The effect of gamma irradiation on pharmacological activity of non-irradiated and gamma-irradiated (at doses of 5 KGy and 10 KGy) samples of Ashwagandha were examined. Investigations were performed to study the anti-stress activity by forced swim endurance test in Albino Swiss mice at a dose level of 100mg / kg b.w. administered orally. Significant anti-stress activity (p<0.001) was observed in aqueous extracts of all the groups in comparison to control and further there were no significant differences among non irradiated and gamma irradiated samples (5KGy and 10KGy) indicating that gamma irradiation at doses of 5 and 10KGy may have no influence on the pharmacological activity of Ashwagandha. As it does not interfere with the pharmacological activity, gamma irradiation can be considered as an effective method in reducing microbial contamination and thus increase the shelf life and stability of the commercial products of Ashwagandha.
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