Effects of withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) on stress and the stressrelated neuropsychiatric disorders anxiety, depression, and insomnia

Alex B. Speers, Kadine A. Cabey, Amala Soumyanath, Kirsten M. Wright

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Withania somnifera (WS), also known as Ashwagandha, is commonly used in Ayurveda and other traditional medicine systems. WS has seen an increase in worldwide usage due to its reputation as an adaptogen. This popularity has elicited increased scientific study of its biological effects, including a potential application for neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Objective: This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of preclinical and clinical studies examining the neuropsychiatric effects of WS, specifically its application in stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Methods: Reports of human trials and animal studies of WS were collected primarily from the PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. Results: WS root and leaf extracts exhibited noteworthy anti-stress and anti-anxiety activity in animal and human studies. WS also improved symptoms of depression and insomnia, though fewer studies investigated these applications. WS may alleviate these conditions predominantly through modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and sympathetic-adrenal-medullary axes, as well as through GABAergic and serotonergic pathways. While some studies link specific withanolide components to its neuropsychiatric benefits, there is evidence for the presence of additional, as yet unidentified, active compounds in WS. Conclusion: While benefits were seen in the reviewed studies, significant variability in the WS extracts examined prevents a consensus on the optimum WS preparation or dosage for treating neuropsychiatric conditions. WS generally appears safe for human use; however, it will be important to investigate potential herb-drug interactions involving WS if used alongside pharmaceutical interventions. Further elucidation of active compounds of WS is also needed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1468-1495
Number of pages28
JournalCurrent Neuropharmacology
Volume19
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021

Keywords

  • Anxiety
  • Ashwagandha
  • Depression
  • Insomnia
  • Stress
  • Withania somnifera

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology
  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Pharmacology (medical)

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