Withania somnifera shows ability to counter Parkinson's Disease: An Update
08 Oct 2015-Vol. 2, Iss: 2, pp 01-04
TL;DR: The crucial role of Indian Ginseng to curb neurodegenerative disorder such as Parkinson’s disease is enlightened.
Abstract: Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) is a very revered herb of the Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine. It is useful for treating various kinds of disease processes and especially used as a nervine tonic. Withania somnifera (Ws) contain a wide array of active components including withaferin A, withanone and other flavonoids exhibiting strong anti-oxidant properties. Many scientific studies on Ws were carried out previously that showed its anti-oxidative effect, synergistic effect with other medicinal herbs and its efficiency to increase catecholamines level and regulation of apoptotic processes. Furthermore, treatment of Parkinsonian mice models with Ws has shown neuroprotection of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta region of mid-brain. The present review enlightens the crucial role of Indian Ginseng to curb neurodegenerative disorder such as Parkinson’s disease. Extensive studies are needed to prove its therapeutic efficacy in neuronal disorders.
Citations
More filters
TL;DR: The C4-C5 anterior cervical discectomy and fusion simulation on the Sim-Ortho platform demonstrated face, content, and construct validity suggesting its utility as a formative educational tool.
Abstract: BACKGROUND Virtual reality spine simulators are emerging as potential educational tools to assess and train surgical procedures in safe environments. Analysis of validity is important in determining the educational utility of these systems. OBJECTIVE To assess face, content, and construct validity of a C4-C5 anterior cervical discectomy and fusion simulation on the Sim-Ortho virtual reality platform, developed by OSSimTechTM (Montreal, Canada) and the AO Foundation (Davos, Switzerland). METHODS Spine surgeons, spine fellows, along with neurosurgical and orthopedic residents, performed a simulated C4-C5 anterior cervical discectomy and fusion on the Sim-Ortho system. Participants were separated into 3 categories: post-residents (spine surgeons and spine fellows), senior residents, and junior residents. A Likert scale was used to assess face and content validity. Construct validity was evaluated by investigating differences between the 3 groups on metrics derived from simulator data. The Kruskal-Wallis test was employed to compare groups and a post-hoc Dunn's test with a Bonferroni correction was utilized to investigate differences between groups on significant metrics. RESULTS A total of 21 individuals were included: 9 post-residents, 5 senior residents, and 7 junior residents. The post-resident group rated face and content validity, median ≥4, for the overall procedure and at least 1 tool in each of the 4 steps. Significant differences (P < .05) were found between the post-resident group and senior and/or junior residents on at least 1 metric for each component of the simulation. CONCLUSION The C4-C5 anterior cervical discectomy and fusion simulation on the Sim-Ortho platform demonstrated face, content, and construct validity suggesting its utility as a formative educational tool.
25 citations
TL;DR: The role of herbal plants and their phytoconstituents against neurodegenerative diseases and other related disorders are highlighted, focusing on their mechanism of action and therapeutic potential.
Abstract: Neurodegeneration refers to a condition of neuronal death occurring as a result of progressive disease of long termand is becoming a major health problem in the 21st century. Neurons degenerated are not replaced resulting in cognitive loss ,many neurodegenerative disorders, such as schizophrenia, depression, Alzheimer's Disease (AD) dementia, cerebrovascular impairment, seizure disorders, head injury, Parkinsonism. Neuroprotection refers to the strategies and possible mechanisms that are able to protect the central nervous system (CNS) against neuronal injury and neurodegenerative disorders. The past decade has witnessed an intense interest in herbal plants having long-term health promoting or medicinal qualities. Comprehensive research and discovery has demonstrated that natural products, medicinal herbs, plant extracts, and their metabolites, have great potential as neuroprotective agent. Although the precise mechanisms of action of herbal drugs have yet to be determined, some of them have been shown to exert anti-inflammatory and/or antioxidant effects. Thus the herbal plants can be a valuable source of drug against neurodegenerative disorders which will require high-throughput screening. This review will highlight the role of herbal plants and their phytoconstituents against neurodegenerative diseases and other related disorders, focusing on their mechanism of action and therapeutic potential. Keywords:
16 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the effects of natural phytochemicals such as hydroxytyrosol, Ginkgo biloba, Withania somnifera, curcumin, green tea, and Hypericum perforatum in PD animal and cell line models are compared and discussed.
12 citations
TL;DR: For prolonged maintenance of in vitro shoots, a multi-step protocol involving the rotational subculture of Withania shoots in the auxin-cytokinin containing culture medium has been developed to minimize the adverse effects of cytokinin.
12 citations
29 Jan 2018
TL;DR: Here, the classical motor symptom associated with accumulation of Lewy bodies and loss of dopaminergic neurons in the SNpc of the mid brain region and a complicated interplay between environmental factors and genetic factor that adversely affects the plentiful primary cellular processes are described.
Abstract: PD is a progressive neurological disorder of the central nervous system with growing layers of complexity. It is characterised by the classical motor symptom associated with accumulation of Lewy bodies (LB) and loss of dopaminergic neurons in the SNpc of the mid brain region. On the other hand, the symptomatology of PD is heterogeneous, with clinically significant non-motor characteristic. Likewise, the pathology of PD involves extensive regions of the central nervous system, a variety of neurotransmitters, and protein aggregates other than LB. The etiology of PD remains unknown, but probable risk of developing PD is not only due to environmental factors. Instead, PD seems to result from a complicated interplay between environmental factors and genetic factor that adversely affects the plentiful primary cellular processes. The major complexity Abstract
5 citations
Cites background from "Withania somnifera shows ability to..."
...neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta region of mid-brain in treatment of Parkinsonian mice model [43]....
[...]
References
More filters
TL;DR: PD models based on the manipulation of PD genes should prove valuable in elucidating important aspects of the disease, such as selective vulnerability of substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons to the degenerative process.
4,872 citations
TL;DR: Little is known about the impact of dietary antioxidants upon the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases, especially Alzheimer’s disease, but there are many attempts to develop antioxidants that can cross the blood-brain barrier and decrease oxidative damage.
Abstract: Free radicals and other so-called 'reactive species' are constantly produced in the brain in vivo. Some arise by 'accidents of chemistry', an example of which may be the leakage of electrons from the mitochondrial electron transport chain to generate superoxide radical (O2*-). Others are generated for useful purposes, such as the role of nitric oxide in neurotransmission and the production of O2*- by activated microglia. Because of its high ATP demand, the brain consumes O2 rapidly, and is thus susceptible to interference with mitochondrial function, which can in turn lead to increased O2*- formation. The brain contains multiple antioxidant defences, of which the mitochondrial manganese-containing superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione seem especially important. Iron is a powerful promoter of free radical damage, able to catalyse generation of highly reactive hydroxyl, alkoxyl and peroxyl radicals from hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxides, respectively. Although most iron in the brain is stored in ferritin, 'catalytic' iron is readily mobilised from injured brain tissue. Increased levels of oxidative damage to DNA, lipids and proteins have been detected by a range of assays in post-mortem tissues from patients with Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and at least some of these changes may occur early in disease progression. The accumulation and precipitation of proteins that occur in these diseases may be aggravated by oxidative damage, and may in turn cause more oxidative damage by interfering with the function of the proteasome. Indeed, it has been shown that proteasomal inhibition increases levels of oxidative damage not only to proteins but also to other biomolecules. Hence, there are many attempts to develop antioxidants that can cross the blood-brain barrier and decrease oxidative damage. Natural antioxidants such as vitamin E (tocopherol), carotenoids and flavonoids do not readily enter the brain in the adult, and the lazaroid antioxidant tirilazad (U-74006F) appears to localise in the blood-brain barrier. Other antioxidants under development include modified spin traps and low molecular mass scavengers of O2*-. One possible source of lead compounds is the use of traditional remedies claimed to improve brain function. Little is known about the impact of dietary antioxidants upon the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases, especially Alzheimer's disease. Several agents already in therapeutic use might exert some of their effects by antioxidant action, including selegiline (deprenyl), apomorphine and nitecapone.
1,438 citations
"Withania somnifera shows ability to..." refers background in this paper
...Oxidative stress and reduced levels of catecholamines are the contributing factors of neurodegeneration in PD [40] and this leads to the loss of motor function in PD patients [41,42]....
[...]
Book•
01 Jan 1990
1,401 citations
"Withania somnifera shows ability to..." refers background in this paper
...,[21] has revealed over 35 chemical constituents contained in the roots of Ashwagandha through laboratory analysis....
[...]
TL;DR: Recent data concerning the biochemical and molecular apoptotic mechanisms underlying the experimental models of PD are reported and correlates them to the phenomena occurring in human disease.
1,173 citations
"Withania somnifera shows ability to..." refers background in this paper
...It has been found that one of the main causes of neurodegenerative diseases is the defective regulation of programmed cell death [44]....
[...]
Journal Article•
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
Additional excerpts
...) and steroidal lactones (withanolides, withaferins) [23]....
[...]