Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal) Root Extract in Improving Memory and Cognitive Functions
Choudhary D, Bhattacharyya S, Bose S
Journal of dietary supplements · 126 citations
Review labels
Neutral facts our review recorded about how this study was done. They describe method, never whether we like the result.
How it was studied
- Design
- Randomized controlled trial (indexed by PubMed)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Funding not disclosed
Publication
- Published
- 2017-02-21 · J Diet Suppl · vol. 14 · issue 6 · pp. 599–612
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- Cited
- 214 citations · more than 99% of similar papers · 16.3× the field average
- Impact
- Top 10% most cited in its field
- References
- 44 works
- Access
- Paywalled
- Research areas
- Phytochemicals and Medicinal Plants · Medicinal Plants and Neuroprotection · Pharmacology and Nanomedicine Research
- Keywords
- Withania somnifera, Placebo, Cognition, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Wechsler Memory Scale, Executive functions, Medicine, Memory test, Echoic memory, Verbal memory, Audiology, Trail Making Test, Psychology, Cognitive impairment, Psychiatry
- MeSH
- humans, withania, plant roots, plant extracts, phytotherapy, prospective studies, pilot projects, double-blind method, sample size, cognition, memory, adult, middle aged, cognitive dysfunction
3 authors
- Dnyanraj Choudhary
- Sauvik Bhattacharyya · corresponding
- Sekhar Kumar Bose
Abstract
Objectives
Cognitive decline is often associated with the aging process. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal) has long been used in the traditional Ayurvedic system of medicine to enhance memory and improve cognition.
Aim
This pilot study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal) in improving memory and cognitive functioning in adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Methods
A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted in 50 adults. Subjects were treated with either ashwagandha-root extract (300 mg twice daily) or placebo for eight weeks.
Results
After eight weeks of study, the ashwagandha treatment group demonstrated significant improvements compared with the placebo group in both immediate and general memory, as evidenced by Wechsler Memory Scale III subtest scores for logical memory I (p = 0.007), verbal paired associates I (p = 0.042), faces I (p = 0.020), family pictures I (p = 0.006), logical memory II (p = 0.006), verbal paired associates II (p = 0.031), faces II (p = 0.014), and family pictures II (p = 0.006). The treatment group also demonstrated significantly greater improvement in executive function, sustained attention, and information-processing speed as indicated by scores on the Eriksen Flanker task (p = 0.002), Wisconsin Card Sort test (p = 0.014), Trail-Making test part A (p = 0.006), and the Mackworth Clock test (p = 0.009).
Conclusions
Ashwagandha may be effective in enhancing both immediate and general memory in people with MCI as well as improving executive function, attention, and information processing speed.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher.
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