Critical review of the Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal: ethnobotany, pharmacological efficacy, and commercialization significance in Africa
Authors
Henok Afewerky
Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030 China
Ayeni Ayodeji
Organization of African Academic Doctors, Nairobi, 00100 Kenya
Bashir Tiamiyu
Organization of African Academic Doctors, Nairobi, 00100 Kenya
Joshua Orege
Organization of African Academic Doctors, Nairobi, 00100 Kenya
Emmanuel Okeke
Organization of African Academic Doctors, Nairobi, 00100 Kenya
Aanuoluwapo Oyejobi
Organization of African Academic Doctors, Nairobi, 00100 Kenya
Petuel Bate
Organization of African Academic Doctors, Nairobi, 00100 Kenya
Sherif Adeyemi
Organization of African Academic Doctors, Nairobi, 00100 Kenya
Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (W. somnifera) is a herb commonly known by its English name as Winter Cherry. Africa is indigenous to many medicinal plants and natural products. However, there is inadequate documentation of medicinal plants, including W. somnifera, in Africa. There is, therefore, a need for a comprehensive compilation of research outcomes of this reviewed plant as used in traditional medicine in different regions of Africa.
Methodology
Scientific articles and publications were scooped and sourced from high-impact factor journals and filtered with relevant keywords on W. somnifera. Scientific databases, including GBIF, PubMed, NCBI, Google Scholar, Research Gate, Science Direct, SciFinder, and Web of Science, were accessed to identify the most influential articles and recent breakthroughs published on the contexts of ethnography, ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and commercialization of W. somnifera.
Results
This critical review covers the W. somnifera ethnography, phytochemistry, and ethnomedicinal usage to demonstrate the use of the plant in Africa and elsewhere to prevent or alleviate several pathophysiological conditions, including cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, reproductive impotence, as well as other chronic diseases.
Conclusion
W. somnifera is reportedly safe for administration in ethnomedicine as several research outcomes confirmed its safety status. The significance of commercializing this plant in Africa for drug development is herein thoroughly covered to provide the much-needed highlights towards its cultivations economic benefit to Africa.
Keywords: Africa, Commercialization, Ethnobotany, Ethnomedicine, Medicinal Plant, Pathophysiology, Pharmaceutics, Phytochemistry, Withania somnifera
Author Biographies
Henok Afewerky, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030 China
Organization of African Academic Doctors, Nairobi, 00100 Kenya
Ayeni Ayodeji, Organization of African Academic Doctors, Nairobi, 00100 Kenya
Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, PMB 1044, Kaduna, 800211 Nigeria
Bashir Tiamiyu, Organization of African Academic Doctors, Nairobi, 00100 Kenya
Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, 240001 Nigeria
Joshua Orege, Organization of African Academic Doctors, Nairobi, 00100 Kenya
Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023 China
Emmanuel Okeke, Organization of African Academic Doctors, Nairobi, 00100 Kenya
School of Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013 China
Aanuoluwapo Oyejobi, Organization of African Academic Doctors, Nairobi, 00100 Kenya
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074 China
Petuel Bate, Organization of African Academic Doctors, Nairobi, 00100 Kenya
Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health, Guangzhou, 510530 China
Sherif Adeyemi, Organization of African Academic Doctors, Nairobi, 00100 Kenya
C.G. Bhakta Institute of Biotechnology, Uka Tarsadia University, Bardoli-Mahuva Road, Bardoli, Surat, Gujarat 394350 India
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