Science of Ashwagandha: Preventive and Therapeutic Potentials

Dr. Sunil Kaul was born and brought up in Kalimpong (Darjeeling). He obtained his MPhil and PhD degrees from the University of Delhi, India. After his initial post-doctoral training, he was appointed as a researcher at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology (AIST) in Japan, and has been working there for last 28 years. He is now a Chief Senior Research Scientist.  His major research interest is to understand the molecular mechanism of stress, aging and cancer. He has been merging the traditional knowledge with modern technologies like gene silencing and imaging to understand the mechanism of action of Ayurvedic herb, Ashwagandha and others. He is a coordinator of the DBT (India)-AIST (Japan) International Laboratory for Advanced Biomedicine at AIST, Japan.  With more than 200 research publications in International peer revised journals and several invited talks Internationally, he has been in Editorial board of several scientific journals. He is a Fellow of Geriatrics Society of India (FGSI), Overseas Fellow of Biotech Research Society of India (FBRSI), Fellow of Indian Academy of Neuroscience (FIAN), and Foreign Fellow of National Academy of Sciences, India (FNASc).

• PART I Ashwagandha - Phytogenomics and Pharmacology.- Phytochemical Genomics of Ashwagandha.- Phyto-pharmacology of Ashwagandha as An Anti-Diabetic Herb.- Allium cepa Root Chromosomal Aberration Assay: An Application in Assessing Anti-genotoxic Potential of Ashwagandha.- Withania somnifera: From Traditional Use to Evidence Based Medicinal Prominence.- Withanolides: A Prospective Drug for Infectious and Tropical Diseases.- Withania somnifera Extract/Withaferin A As A Prospective Anti-pigmenting Agent.- PART II Ashwagandha for Cancer.- Ashwagandha Bioactives for Cancer Treatment: Experimental Evidence and Their Mechanism(s) of Action.- Scientific Evidence for Anticancer Effects of Withania somnifera And its Primary Bioactive Component Withaferin A.- Withaferin A for Cancer Treatment: Experimental Evidence for its Effect on Telomerase Plus and Minus Cancer Cells.- Withania somnifera Has Potential to Treat Cancer.- The Effects of Withaferin A on Normal And Malignant Immune Cells.- Ashwagandha for Cancer Metastasis: Bioactives and Basics of their Function.- Computational Methods to Understand The Anticancer Mechanism of Withanolides.- PART III Ashwagandha for Brain.- Ashwagandha for Brain Health: Experimental Evidence to its Neuroregenerative Activities.- Cellular and Molecular Targets Underpinning Memory Enhancement by Ashwagandha.- Using Human Neural Stem Cells as A Model to Understand The Science of Ashwagandha.- The Potential Utility of Ashwagandha for Improving Cognitive Dysfunction in Persons with Bipolar or Other Neurocognitive Disorders.- Neuroprotective Potential of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) in Neurological Conditions.- Potential Therapeutic Use of Withania somnifera for Treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.- Neuromodulatory Role of Withania somnifera.-  Therapeutic Effects of Ashwagandha in Brain Aging and Clock Disfunction.-  PART IV Active Ingredient Enriched Ashwagandha - Biotechnologies.- Biotechnological Approaches in Propagation And Improvement of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal.- Plant Tissue Culture Based Strategies for Production of Withanolides.- Establishment of Hydroponic Cultivation of Ashwagandha for Active Ingredient Enriched Leaves.