Ashwagandha Side Effects and Health
Benefits
Studies indicate ashwagandha possesses anti-inflammatory, antitumor,
antistress, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, hemopoietic, and rejuvenating
properties. It also appears to exert a positive influence on the endocrine,
cardiopulmonary, and central nervous systems. Some researchers suggest
ashwagandha exhibits a variety of therapeutic effects with limited side
effects or toxicity. [22]
Ashwagandha, used in traditional Indian and Ayurvedic medicine, grows in
India and Africa. The roots of ashwagandha are believed to have health
benefits on various conditions including inflammation (including arthritis),
and a wide range of infectious diseases. [1,2] Ashwagandha contains
withanolides as its major active ingredients to account for most of its
medicinal benefits. [4]
Basic studies have shown its ability to simulate the immune system cells,
inhibit inflammation and improve memory in animal studies. [5-7] Thus, it is
not a surprise that herbalists claim ashwagandha as a tonic or adaptogen
[8]. Adaptogen is an herb counteract the effects of stress and promote
general wellness. Usually, marketers suggest 3-6 grams of the dried root a
day. [9]
HEALTH BENEFITS OF ASHWAGANDHA
Ashwagandha may have benefits of anti-microbial activities.
Oral administration of the aqueous extracts successfully obliterated
salmonella infection in Balb/C mice as revealed by increased survival rate as
well as less bacterial load in various vital organs of the treated animals.
[18] In another study, ashwagandha given orally once daily for 7
consecutive days in a dose of 100 mg/kg after intravenous infection of
Aspergillus fumigatus prolonged the survival period of infected mice. [27]
Ashwagandha may have benefits of anti-oxidant activities.
Withania somnifera inhibited both the lipid peroxidation and protein
oxidative modification induced by copper in Wistar rats. These effects were
similar to those of superoxide dismutase and mannitol. [19] In another
study of mice,15 days treatment with Ashwagandha root powder did not
produce any significant change, 30 days treatment produced a significant
decrease in lipid peroxidation, and an increase in both superoxide
dismutase and catalase in mice. Thus, Ashwagandha root powder
possesses free radical scavenging activity. [24]
Ashwagandha may have effects on neuronal activities and memory.
Japanese researchers reported that the methanol extract of Ashwagandha
(roots of Dunal) induced dendrite extension in a human neuroblastoma cell
line. The compounds responsible for this activity are found to be
withanosides IV and VI. [20, 22]
Chronic treatment with electroconvulsive shock in mice, for 6 successive
days at 24 h intervals, disrupted memory consolidation on day 7. Daily
administration of ashwagandha for 6 days significantly improved memory
consolidation in mice receiving chronic electroconvulsive shock treatment.
[21]
Ashwagandha may have benefits of immunomodulatory activities.
In a study of mice, Indian researchers found ashwagandha prevented
myelosuppression in mice treated with all three immunosuppressive drugs
cyclophosphamide, azathioprin, or prednisolone. They also noticed a
significant increase in hemoglobin concentration (P < 0.01), red blood cell
count (P < 0.01), white blood cell count (P < 0.05), platelet count (P < 0.01),
and body weight (P < 0.05) in Ashwagandha-treated mice as compared
with untreated (control) mice. [25] In another study of mice, researchers
also found a significant increase in white blood cell and platelet counts in
animals treated with extracts of Ashwagandha. [26]
Ashwaganha may have anti-stress activities.
Ashwagandha was shown to increase swimming time in rats in physical
working capacity test, i.e. rats swimming endurance test. Significant
increase in relative heart weight and glycogen content in myocardium and
liver was also observed in ashwagandha treated group. [23]
Grandhi A and co-workers from Indian Drugs Research Association, Pune,
prepared aqueous suspensions of roots of an Indian drug Ashwagandha
and the Korean drug Ginseng. And, they supplemented mice with either one
of these suspensions. They found that a significant increase in mice
swimming time after intake either one of these preparations. [15]
Ashwagandha extracts may have benefits of anti-cancer effects.
Japanese researchers found that the leaf extract of Ashwagandha has a
significant anti-proliferative activity in human tumorigenic cells. However, it
did not impart any protection against the oxidative damage caused by high
glucose and hydrogen peroxide to human tumor cells suggesting that it can
be used as an anti-tumor, but not as an anti-oxidant, substance. [14]
Devi PU, an Indian researchers, noticed a significant antitumor and
radiosensitizing effects in experimental tumors from the alcoholic extract of
the dried roots of the W. somnifera (Ashwagandha). Withaferin A gave a
sensitizer enhancement ratio of 1.5 for in vitro cell killing of V79 Chinese
hamster cells at a non-toxic concentration of approximately 2 microM. [12]
This group also injected alcoholic extract of ashwagandha at daily doses of
200 to 1000 mg/kg body wt for 15 days starting from 24 hr after
intradermal inoculation of 5 x 10(5) cells of S-180 to BALB/c mice. They
observed a significant increase in the volume doubling time and growth
delay was seen when the ashwagandha dose was increased from 500 to
750 mg/kg body wt. [10] They further obtained similar results in a study of
Sarcoma-180 grown on the dorsum of adult BALB/c mouse using alcoholic
root extract of W. somnifera and their modification by heat. [11]
SIDE EFFECTS OF ASHWAGANDHA
In a study of rats for intake of ginseng and ashwagandha for 90 days,
researchers found significant increase in body weight, food consumption
and liver weight, and improved hematopoiesis. They did not reveal any
toxicity of brain, heart, lung, liver, spleen, kidneys, stomach, testis and
ovaries. [17] Thus, ashwagandha probably is safe without serious side
effects.
However, there is a case about the toxicity or side effect of ashwagandha.
The reporter speculated that ashwagandha could increase serum
concentrations of thyroid hormones causing thyrotoxicosis of a 32-year-oild
healthy woman in the case. Chronic fatigue is the one of the main
symptoms of thyrotoxicosis. The symptoms resolved spontaneously after
discontinuation of the ashwagandha capsules. [13]
Panda S and Kar A from D.A. University, Indore, India noticed that
ashwagandha root extracts could regulate thyroid function with special
reference to type-I iodothyronine 5'-monodeiodinase activity in mice liver.
Furthermore, ashwagandha root extract significantly reduced hepatic lipid
peroxidation, whereas the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as
superoxide dismutase and catalase were increased. These findings reveal
that the ashwagandha root extract stimulates thyroidal activity and also
enhances the antiperoxidation of hepatic tissue. [16]
WARNINGS
People with thyroid or liver issues should not use this herb or related
products without doctors' recommendation.
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