A COMPARATIVE PHARMACOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF ASHWAGANDHA AND GINSENG

The aqueous suspensions of roots of an Indian drug Ashwagandha and the Korean drug Ginseng were tested comparatively for 2 pharmacological a ctivities, namely the anti-stress activity by the 'mice swimming endur ance test' and anabolic activity by noting gain in body weights and le vator ani muscle in rats. A significant increase in mice swimming time was shown by Ginseng (P < 0.001) and Ashwagandha (P < 0.01) as compar ed to the control group. Significant increase in body weights in the A shwagandha treated group (P < 0.05) was better than Ginseng (P < 0.5). Gain in wet weights of the levator ani muscle were also significant i n Ginseng (P < 0.001) and Ashwagandha (P < 0.01) treated groups, howev er, the weight gain of dried levator ani muscles showed comparable res ults for both these drugs (P < 0.01).