Abstract

REVIEW ARTICLE ON “MEDICINAL USE OF WITHANIA COAGULANS"

Sharda Balasaheb Chapke* and Dr. V. N. Deshmukh

ABSTRACT

In ancient system of the medicine, various plants shows to cure various health disordes and diseases. W. coagulans Dunal, is commonly known as ‘Indian cheese maker’ or ‘vegetable rennet’ because the part of withania i.e fruits and leaves are used as a coagulant. Withania coagulans (W. coagulans) Dual belongs to family Solanaceae. W. Coagulans Dunal is a gray- whitish in colour, it is small under shrub it is distributed in East of the Mediterranean region. It is one of the most important medicinal plant and it is very useful in Ayurveda. In Ayurvedic system of medicine, W. coagulans is widely used in diabetic cases, antimicrobial, antitumour and also shows other various activity. coagulin H isolated from W. Coagulans exhibited effect on the immune response. The dried flowers were extracted successively by methanol and water. Withania coagulans show therapeutic effect of the part of whole plant withania coagulans Dunal is a rigid, gray-whitish small shrub, about 30-150 cm tall. The leaves are about 2.5-7.5 cm long and 1.5 cm broad. The seeds are dark brown, ear shaped, glabrous with sharp fruity smell. dunal flower may contain bioactive constituent to treat various diseases. Withania coagulans is pharmacological important therapeutic plant, commonly known as Rishyagandha. It is used in treatment of various diseases like indigestion, diabetes mellitus, liver disorders, purification of blood and controls blood pressure. In addition, it is reported to control plasma glucose levels and preventing renal complications. A standard protocol was followed for the extraction of Withania coagulans. The fruits of Withania coagulans (0.28 g/100 mL) were soaked in distilled water overnight followed by a mechanical dispersion using a sterile cotton wood (Hardwood Products Company, Guilford, CT, USA) and filtration through cheese cloth.

Keywords: W. Coagulans, Coagulin, Pharmacology.