作者: Wowbobwow12
由於南非醉茄的根部很像人參，所以也稱印度人參。它的葉部萃取元素能助眠，因此也稱睡茄。於《阿育吠陀》的草藥醫學中常常被使用。它主要生長於印度、尼泊爾、中國、葉門等地的乾旱的地區。
南非醉茄中的主要植物化學成份為醉茄内酯類化合物（Withanolides），這種酯類能夠協助各種「生物路徑」。
「生物路徑」就是體內元素在轉換時所走的路徑，比如性荷爾蒙生物路徑，就是由膽固醇為原料，經一連串的生物路徑，才轉換成男性和女性荷爾蒙。當一個物質能夠影響的生物路徑愈多，可以說它參與的生理功能和系統就多。
由於南非醉茄支援的生物路徑很多，因此它的功效也非常繁多。但是南非醉茄根部最顯著的功效有二：
- 支援腎上腺
- 提升抗壓能力
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