Potential clinical applications of Ashwagandha () in medicine and neuropsychiatry.

Abstract in brief

• Ashwagandha (ASW) is a plant extract used in complementary and alternative medicine that shows potential benefits in neuropsychiatry, such as improving cognition, reducing stress, and modestly alleviating symptoms of anxiety, OCD, and sleep issues.
• Research, mainly in animal models, indicates that ASW has antioxidant effects, modulates neurotransmitters like GABA and glutamate, and promotes neuroplasticity, which may help with neurodegenerative conditions.
• However, the current evidence from human studies is limited and of low methodological quality, so more rigorous clinical trials are needed before making firm medical recommendations about ASW's effectiveness.