Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) is an important Rasayana herb and widely considered as Indian ginseng in Ayurveda. In traditional system of Indian medicine, it is used as tonic to rejuvenate the body and increase longevity. In Ayurvedic preparations, various parts of the plant have been used to treat variety of ailments that affect the human health. However, dried roots of the plant are widely used for the treatment of nervous and sexual disorders. The major active chemical constituents of this plant are withanolides, which is responsible for its wide range of biological activities. Since the beginning of the 20 th century, a significant amount of research has been done and efforts are ongoing to further explore other bioactive constituents, and many pharmacological studies have been carried out to describe their disease preventing mechanisms. In this chapter, we have reviewed the chemistry and pharmacological basis of W. somnifera in various human ailments.

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Chemistry and pharmacology of withania somnifera: An update

Withania somnifera L. is a multipurpose medicinal plant of family Solanaceae occurring abundantly in sub-tropical regions of the world. The folk healers used the plant to treat several diseases such as fever, cancer, asthma, diabetes, ulcer, hepatitis, eyesores, arthritis, heart problems, and hemorrhoids. The plant is famous for the anti-cancerous activity, low back pain treatment, and muscle strengthening, which may be attributed to the withanolide alkaloids. W. somnifera is also rich in numerous valued secondary metabolites such as steroids, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, saponins, and glycosides. A wide range of preclinical trials such as cardioprotective, anticancer, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-depressant, and hypoglycemic have been attributed to various parts of the plant. Different parts of the plant have also been evaluated for the clinical trials such as male infertility, obsessive-compulsive disorder, antianxiety, bone and muscle strengthening potential, hypolipidemic, and antidiabetic. This review focuses on folk medicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological, and nutrapharmaceutical potential of the versatile plant.

https://ijbms.mums.ac.ir/article_16781_0c18fd94bee22ecc06cdc7c9300e8e27.pdf

Withania somnifera L.: Insights into the phytochemical profile, therapeutic potential, clinical trials, and future prospective.

Withania somnifera Dunal, is a commonly used herb in Indian Ayurvedic medicine system. Due to its pharmacological value and an inexhaustible source of novel biologically active compounds, it has been a great interest for researchers. The plant is known to possess anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antistress, antioxidant, immunomodulatory and hemopoetic properties. Various withanolides, steroidal lactones, have been isolated from W. somnifera and were known to have high therapeutic value. Based on the differences in the substitution patterns of withanolides the species has been classified into various chemotypes. So far, three different chemotypes have been identified, which have been further classified into ecotypes based on the contents of withanolides. Present review summarizes the phytochemical variability and pharmacological advances reported in literature.

Withania somnifera (Linn.) Dunal: a review of chemical and pharmacological diversity

The effect of the total saponins from Rosa laevigata Michx fruit (RLTS) against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver damage in mice was evaluated in the present paper. The results showed that RLTS markedly improved the levels of liver SOD, CAT, GSH, GSH-Px, MDA, NO and iNOS, and the activities of serum ALT and AST caused by APAP. Further research confirmed that RLTS prevented fragmentation of DNA and mitochondrial ultrastructural alterations based on TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) assays. In addition, RLTS decreased the gene or protein expressions of cytochrome P450 (CYP2E1), pro-inflammatory mediators (IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, TNF-α, iNOS, Bax, HMGB-1 and COX-2), pro-inflammatory transcription factors (NF-κB and AP-1), pro-apoptotic proteins (cytochrome C, p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, p-JNK, p-p38 and p-ERK), and increased the protein expressions of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. Moreover, the gene expression of IL-10, and the proteins including LC3, Beclin-1 and Atg5 induced by APAP were even more augmented by the extract. These results demonstrate that RLTS has hepatoprotective effects through antioxidative action, induction of autophagy, and suppression of inflammation and apoptosis, and could be developed as a potential candidate to treat APAP-induced liver damage in the future.

Effects of the Total Saponins from Rosa laevigata Michx Fruit against Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Damage in Mice via Induction of Autophagy and Suppression of Inflammation and Apoptosis

Withania somnifera, commonly known as “Ashwagandha” or “Indian ginseng” is an essential therapeutic plant of Indian subcontinent regions. It is regularly used, alone or in combination with other pl...

Pharmacological evaluation of Ashwagandha highlighting its healthcare claims, safety, and toxicity aspects.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of Withania somnifera against Paracetamol-induced liver injury in rats. Methods: In the present study, the protective effect of Withania somnifera was investigated against Paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity and compared with Silymarin, a standard hepatoprotective reference drug. The rats received a single dose of paracetamol (900 mg/kg body weight, i.p.); Withania somnifera (500 mg/kg body weight and 1000mg/kg body weight, p.o.) and Silymarin (25 mg/kg body weight, p.o.) were administered 30 min after the injection of paracetamol. Liver marker enzymes (Aspartate Transaminase, Alanine Transaminase and Alkaline Phosphatase), Total Protein content, Bilirubin, Antioxidant status (Reduced Glutathione, Superoxide Dismutase, Catalase and Glutathione-S-Transferase) were evaluated and histopathological analysis was done for the control and experimental rats. Results: Paracetamol treatment leads to elevated levels of liver marker enzymes and bilirubin and there was deterioration in total protein content, histological observations and antioxidant status. However, treatment with Withania somnifera significantly reversed (p < 0.05) the above changes compared to the control group as observed in the paracetamol-challenged rats. Conclusion: The results clearly demonstrate that Withania somnifera possesses promising hepatoprotective effects through its antioxidant activity and hence suggests its use as a potential therapeutic agent for protection from paracetamol overdose.

Meenakshi Ravichander

Papers

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant potential of withania somnifera against paracetamol-induced liver damage in rats