Scientific Validation of the Usefulness of Withania somnifera Dunal in the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer
01 Jan 2018-pp 285-301
TL;DR: In this chapter, an attempt is made to summarize the antineoplastic effects of Ashwagandha and its principal phytochemical, withaferin A, in various cultured neoplastic cell lines and the mechanisms involved.
Abstract: Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha), the member of Solanaceae family is recognized to be one of the most significant therapeutically known herbs in the traditional Indian system of medicine, the Ayurveda. In specific, its root is reported to be applied in the treatment of nervous exhaustion, insomnia, skin problems, and coughing. Scientific studies carried out in accordance to the modern system of medicine have shown that the plant extracts possess antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiulcer, analgesic, anti-stress, wound healing, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, antidiabetic, and immunomodulatory effects. In addition, studies have shown that withaferin A, the principal phytochemical of Ashwagandha, exhibits activity against inflammation, apoptosis, invasiveness, and angiogenic effects in various cancer progression conditions. In this chapter, an attempt is made to summarize the antineoplastic effects of Ashwagandha and its principal phytochemical, withaferin A, in various cultured neoplastic cell lines and the mechanisms involved.
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TL;DR: This review focuses on folk medicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological, and nutrapharmaceutical potential of the versatile plant, which may be attributed to the withanolide alkaloids.
Abstract: 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.
47 citations
TL;DR: An overview of published studies for a better understanding of the anti-mutagenic potential of medicinal plants and the precise indications for the utilization of natural compounds as chemo-preventive agents is presented.
Abstract: This review presents an overview of published studies for a better understanding of the anti-mutagenic potential of medicinal plants and the precise indications for the utilization of natural compo...
24 citations
TL;DR: This review highlights the medicinal plants from the Eastern Himalayan region which showed promising therapeutic activity against inflammatory diseases as well as novel formulation approaches of these medicinal plants.
Abstract: Copyright © 2020 Phcog.Net. This is an openaccess article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. ABSTRACT Since ancient times, medicinal plants performing a very essential role as a source of medicine and their medicinal properties have been well documented in the various traditional systems of medicine including Indian, Chinese and Korean medicines for the management of chronic inflammatory disorders. Arthritis is one of the harmful chronic inflammatory diseases and its pain vastly affects millions of people throughout the world. The inflammatory process of arthritis can stride very promptly causing swelling and destroying bone or cartilage cross the joints by various inflammatory mediators. Presently most commonly prescribed medication for the management of inflammation or arthritic pain is the NSAIDs, DMARDs and corticosteroids. Their prolonged use may cause a high spectrum of toxic effects. Hence, there is a demanding need to develop alternative therapeutic agents with minimum toxic effects. The Eastern Himalayan region is richly furnished with multifarious medicinal plants with potent anti-inflammatory and/ or anti-arthritic properties that have been traditionally used by the local people. Few studies have been convened in Himalayan medicinal plants to validate their medicinal values. Thus, from the knowledge of traditional medicine and research on plant materials, one might be able to discover newer and cost-effective drugs for treating diverse forms of inflammation. This review highlights the medicinal plants from the Eastern Himalayan region which showed promising therapeutic activity against inflammatory diseases as well as novel formulation approaches of these medicinal plants.
14 citations
01 Jan 2020
TL;DR: The current study throws light on medicinal plant diversity and the plant parts used, and an emphasis was laid preferably on the anticancer potential of different medicinal plants, fruits, and vegetables that are found in the Himalayan regions.
Abstract: The Himalayan region harbors a rich diversity of medicinal plants and fruits which are used as traditional medicines for a variety of diseases and complications. The Himalayas has rich biodiversity of plants and the majority of these plants have medicinal properties, especially anticancer potential, that have been used in traditional health care systems for thousands of years. These have been used since the ancient past in traditional health care systems and diverse cultures around the world still depend on medicinal plants for their primary health care. With the recent advancements and technological developments in plant sciences, the people of the Himalayan region have learned and practiced the medicinal use of plants for centuries. Through the ages, this ancient prized wisdom has been transmitted from generation to generation as part of oral traditions. So the current study throws light on medicinal plant diversity and the plant parts used, and an emphasis was laid preferably on the anticancer potential of different medicinal plants, fruits, and vegetables that are found in the Himalayan regions.
4 citations
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TL;DR: Preliminary studies have found various constituents of ashwagandha exhibit a variety of therapeutic effects with little or no associated toxicity, indicating this herb should be studied more extensively to confirm these results and reveal other potential therapeutic effects.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper is to review the literature regarding Withania somnifera (ashwagandha, WS) a commonly used herb in Ayurvedic medicine. Specifically, the literature was reviewed for articles pertaining to chemical properties, therapeutic benefits, and toxicity. DESIGN: This review is in a narrative format and consists of all publications relevant to ashwagandha that were identified by the authors through a systematic search of major computerized medical databases; no statistical pooling of results or evaluation of the quality of the studies was performed due to the widely different methods employed by each study. RESULTS: Studies indicate ashwagandha possesses anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antistress, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, hemopoetic, and rejuvenating properties. It also appears to exert a positive influence on the endocrine, cardiopulmonary, and central nervous systems. The mechanisms of action for these properties are not fully understood. Toxicity studies reveal that ashwagandha appears to be a safe compound. CONCLUSION: Preliminary studies have found various constituents of ashwagandha exhibit a variety of therapeutic effects with little or no associated toxicity. These results are very encouraging and indicate this herb should be studied more extensively to confirm these results and reveal other potential therapeutic effects. Clinical trials using ashwagandha for a variety of conditions should also be conducted. (Altern Med Rev 2000;5(4) 334-346)
735 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that withaferin A inhibits human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) sprouting in three-dimensional collagen-I matrix at doses which are relevant to NF-kappa B-inhibitory activity and is shown to exert potent anti-angiogenic activity in vivo at doses that are 500-fold lower than those previously reported to exert anti-tumor activity in vitro.
Abstract: The medicinal plant Withania somnifera is widely researched for its anti-inflammatory, cardioactive and central nervous system effects. In Ayurveda, the major Traditional Indian medicine system, extracts from W. somnifera are distinctively employed for the treatment of arthritis and menstrual disorders. Because these conditions involve angiogenic processes we hypothesized that the W. somnifera extracts might contain angiogenesis inhibitors. We employed an endothelial cell-sprouting assay to monitor the purification of substances from W. somnifera root extracts and isolated as the active principle the previously known natural product withaferin A. We show that withaferin A inhibits human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) sprouting in three-dimensional collagen-I matrix at doses which are relevant to NF-kappa B-inhibitory activity. Withaferin A inhibits cell proliferation in HUVECs (IC50=12 nM) at doses that are significantly lower than those required for tumor cell lines through a process associated with inhibition of cyclin D1 expression. We propose that the inhibition of NF-kappa B by withaferin A in HUVECs occurs by interference with the ubiquitin-mediated proteasome pathway as suggested by the increased levels of poly-ubiquitinated proteins. Finally, withaferin A is shown to exert potent anti-angiogenic activity in vivo at doses that are 500-fold lower than those previously reported to exert anti-tumor activity in vivo. In conclusion, our findings identify a novel mode of action of withaferin A, which highlights the potential use of this natural product for cancer treatment or prevention.
335 citations
TL;DR: The results confirm the immunomodulatory activity of W. somnifera extract, which is a known immunosorbent in indigenous medicine, and Administration of Withania extract inhibited delayed type hypersentivity reaction in mice.
306 citations
TL;DR: Various plant-derived compounds improve the efficiency of cytotoxic agents, decrease their resistance, lower and alleviate toxic side effects, reduce the risk of tumour lysis syndrome, and detoxify the body of chemotherapeutics.
Abstract: Chemotherapy has been used for cancer treatment already for almost 70 years by targeting the proliferation potential and metastasising ability of tumour cells. Despite the progress made in the development of potent chemotherapy drugs, their toxicity to normal tissues and adverse side effects in multiple organ systems as well as drug resistance have remained the major obstacles for the successful clinical use. Cytotoxic agents decrease considerably the quality of life of cancer patients manifesting as acute complaints and impacting the life of survivors also for years after the treatment. Toxicity often limits the usefulness of anticancer agents being also the reason why many patients discontinue the treatment. The nutritional approach may be the means of helping to raise cancer therapy to a new level of success as supplementing or supporting the body with natural phytochemicals cannot only reduce adverse side effects but improve also the effectiveness of chemotherapeutics. Various plant-derived compounds improve the efficiency of cytotoxic agents, decrease their resistance, lower and alleviate toxic side effects, reduce the risk of tumour lysis syndrome, and detoxify the body of chemotherapeutics. The personalised approach using various phytochemicals provides thus a new dimension to the standard cancer therapy for improving its outcome in a complex and complementary way.
270 citations
TL;DR: Investigation of the anxiolytic and antidepressant actions of the bioactive glycowithanolides of Withania somnifera, isolated from WS roots, in rats support the use of WS as a mood stabilizer in clinical conditions of anxiety and depression in Ayurveda.
263 citations