1. Drugs acting on Nervous System
Aswagandha

2. DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION ANDHRA PRADESH
Name : R.D.L.P.Christian
Designation : Lecturer in pharmacy
Branch : Pharmacy
Institute : GPW, Srikakulam
Year : I year
Subject : Pharmacognosy
Subject Code : PH-103
Topic : Drugs acting on Nervous System
Sub-Topic : Withania
Duration : 50 min.
Teaching Aids : PPT, Photographs

3. Recap In the previous lesson we learnt about CNS drug – ACONITE
Its Macroscopical characters
Active Constituents
Uses, etc.,

4. Objectives On completion of this lesson, you would be able to
learn about
The monograph of the CNS Drug
Aswagandha

5. Withania somnifera – Plant and roots
Fig.32.1

6. Aswagandha Syn. : Withania root Biological Source :
Dried roots & stem bases of
Withania somnifera
Family : Solanaceae
Geographical Source :
Congo, South Africa, Egypt
Jordan, Pakistan
In India it is found in M.P., U.P.,
Punjab, Gujarat and Rajasthan
Fig.32.2

7. Cultivation, Collection and Preparation
Seeds are sown in June - July
4 - 5 Kg Seeds are required per hectare
Plants bear fruits and flowers in January
Harvesting lasts upto March
In India mainly cultivated in M.P

8. Morphological Characters
ROOT
Size : Length mm
Width mm
Shape : Conical or
cylindrical, straight
and unbranched
Fracture : Smooth and
powdery
Fig.32.3

9. Morphological Characters
ROOT
Colour : Grayish yellow
Odour : Faintly pungent and charasteric
Taste : Mucilagenous, acrid and bitter
Extra features : Centre of the root is creamy and
consists of soft, solid mass with
scattered pores

10. Chemical Constituents
Steroidal alkaloids:
Anaferin
Withanine
Tropine
Anahygrine
Cuscohygrine
Choline
Fig.32.4

11. Chemical Constituents
Steroidal Lactones:
Withanolides
Withaferine
Withaferin A
Withanone

12. Chemical Tests 1. Dil. KMnO4 + Drop of aqueous extract
Decolourisation of KMnO4 solution
Aqueous extract + FeCl3 (5%)
No darkening

13. Uses Sedative and Hypnotic Hypotensive, Respiratory stimulant
action along with Bradycardia
Immuno-modulatory agent and having
anti-stress activity
Fig.32.5

14. Uses Used in the treatment of Rheumatism, Gout and Skin diseases
Widely used as sex-stimulant
Strength and vigor promoting drug especially in geriatric case
Withaferin, a steroid lactone shows anti-tumour activity

15. Allied Drugs & Adulterants
Allied drug : Withania coagulanse
Adulterant : Wild ashwagandha

16. Summary In this class we discussed about the CNS plant drug WITHANIA
Withania contains Steroidal alkaloids and steroid
lactones which are having a variety of activities

17. Quiz 1. Withania can be used as a a) Sedative & Hypnotic
b) Sex-stimulant
c) Immuno-modulatory agent
d) All the above

18. Quiz 2. The plant part that is useful in Withania is a) Leaves
b) Flowers
c) Roots
d) None of the above

19. Frequently Asked Questions
Write the Botanical Source and Morphological characters of Ashwagandha
Write the Chemical Constituents and Uses of Ashwagandha