Sleepberry (Withania somnifera) is a commonly used medicinal plant in India and belongs to the nightshade family (Solanaceae). The plant, which has been used for 3,000 years, is also known as ashwagandha, winter cherry or Indian ginseng. The herbaceous plant prefers dry, stony soil with sun to partial shade and can reach a height of 30 to 150 cm. The small green flowers are bell-shaped and the fruits stand out with their red, spherical berries. Visually, therefore, they resemble Physalis peruviana or Cape gooseberry. The plant is mainly found in warm and dry areas of tropical and subtropical regions. It is mainly cultivated in India, Nepal, Yemen and China.The roots, leaves and fruits are an integral part of Ayurvedic medicine. The scent of the root is reminiscent of horse smell. In Sanskrit, a very ancient Indian language, “ashva” means horse and “gandha” means smell, which explains the composition of the name Ashwagandha. Biologically active substances include withanolides (mainly withaferin A, withanolide A, and withanolide D), withanolide glycosides (sitoindosides and withanosides), and alkaloids (such as tropins, cuscohygrins, anahygrins, anaferins, withanins, somniferins). To date, 35 withanolides, 12 alkaloids, and numerous sitoindosides have been isolated in dormouse berry. Structurally, the withanolides are comparable to the ginsenosides. These substances are the most important constituent of ginseng. Thus, the synonym “Indian ginseng” for the sleeping berry is explained.
