Effects of Withania somnifera on Cortisol Levels in Stressed Human Subjects: A Systematic Review

Background: Withania somnifera (WS), a popular medicinal plant of the Solanaceae family, contains active ingredients with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and anti-stress activities. However, its precise mechanisms of action and optimal use as a supplement are not yet fully understo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inNutrients Vol. 15; no. 24; p. 5015
Main Authors Della Porta, Matteo, Maier, Jeanette A., Cazzola, Roberta
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Switzerland MDPI AG 05.12.2023
Subjects
antioxidants
Antioxidants - pharmacology
Anxiety
cortisol
Hormones
Human subjects
Humans
Hydrocortisone
Infertility
Insomnia
medicinal plants
meta-analysis
Plant Extracts - therapeutic use
Plants, Medicinal
secretion
Sleep
Stress
Systematic review
Withania
Withania somnifera
adrenal function
ashwagandha
stress
adaptogens
withanolides
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Summary:Background: Withania somnifera (WS), a popular medicinal plant of the Solanaceae family, contains active ingredients with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and anti-stress activities. However, its precise mechanisms of action and optimal use as a supplement are not yet fully understood. The objective of this systematic review is to assess the impact of WS supplementation on cortisol levels in stressed humans by analyzing clinical trials conducted prior to May 2023. Methods: The assessment was carried out following the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) by exploring the databases of EMBASE, PubMed, Google Scholar, CENTRAL, and Scopus. Results: Of the 4788 articles identified, only 9 studies met the selection criteria. The selected studies varied in terms of design, results, formulations, dosages, and treatment duration (30–112 days), and involved subjects with varying degrees of stress. WS supplementation decreases cortisol secretion with no significant adverse effects. Nonetheless, none of the studies evaluated the potential impact of cortisol reduction on adrenal function and long-term effects. Conclusions: Brief-term supplementation with WS appears to have a stress-reducing effect in stressed individuals. However, since the long-term effects of WS supplementation are not yet fully understood, WS supplements should be used under medical supervision.
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ISSN:2072-6643
2072-6643
DOI:10.3390/nu15245015