Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera. DUNAL)

Withania somnifera known commonly as ashwagandha Indian ginseng poison gooseberry or winter cherry is a plant in the Solanaceae or nightshade family. Several other species in the genus Withania are morphologically similar. It is used as an herb in Ayurvedic medicine. Withania somnifera is prone to several pests and diseases. Leaf spot disease caused by Alternaria alternata is the most prevalent disease which is most severe in the plains of Punjab Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Biodeterioration of its pharmaceutically active components during leaf spot disease has been reported. The Choanephora cucurbitarum causes a stem and leaf rot of Withania somnifera A treehopper feeds on the apical portions of the stem making them rough and woody in appearance and brown in colour. The main chemical constituents are alkaloids and steroidal lactones. These include tropine and cuscohygrine. The leaves contain the steroidal lactones withanolides notably withaferin A which was the first to be isolated from the plant. This book contai