Abstract

Harish Vishnoi*, Ayush Kumar Garg, Gulab Chand Meena, Chandan Singh and L. N. Sharma

ABSTRACT

In ancient system of medicine, many plants have been reported to cure various health problems and diseases. Withania coagulans (W. coagulans) Dual commonly known as ‘Indian cheese maker’ or ‘vegetable rennet’ belongs to family Solanaceae and is one of the important medicinal plants. W. coagulansDunal is a gray-whitish small shrub distributed in east of the Mediterranean region extending to South Asia. It is a common medicinal plant in many parts of Pakistan and India. In Ayurvedic system of medicine, W. coagulans is widely used in diabetic cases. W. coagulans is also used to treat nervous exhaustion, disability, insomnia, wasting diseases, failure to thrive in children and impotence. The fruits of the plant are reported to be sedative, emetic, alterative and diuretic. Further, they are used for liver complaints, asthma and biliousness. The active compounds, in particular, withanolides isolated from the plant are considered to have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, hepatoprotective, anti-hyperglycemic, cardiovascular, immuno-suppressive, free radical scavenging and central nervous system depressant activities. This review gives a bird’s eye view mainly on the biological activities of some of the W. coagulans compounds isolated and phytochemistry as well as pharmacognostic properties of the plant extracts.