A Review on: Ashwagandha Root Extract Phenolic Compounds Counteract Alloxan's Effects on Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Peripheral Nerve Injury

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is the most common chronic metabolic disorder that progresses slowly and silently. As hyperglycemia becomes chronic with time, it leads to serious consequences in several tissues, especially those that are insulin-insensitive (retina, neurons, kidneys). Although synthetic oral hypoglycemic drugs alongside insulin are the main route for controlling DM, they fail to reverse the course of its complications completely and further worsen it by the fact that they also demonstrate prominent side effects. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is one of the most important herbs of Ayurveda "the traditional system of medicine in India. Ashwagandha root and leaf extract demonstrated a hypoglycemic activity comparable to the standard drug glibenclamide in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Due to its neuroprotective properties, preclinical and clinical studies have supported the use of ashwagandha for the treatment of a wide range of neurological conditions. Ashwagandha has strong antioxidant properties, which aid in the prevention of cellular damage caused by free radicals.