainous terrains. Such ecological plasticity enables it to withstand varying climatic conditions and soil compositions found across these disparate elevations, facilitating its presence in diverse regional ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

2300 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

15 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Withania somnifera is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Depending on environmental conditions and the specific ecological niche it occupies, its growth habit can be classified as a phanerophyte, possessing visible aerial shoots, or as a chamaephyte, where the primary biomass remains closer to the ground. Throughout its developmental stages, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, retaining its foliage to sustain physiological processes across varying seasonal shifts.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

chamaephyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Withania somnifera is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub, exhibiting a self-supporting habit rather than acting as a climber or liana. As a terrestrial plant, it functions as an independent organism and does not exhibit epiphytic or parasitic behaviors. The plant's stature varies depending on environmental conditions, with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of approximately 2.13 m, maintaining an average height of around 1 m. Its structural development is defined by its woody nature, contributing to its classification as a perennial shrub.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2.133625945 m

Plant height mean:

1 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Withania somnifera is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes. Its vegetative morphology features elliptic leaves that vary in size, with a minimum width of 3 cm and a maximum width of 8 cm, while the leaf length can reach a maximum of 9.5 cm. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil nutrients for its nitrogen requirements.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

9.5 cm

Leaf width max:

8 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Withania somnifera is characterized by a versatile flowering cycle that can occur throughout the year, with flowering periods typically spanning from January to December. The plant produces green flowers that are subject to biotic pollination syndromes, specifically relying on insects such as bees to facilitate the reproductive process. While self-fertilization is present, the plant utilizes these biotic interactions to ensure successful fertilization. Once fertilized, the plant develops a brown, indehiscent berry fruit. These fruits are relatively small, with a width ranging from 0.5 cm to 0.8 cm. The seeds produced within these berries are quite minute, with a mean mass of approximately 0.001378462 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.00095 g to a maximum of 0.00243 g). The individual seeds possess dimensions that vary from a minimum length of 1.9 mm to a maximum of 2.5 mm, and a width between 1.6 mm and 2 mm. Following maturation, the plant utilizes a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, allowing the seeds to be spread via animal vectors.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Flower colour :

green

Flowering time :

Jan

Flowering time :

Dec

Fruit colour :

brown

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width max:

0.8 cm

Fruit width min:

0.5 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length max:

2.5 mm

Seed length min:

1.9 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00243 g

Seed mass mean:

0.001378462 g

Seed mass min:

0.00095 g

Seed width max:

2 mm

Seed width min:

1.6 mm

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Withania somnifera has 5 reported plant parts identified across 114 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, leaf, fruit, stem, seed.

Root

1. ISRN veterinary science
2. Scientific reports
3. Tropical animal health and production
4. Natural product research
5. Cureus

Leaf

1. Phytochemistry
2. Scientific reports
3. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics
4. Analytical methods : advancing methods and applications
5. Fitoterapia

Fruit

1. Analytical methods : advancing methods and applications
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Archiv der Pharmazie
4. Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan
5. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Stem

1. Analytical methods : advancing methods and applications
2. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine
3. 3 Biotech
4. Journal of Asian natural products research
5. Planta medica

Seed

1. Biomolecules
2. Frontiers in physiology

Chemicals

Withania somnifera has 273 reported phytochemicals identified across 114 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Withaferin A, Withanolides, withanolide A, withanone, withanolide.

Withaferin A

1. Dr. Duke
2. Neurotherapeutics : the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics
3. Molecular biology reports
4. Cell death & disease
5. PloS one

Withanolides

1. The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology
2. Molecular biology reports
3. Phytochemistry
4. PloS one
5. Scientific reports

withanolide A

1. Molecular biology reports
2. Scientific reports
3. PloS one
4. The Journal of biological chemistry
5. Journal of chromatographic science

withanone

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecular biology reports
3. The Journal of biological chemistry
4. Journal of chromatographic science
5. Fitoterapia

withanolide

1. Fitoterapia
2. Pharmacognosy research
3. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
4. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology
5. Microbiological research

Flavonoids

1. Acta pharmaceutica (Zagreb, Croatia)
2. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences
3. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR
4. Biotechnology reports (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
5. Nutrients

STIGMASTEROL

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant & cell physiology
3. Planta
4. Archiv der Pharmazie
5. BMC bioinformatics

Withanolide D

1. Dr. Duke
2. Fitoterapia
3. Endocrine-related cancer
4. Frontiers in pharmacology
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

12-Deoxywithastramonolide

1. Molecular biology reports
2. Scientific reports
3. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences
4. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
5. Journal of chromatographic science

Withanoside V

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Plant signaling & behavior
4. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics
5. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Activities

Withania somnifera has 380 reported activities identified across 114 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Anticancer, Neuroprotective, Adaptogenic, Cardioprotective.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Acta pharmaceutica (Zagreb, Croatia)
3. Journal of food science and technology
4. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
5. PeerJ

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. PloS one
3. Life (Basel, Switzerland)
4. PeerJ
5. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences

Neuroprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Toxicology mechanisms and methods
4. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
5. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Adaptogenic

1. Journal of intercultural ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. PloS one

Cardioprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences
3. International journal of molecular sciences
4. International journal of food science
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences
3. International journal of food science
4. Journal of clinical biochemistry and nutrition
5. Biology

Antimicrobial

1. PeerJ
2. International journal of molecular sciences
3. International journal of food science
4. PloS one
5. Biology

Antistress

1. Dr. Duke
2. BioMed research international
3. International journal of food science
4. Phytotherapy research : PTR
5. Indian journal of experimental biology

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology
3. BioMed research international
4. Cureus
5. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
4. International journal of food science
5. Frontiers in veterinary science

Conditions

Withania somnifera has 240 reported investigations on conditions identified across 114 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, breast cancer, Alzheimer's disease, inflammation, oxidative stress.

Cancer

1. Frontiers in immunology
2. Biochemical pharmacology
3. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine
5. Computers in biology and medicine

Breast cancer

1. Cancer prevention research (Philadelphia, Pa.)
2. Computers in biology and medicine
3. Natural product research
4. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
5. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Alzheimer's disease

1. Scientific reports
2. Computational biology and chemistry
3. Current neuropharmacology
4. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics
5. European journal of pharmacology

Inflammation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of physiology and pharmacology : an official journal of the Polish Physiological Society
3. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR
4. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
5. International journal of molecular sciences

Oxidative stress

1. Central nervous system agents in medicinal chemistry
2. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
3. Life sciences
4. Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)
5. Alternative therapies in health and medicine

Neurodegenerative diseases

1. Neurotherapeutics : the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics
4. Advances in neurobiology
5. Frontiers in pharmacology

Parkinson's disease

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. PloS one
3. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
4. Frontiers in pharmacology
5. International journal of molecular sciences

Covid-19

1. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics
2. Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology
3. Cureus
4. Journal of natural products
5. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Anxiety

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Pharmacological research
3. Journal of food and drug analysis
4. Current drug metabolism
5. Current pharmaceutical design

Arthritis

1. Molecular biology reports
2. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences
3. Journal of pharmacological sciences
4. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine
5. International journal of molecular sciences

Preparations

Withania somnifera has 139 reported preparations identified across 114 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Withaferin A, extracts, extract, root extract, aqueous extract.

Withaferin a

1. Scientific reports
2. Journal of pharmacological sciences
3. Chemico-biological interactions
4. International journal of molecular medicine
5. Toxicology in vitro : an international journal published in association with BIBRA

Extracts

1. Indian journal of experimental biology
2. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR
3. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
4. Journal of AOAC International
5. International journal of molecular sciences

Extract

1. Cancer letters
2. Advanced pharmaceutical bulletin
3. Cell death & disease
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Root extract

1. Cellular and molecular neurobiology
2. Molecular carcinogenesis
3. Renal failure
4. Drug target insights

Aqueous extract

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Molecular neurobiology

Methanolic extracts

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
3. Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology

Plant extract

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology & pharmacology : CBP
3. Biochimie

Ws extract

1. BioMed research international
2. Journal of nutritional science

Ws root extract

1. Drug metabolism and personalized therapy
2. Photochemical & photobiological sciences : Official journal of the European Photochemistry Association and the European Society for Photobiology

Withania somnifera extract

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology