 CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group have released a dedicated book on Ashwagandha: Potential Drug Candidate from Ancient Ayurvedic Remedy. The editors are Dilip Ghosh and Benny Antony.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), also known as Indian ginseng and Indian Winter Cherry, is an important ancient plant used in the Indian traditional systems of medicine, Ayurveda and Unani, for over 3,000 years. The roots, leaves and fruits possess tremendous medicinal value. Ayurveda, has gathered increasing recognition in recent years when the chemically synthesized drugs for single target therapies showed limited success and adverse toxic effects. Here Ashwagandha was trusted to enhance function of the brain, reproductive system, cell-mediated immunity and increase the body's defence against disease, and possess anti-inflammatory, anticancer and anti-arthritic activities.
The global Ashwagandha extract market is projected to reach $2.5 billion by 2031. We are portraying Ashwagandha as a candidate for a modern drug from traditional medicine and identifying the gaps in research to be a successful commercial drug, said the authors of the book.
This book with 36 chapters covering various aspects of this herb, is a compilation of all scientific studies, carried out by various researchers around the world on traditional and medicinal applications of Ashwagandha roots and leaves.
Sharanabasappa Durg, independent researcher has contributed in the 28th chapter of the book. He brought to the fore the efficacy and safety of Ashwagandha in rheumatoid arthritis providing a systematic review of evidence from experimental studies to clinical trials. The review analysed three studies involving 157 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Here Ashwagandha was shown to significantly reduce morning stiffness, joint swelling, pain, and ESR levels, while improving grip strength, walking time, and overall joint function. Importantly, the herb was well-tolerated, with no major safety concerns reported, even at relatively high doses.
The pre-clinical evidence, covering 14 experimental studies, further supports these findings by demonstrating reductions in inflammatory cytokines (TNF-a, IL-1ß, IL-6), oxidative stress markers, lysosomal enzyme activity, and autoantibodies. Treatment also improved haematological parameters, normalized liver and kidney function, and preserved joint architecture in histopathological analyses, said Sharanabasappa Durg.
By systematically integrating both clinical and animal data, this work provides critical scientific insights into the therapeutic potential of Ashwagandha in rheumatoid arthritis. The chapter also highlights the need for large, well-designed clinical trials to confirm efficacy, standardize extracts, and establish optimal treatment protocols, said Sharanabasappa Durg.
“Editors Dilip Ghosh and Benny Antony have done a great effort in bringing out this book which is a useful data for any innovator with this herb. Wide coverage of the data on this herb and the comprehensive review by Sharanabasappa Durg, is an example of how to write such reviews. It is hoped that Indian pharma industry can take cue and work to develop a drug or a phytopharmaceutical out of this herb,” said Dr DBA Narayana, CSO Ayurvidye Trust.
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