The Complex World of Adaptogenic Plants: A Comparative Analysis of Tulsi, Ashwagandha, and Ginseng
Nicole Da Costa, Riley Lalach, and Alison Clarke
Undergraduate Students, University of Guelph
Introduction
Adaptogenic herbs are a class of medicinal herbs primarily used to improve attention, reduce stress-induced abnormalities and improve endurance (Amir et al., 2023). Adaptogens can reduce the number of stress-related diseases, improve physical stamina, improve energy levels and restore cognitive performance (Amir et al., 2023). Plants with adaptogenic properties can activate signal pathways of cell defence systems, which helps trigger the release of hormones such as cortisol, helping the body to maintain homeostasis (Panossian et al., 2021). The term “adaptogenic plant” is constantly evolving as more research emerges, following the non-rigid structure of what defines an adaptogenic plant (Panossian et al., 2021). Tulsi, ashwagandha and ginseng are three examples of adaptogenic plants that have been extensively studied and will be analysed in the following paper.
Tulsi
Analysis of Botany
Found in northern India, West Africa, the Middle East, and other tropical climates, tulsi is an adaptogenic herb that has been used in Ayurvedic practices for over 5,000 years (Arya et al., 2024). Tulsi has two synonymous binomial names: Ocimum sanctum L. and Ocimum tenuiflorum L. It is commonly referred to as “Tulsi” in Hindi and Sanskrit, while being called “Holy Basil” in English (Srinivas et al., 2016). Part of the Lamiaceae or mint family, tulsi has a square stem and alternating leaves (Mulugeta et al., 2024) and is known to have a unique fragrance (Srinivas et al., 2016). Growing between 30-60 cm tall, tulsi grows erect with a fine hair covering the stem, distinctive purple flowers that grow in whorls, and ovate leaves that grow in pairs and are either green or purple in colour (Arya et al., 2024). In Ayurveda, tulsi is considered to be the “The Queen of Herbs”, earning other names such as “The Incomparable One” and “Mother Medicine of Nature”, and even being referred to as an “elixir of life” (Cohen, 2014).
There are two varieties of tulsi that are cultivated, a purple–leafed tulsi that is also called Shyama or Krishna Tulsi, and a green-leafed tulsi known as Rama Tulsi or Sri Tulsi (Srinivas et al., 2016). Krishna Tulsi is considered the dark variety of tulsi, while Rama Tulsi is considered the light variety and is the most used variety for worshipping practices (Srinivas et al., 2016). There is a third variety of tulsi, forest or Vana Tulsi, but it is a different species than the other two varieties, Ocimum gratissimum (Srinivas et al., 2016). In medicine, the entire plant is beneficial, but the leaves have often been harnessed for their oils (Srinivas et al., 2016), as well as dried and used for herbal teas (Supriatno et al., 2021).
Figure 1. Rama Tulsi, an adaptogenic herb
Image by MaitedeWu on Pixabay
Historical Use
Tulsi has been an incredibly important part of Ayurvedic medicine since it was adopted into medicinal practices (Cohen, 2014). It has been seen as an incomparable herb for both its medicinal and spiritual effects and usages (Cohen, 2014). In the Charaka Samhita and the Sushruta Samhita which were written between 3500 BC and 1600 BC, tulsi was recognized as a medicinal herb that was useful for a variety of treatments including respiratory illness, fertility, and as a poison remedy (Rasheed et al., 2022). Tulsi was noted as an herb that protected life and is thought to accompany people throughout their lifetime (Srinivas et al., 2016). Other documented uses of tulsi include immunological improvement uses, and as a treatment for bronchitis and pyrexia (Arya et al., 2024).
Table 1. Non exhaustive list of traditional uses of O. sanctum L. in different disorders
Hinduism worships all parts of the plant as sacred and considers the soils it is grown in to be divine as well (Cohen, 2014). Today, tulsi is a household plant that is thought to purify the home, so it is used in daily rituals that can include consuming the plants leaves or using them to make tulsi tea (Cohen, 2014). The aroma from the plant is reminiscent of cloves and links the house to the divine while also protecting it from mosquitoes and other pests (Cohen, 2014). Parts of the plant can be turned into beads to help increase focus during times of meditation, and holy water has been made from tulsi in some Greek churches and Hindu ceremonies (Cohen, 2014). Around the Taj Mahal hundreds of tulsi plants are planted on the grounds, both for its sanctifying properties and to protect the structure from pollution, due to tulsi’s believed air purifying and pollutant reducing properties (Cohen, 2014).
Tulsi that is ingested has a distinct bitter taste and penetrates deep tissues to restore balance of both kapha and vata, two fundamental energies present within the body in Ayurvedic medicine (Rasheed et al., 2022). Measured doses of tulsi leaf are used to prevent sickness and to treat illnesses such as the common cold, scabies, and blood illnesses, as well as a wide variety of additional uses (Rasheed et al., 2022). Manasamitra vatakam is an example of an Ayurvedic formulation which is being used as a treatment for depression and other mental disorders and contains 0.74mg of tulsi in the final remedy (Rasheed et al., 2022).
Propagation Technologies
The growing process of tulsi is a careful one, as it must be done using organic growing methods and in a remote area that is free from pollutants (Cohen, 2014). Growing tulsi in an environment with contaminated soil or air can result in a significant increase in toxins present within the plant compared to plants that are grown in a clean environment (Cohen, 2014). Current farming focuses on ethical and fair-trade practices by small rural farmers in India, with additional care that tulsi is farmed organically while reducing its ecological impact (Cohen, 2014). Tulsi seeds are most commonly sold for propagation and farming, but shoots and leaves are also viable and are often shared between family when a plant is believed to be especially potent (Shukla et al., 2021).
There is emerging viability for tulsi to be micropropagated, which is often used by researchers to ensure a consistent quality and concentration in their samples (Manjudevi et al., 2022). Explants are taken from leaves and nodes and then grown in a cytokinin rich medium to promote the growth of shoots for propagation (Manjudevi et al., 2022). Evidence suggests that micropropagated tulsi contains a higher concentration of phenolic compounds than field grown organic tulsi, partially because propagated tulsi is selected for lines that produce the most antioxidants (Shukla et al., 2021).
Chemical Properties
Within tulsi there is a wide variety of phytochemicals which are medicinally beneficial, but the main active component is eugenol, which is a phenolic compound found in high concentrations in the leaves (Arya et al., 2024). Other compounds found in the leaves include methyl eugenol, caryophyllene, ursolic acid, and humulene, all of which can be extracted but must be handled with care as some extraction methods degrade the material or make the compounds less effective (Rasheed et al., 2022). Rosemarinic acid, apigenin, estragole, linalool, cirsimaritin, and carvacrol have also been identified as bioactive compounds within tulsi (Arya et al., 2024). Due to the abundance of phytochemicals present in tulsi, many lists of identified chemicals are non-exhaustive (Table 2). Many of these compounds are antioxidants, which help filter out toxins in the body and can improve organ response to oxidative stress, such as in the liver (Arya et al., 2024). It is noted that Krishna Tulsi appears to have a higher antioxidant effect than Rama Tulsi (Cohen, 2014), perhaps making it more effective for anti-toxin treatments.
Table 2. Some important medicinal compounds identified in O. sanctum L.
Adaptogenic Significance
Though tulsi is used for a variety of medicinal reasons, its adaptogenic applications are very important to both medicinal studies as well as spiritual practices. Ayurvedic texts describe tulsi as a “Rasayana”, meaning it helps the body achieve and maintain homeostasis, as well as promotes rejuvenation of the mind (Shukla et al., 2021). Its ability to remove pollutants from the body also prevents genetic and cellular damage in vital organs, especially the brain (Cohen, 2014). Tulsi enhances adaptation of the body’s cellular functions to reduce the impact of stressors, such as exercise or noise pollution, on the body by enhancing neurotransmitter levels in certain regions of the brain (Cohen, 2014). Consuming tulsi tea is believed to have similar benefits as yoga on the mind and body by increasing wellbeing and mental fortitude (Cohen, 2014). Antioxidants are a large part of an adaptogen’s effectiveness, removing toxins from the body and allowing it to adapt to environmental stresses (Shukla et al., 2021), and even preventing chromosomal damage from radiation (Cohen, 2014). One study found that tulsi increased the amount of time the body could endure against anoxic stress and hypoxia while also decreasing the production of oxidative stress within the body (Srinivas et al., 2016). Consuming tulsi on a regular basis is associated with disease prevention, an increase in general health and well-being, and better resistance of the mind to physical, chemical, and emotional stresses (Parajuli-Baral, 2023).
Ashwagandha
Analysis of Botany
Ashwagandha was identified as an official drug in the Indian Pharmacopeia 1985 (Mandlik & Namdeo, 2021). It is a well-known medicinal plant from the Solanaceae family, or as it’s more commonly known, the nightshade family (Sengupta et al., 2018). Scientifically it is classified as Withania somnifera but is also known by many other names including poison gooseberry, winter cherry, and Indian Ginseng (Sengupta et al., 2018; Srivastav et al., 2024). However, it is not a true ginseng, nor is it part of the ginseng family of plants (Srivastav et al., 2024). Interestingly, the name ashwagandha is a result of the plants distinct smell that was traditionally said to be like the smell of a wet horse. Thus, “ashva” can be translated to “horse” and “gadha” means “smell” in Sanskrit (Mandlik & Namdeo, 2021).
The ashwagandha plant is a small evergreen perennial shrub native to India, North Africa and the Middle East. It can commonly be found in dry regions due to its tolerance of drought and poor soil conditions. These plants typically grow 1-1.5 m in height with dark brown stems, green leaves 4-10 cm in length and clusters of small greenish yellow or white flowers, each 1 cm long (Kar et al., 2025; Srivastav et al., 2024). The long tuberous roots, the leaves, and the orange-red berries produced by the plant are all used for a wide variety of medicinal purposes (Sengupta et al., 2018; Srivastav et al., 2024). The root of ashwagandha has been used for centuries and is the most common part of the plant known to exert adaptogenic effects (Kar et al., 2025). Ashwagandha root is known to be a very safe herb, with numerous studies demonstrating extract safety and efficacy in all age groups, sexes, and while pregnant. For use, ashwagandha root is traditionally converted into a powder, decoction or oil (Mandlik & Namdeo, 2021).
More recently, some manufacturers have begun including the leaf of ashwagandha in produced extracts. Traditionally, ashwagandha leaves were mostly used for external application, and internal use was rare. While there are no studies to suggest dangers of using ashwagandha roots and leaves in combination internally, there are also no studies on the safety or efficacy of this practice. Even more concerning is that some manufacturers are not disclosing the presence of ashwagandha leaf in their products, leaving consumers uninformed about the risks that the product may pose (Kar et al., 2025).
Historical Use
For more than 5000 years ashwagandha has been used in Indian medicine systems such as Ayurvedic and Unani medicine (Mandlik & Namdeo, 2021). Various ancient Indian texts, including the Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita describe ashwagandha (Srivastav et al., 2024). These texts describe this plant as part of that “Rasayana” group of herbs, just like tulsi, reflecting the historic belief in ashwagandha’s ability to promote longevity, youthfulness and overall health (Kar et al., 2025; Srivastav et al., 2024). Since the medieval period, ashwagandha has been used for its immunomodulatory properties. It has also been used for its aphrodisiac properties, as noted in many classical textbooks (Kar et al., 2025).
Classical literatures provide detailed information about a vast variety of uses of ashwagandha. These texts include Charaka, which notes ashwagandhas use in Vajikari Ghirtam, an Ayurvedic preparation used to increase sexual performance and improve body strength (Kar et al., 2025). Vrnda Madhava, another ancient Ayurvedic text, notes a combination of ashwagandha with a special yoga can aid in child conception. The use of ashwagandha as a treatment for infertility is also mentioned in Chakradatta. Charaka Samhita notes that in cases of itching, rashes, and skin disease, ashwagandha can be applied as a treatment through a powder massage. Another text also notes ashwagandhas usefulness in treating Sirakampa, the Ayurvedic comparison to Parkinson’s disease (Kar et al., 2025).
Propagation Technologies
While ashwagandha is native to dry regions of India, North Africa and the Middle East, it is cultivated in many tropical and subtropical zones (Srivastav et al., 2024). These include South Africa, Sri Lanka, China, and warm areas of Europe and Australia (Mandlik & Namdeo, 2021). Traditionally grown in hot and dry areas, it is a drought resistant plant (Mandlik & Namdeo, 2021; Srivastav et al., 2024). However, it is also now commonly grown in humid and high rainfall areas and is commercially cultivated as a rainfed crop in India. As popularity of ashwagandha has grown, its growth has also expanded to areas of North America and other temperate climates (Kar et al., 2025).
Propagation of ashwagandha is typically performed through seeds. Seeds are selected for characteristics such as disease status and variety. These are sown in nursery beds where they germinate for 6-7 days. After 35-40 days, seedlings can be transplanted to main fields for further cultivation (Namdeo & Ingawale, 2021). However, high demand for ashwagandha, compounded with poor germination among many factors, challenges traditional ashwagandha cultivation. Viability of ashwagandha seeds is low, and growth is restricted to one year thereby limiting seed storage. Furthermore, blight diseases and seed rot reduce ashwagandha populations (Namdeo & Ingawale, 2021). Fortunately, biotechnological advances provide hope that industrial ashwagandha demands can be met, while preserving these plants. The use of in vitro technologies to propagate these plants has been shown as a promising alternative. Plant tissue culture may also offer an alternative method to produce metabolites of pharmacological importance (Namdeo & Ingawale, 2021).
Chemical Properties
Laboratory analysis has demonstrated over 35 phytoconstituents presents in the roots of Ashwagandha alone, and diverse constituents in different parts of the plant (Table 3) (Mandlik & Namdeo, 2021). The main constituents responsible for the pharmacological activity of ashwagandha roots are withanolides, which are a group of steroidal lactones (Mandlik & Namdeo, 2021). Many of these withanolides have been demonstrated to exert important physiological and health promoting effects (Table 4) (Bashir et al., 2023). Alkaloids, saponins, amino acids, steroids, reducing sugars and glycosides are among the many other biologically active substances reported to be present in the roots of this plant (Kar et al., 2025). Importantly, the exact chemical composition present in ashwagandha varies depending on which part of the plant is analysed, the location of plant growth, and methods used to process the plant (Mandlik & Namdeo, 2021; Mikulska et al., 2023).
Table 3. Non-exhaustive list of chemical constituents present in W. somnifera
Table 4. Biological activity of withanolide phytoconstituents isolated from W. somnifera
Adaptogenic Significance
Ashwagandha is well known for its adaptogenic properties. It has been repeatedly shown to help the body maintain homeostasis, as well as improve the body’s ability to cope with stress (Vittal & Vinciguerra, 2025). Studies have shown that with anolides present in ashwagandha influence cortisol, the body’s stress hormone. By reducing cortisol levels, ashwagandha promotes a more stable stress response (Haber et al., 2024). One clinical study by Chandrasekhar et al. (2012) demonstrated that administration of high concentration ashwagandha root extract in those with a history of chronic stress significantly decreased serum cortisol levels with no serious adverse events reported. While the sample size was quite small and the study does not provide information about long term risks, the results provide promising data to scientifically support the use of ashwagandha (Chandrasekhar et al., 2012).
Furthermore, ashwagandha has the potential to improve overall sleep quality by decreasing the time it takes one to fall asleep and increasing sleep duration (Haber et al., 2024). Interestingly, the formal name for ashwagandha, Withania somnifera, can be broken down into “somna”, meaning “sleep” and “fero”, meaning “to bear”, reflecting ashwagandha’s sleep inducing properties (Kar et al., 2025). These sleep supporting properties have been demonstrated in various double-blind randomized clinical trials. In one of these studies by Langade et al. (2019), ashwagandha root extract was administered twice daily for 10 weeks in participants with insomnia. Sleep quality, sleep onset latency, and mental alertness were all significantly improved in those treated with ashwagandha, with no adverse events reported (Langade et al., 2019). In another study, 150 subjects experiencing high levels of nonrestorative sleep were given ashwagandha extract once daily for six weeks. A significant improvement in quality of sleep was seen in healthy participants over the study period (Deshpande et al. 2020).
One clinical study by Salve et al. (2019) analysed the influence of varying potencies of ashwagandha extract taken twice daily for eight weeks, compared to a placebo. The study assessed stress levels through the measurement of serum cortisol, as well as anxiety levels and sleep quality. It was found that serum cortisol levels were significantly reduced in the groups treated with ashwagandha compared to the placebo group. The higher potency ashwagandha significantly reduced anxiety levels, though the reduction of anxiety was not significant in the lower potency ashwagandha group. Additionally, both ashwagandha potencies significantly improved sleep quality over the study period, with the higher potency treatment group seeing greater improvements (Salve et al., 2019). Many adverse health outcomes are known to be promoted by stress and anxiety, such as neurological conditions, cardiovascular problems and lifestyle diseases. Therefore, ashwagandha’s ability to decrease these promoters reflects its overall importance for human health through its role as an adaptogenic herb (Salve et al., 2019).
Ginseng
Analysis of Botany
Although American ginseng shares many features with Asian ginseng, there are distinct taxonomical, anatomical and ecological differences. The American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is a part of the Panax genus, the true ginseng genus within the Araliaceae family (Wang et al., 2015). American Ginseng is native to Canada and the Eastern United States, and due to overharvesting has been considered a threatened species since 1973 (Wang et al., 2015). The species often grows in relatively mature deciduous forests dominated by Sugar Maple, White Ash and American Basswood (American Ginseng, 2011). The plant grows well in deep, moist and well drained nutrient rich soils (American Ginseng, 2011). American ginseng is a perennial herb that grows up to 60 centimeters tall (American Ginseng, 2011). Individual plants take 4-6 years to reach maturity (Wang et al., 2015). The root of the plant, which resembles a parsnip, is often used for its medicinal purposes (American Ginseng, 2011). Mature plants have an erect stem, whorled leaves containing five leaflets, clustered inconspicuous greenish white flowers in clusters of six to twenty, and bright red berries in semi-spherical clusters (American Ginseng, 2011). Due to the long recorded safe use of the species, it is considered a class 1 herb meaning it is generally safe to use when used appropriately (Barton, 2011).
The most commonly known ginseng, Asian Ginseng, has its own unique taxonomical, anatomical and ecological differences that set it apart. Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) is also a part of the Panax genus, making it a true ginseng within the Araliaceae family (Nocerino et al., 2000). Asian ginseng is native to the Manchurian mountains in China where it’s medicinal use has been recorded for over 5,000 years, but is now also cultivated in Korea (Barton, 2011). Like its American counterpart, Asian ginseng grows in the understory of forests, and the species prefers loamy, clay like or sandy soils (Grant, 2021). Asian ginseng is morphologically very similar to American ginseng. It takes a trained eye to tell the two plant specimens apart (Barton, 2011). It is a slow growing perennial herb with a thick, fleshy human shaped root (Nocerino et al., 2000). The Latin name Panax comes from the Greek word “Pan” meaning all and “axos” meaning cure (Nocerino et al., 2000). The root of the plant is the main pharmacologically active part and is traditionally harvested when the plant is 3-6 years old (Nocerino et al., 2000), but the berries are also traditionally used for their medicinal purposes (Patel & Rauf, 2017). Asian ginseng can be categorized into two types, red and white ginseng, depending on the processing techniques (Barton, 2011). When the root is air dried it is called white ginseng, and when the root is steamed and then dried it is called red ginseng (Barton, 2011).
Historical Use
American ginseng has a long history, both with the Native American peoples and with the European settlers that came upon the plant (Stephenson, 2019). Native American peoples have used ginseng as medicine for centuries, as an aid for digestive troubles and pain relief (Stephenson, 2019). The Meskwaki people of the Great Lakes region use the root as an aphrodisiac and panacea (cure of all diseases), while the Muscogee people use the root to staunch bleeding, treat respiratory conditions and even cure fevers (Stephenson, 2019). European settlers first came across the plant in the 1700s and began exporting the plant to Asia by the 1800s (Barton, 2011). This exportation quickly grew out of control, and these effects are felt today as the species has been considered threatened since 1973 (Wang et al., 2015). Today the cost of American ginseng is 5-10 times higher than that of Asian ginseng (Lu et al., 2008). Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) describes the root of American ginseng as cool, calming and nourishing (Bell et al., 2025). The root is thought to promote ying energy in TCM, which evokes a cooling effect on the user (Patel & Rauf, 2017).
Asian ginseng has an extremely long recorded use dating back more than 5,000 years, where it has remained a staple in TCM (Stephenson, 2019). The root originated from the Manchurian mountains in China (Barton, 2011). Traditional Chinese medicine describes the root as warming, invigorating and stimulating (Bell et al., 2025), and recognizes the herb as a panacea, meaning a cure to many diseases (Stephenson, 2019). The root is thought to promote yang energy in traditional Chinese medicine, which evokes a warming effect on the user and reinforces their qi (Chen et al., 2020).
Figure 2. Photo generated using Google Gemini Nano Banana showing the historical differences between American and Asian Ginseng.
Propagation Technologies
American and Asian ginseng follow similar propagation techniques, both requiring 4-6 years of growth to reach maturity (Wang et al., 2015). The harvesting practice of ginseng has long been a sacred and careful process (Barton, 2011). When the roots reach maturity and are ready for harvest they are hand dug, refrigerated for 1-2 weeks and then washed and either air dried (in the case of white ginseng and American ginseng) or steamed and then air dried for an additional 2 weeks (Barton, 2011). This careful process directly impacts the roots quality (Barton, 2011), although even with careful harvesting practices the roots are very susceptible to accumulation of contaminants such as pesticides due to its long growth stage (Wang et al., 2015). This makes location selection very important when cultivating ginseng (Wang et al., 2015). Today in North America 90% of American ginseng is cultivated in Wisconsin (Barton, 2011). This is due to optimal soil conditions and temperatures in the state (Barton, 2011).
Chemical Properties
The varying chemical properties of American ginseng and Asian ginseng is what drastically sets the two species apart. American ginseng holds its active compounds mainly its roots (Wang et al., 2015). The main bioactive compounds consist of polyacetylenes, polysaccharides and triterpene saponins, which includes ginsenosides (Wang et al., 2015). The ginsenosides are thought to be the main bioactive compound responsible for American ginsengs medicinal properties (Wang et al., 2015). Ginsenosides can be categorized into four main groups: protopanaxadiol, protopanaxatriol, ocotillol and oleanolic (Wang et al., 2015). There have been 98 unique ginsenosides identified in American ginseng, and they either occur naturally or from preparation methods such as steaming the root (Wang et al., 2015). Levels of Rb1, Re and Rd ginsenosides are 3, 6 and 5 times higher, respectively, in American ginseng compared to in Asian ginseng (Bell et al., 2025). In addition to polyacetylenes, polysaccharides and ginsenosides, arginine in the roots has been proven to have medicinal effects and play important roles (Wang et al., 2015).
Asian ginseng shares many similar bioactive compounds but there are a few key differences which sets it apart medicinally (Wang et al., 2015). Like American ginseng, Asian ginsengs main bioactive compounds are ginsenosides (Patel & Rauf, 2017). Other bioactive compounds include polysaccharides (Patel & Rauf, 2017), alkaloids, peptides and polyacetylenes (Ratan et al., 2021). Asian ginseng contains over 200 identified ginsenosides, with 49 of these ginsenosides coexisting in American ginseng (Chen et al., 2020). The combination of these compounds leads to Asian ginsengs vast medicinal uses and health benefits (Patel & Rauf, 2017).
Adaptogenic Significance
The adaptogenic uses of American ginseng are vast, with more research emerging continuously. American ginseng is one of the most studied species of ginseng, with studies done both on human patients and in cell culture (Wang et al., 2015). Documented studies of the plant have shown its antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, neuroprotective and immunomodulatory effects (Wang et al., 2015). In human breast cancer cells, extract from American ginseng has been shown to inhibit the activation of a protein kinase pathway, limiting the growth of the cancer cells (Barton, 2011). The root has also been shown to enhance attention and memory performance in adults and those suffering from schizophrenia (Bell et al., 2025). The plant has historically and traditionally been used as a stomach aid and as an overall cure to bodily issues, and modern clinical trials have shown that the root has a balancing effect on both the gut and the nervous system, validating its traditional uses (Bell et al., 2025).
Asian ginseng, like American ginseng has a vast array of uses which are backed by modern day testing. In vivo testing has shown the plants anticancer, antidiabetic and antioxidant properties. The plant has been associated with a variety of uses such as improving immunity, memory, blood circulation, fatigue relief, antioxidant effects, and mitigation of menopausal symptoms (Ratan et al., 2021). Testing on cancer patients has shown that those who consumed ginseng tea felt less cancer related fatigue than the control group (Patel & Rauf, 2017; Barton, 2011). Trials have shown potential uses in Alzheimer’s treatment, as the root prevents apoptosis of neurons (Patel & Rauf, 2017; Barton, 2011). The ginsenosides in the plant are thought to be the main component responsible for its anti-tumor and memory enhancing effects (Patel & Rauf, 2017).
Figure 3. Photo generated using Google Gemini Nano Banana showing adaptogenic differences and similarities of American and Asian Ginseng.
Conclusion
Tulsi and ashwagandha are two well studies adaptogens with extensive historical uses. Asian and American ginseng are two other well-known adaptogenic plants with many similarities, as well as many unique properties and functions. Adaptogenic plants, such as these, play an important role in benefiting human health, both directly and indirectly. Their uses include, but are not limited to, fatigue relief, stress reduction, improved resilience, and neuroprotective properties. Through this, these plants also have the potential to reduce stress-related diseases and impairments, offering diverse benefits.
Current research seems to align with historic knowledge on both the safety and efficacy of these plants. As use of these plants in our modern society continues to grow in popularity, it is crucial to be aware of each plant’s distinctive traits. Knowledge of each plants preferred growth conditions and growth capabilities supports conservation of these plants, especially when being grown and heavily harvested for industrial uses. Awareness of each plant’s unique chemical composition and how this is influenced is essential during plant growth and processing. Furthermore, being informed about the physiological effects exerted by each bioactive allows the plants to be harnessed in the most effective ways possible. Overall, further exploration of the applications and safety of these plants offers much hope for human health promotion. It is an exciting area that is continuously evolving, and we are excited to see what information will emerge next.
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