No evidence to endorse efficacy: Ayush Ministry asks ASU drug makers to stop use of Aswagandha
New Delhi: The Ministry of AYUSH has recently directed Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani (ASU) drug manufacturers to refrain from use of Aswagandha (Withania somnifera) leaves, holding that no substantial evidence and literature is available to endorse the efficacy of crude drug or extract of Aswagandha.
In this regard, the Ministry has issued an advisory to All ASU Drugs Manufacturers Associations seeking the manufacturers of the crude drug/extracts, sellers, ASU drug manufacturing companies, ASU drug exporters not to use Withania somnjfera leaves either in crude or extract or any other form for therapeutic purposes under the ambit of ASU drugs as per textual indications or as a food supplements in the name of ASU drugs.
This comes after the Ministry noted that Ashwagandha leaves are being used by some manufacturers in their formulations.
As per the Ministry, Withania somnfera (Aswagandha) root is widely used drug in Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani (ASU) systems of medicine since ancient period. Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha systems refer the drug as Aswagandha, Asgandh and Amukkura respectively. Further, Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India defines that the Asvagandha consists of dried mature roots of Withania somnfera Dunal (API, Part I, Vol.1). All these systems use roots of the Withania somnfera as useful part in different single and compound classical formulations.
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