Showing papers on "Withania somnifera published in 1991"

Micropropagation of Withania somnifera from germinating seeds and shoot tips

Abstract: Shoot multiplication was achieved in vitro from shoot tips of aseptically germinated seedlings of Withania somnifera L. using low concentrations of 6-benzyladenine (BA), viz. 2.2, 4.4 and 8.9 μM. Maximum number of shoots were obtained when 2.3 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) or 2.5 μM indolebutyric acid (IBA) was added to medium containing 4.4 μM BA during initiation of shoot multiplication, but not when added later. Direct multiple shoot initiation was also obtained from germinating seeds in the presence of BA alone. Rooting was successful in excised shoots grown on growth regulator-free MS medium. Rooted shoots were successfully established in soil in a greenhouse.

Tissue cultures of Withania somnifera: Morphogenesis and withanolide synthesis

Abstract: Tissue cultures were established from axillary meristems of the plant Withania somnifera. Growth hormones influenced the morphogenetic responses of the cultures. The explants gave multiple shoots in Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium supplemented with benzyladenine (BA), rooting in MS+coconut milk (CM) (10%) and callus formation in MS+2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) (2.0 ppm). Callus cultures failed to synthesize withanolides. Multiple shoot cultures synthesized significant levels of withanolides and their concentrations varied with different growth hormones.

Effect of certain adaptogenic plant extracts on drug‐induced narcosis in female and male mice

Abstract: The depressing effects of the extracts of Ocimun sanctum (O), Schizandra chinensis (S), Sedum rosea (R), Withania somnifera (W), Aralia elata (A), and Celastrus paniculatus (C) upon the mouse central nervous system (CNS) was evaluated. Recovery time of the righting reflex after the injection of a single dose of pentobarbital (50 mg/kg i.p.) was compared to the effect induced by that drug and the extracts. Decreasing or increasing the time for mouse recovery was evaluated in relation to dose and sex. The results demonstrate a significant (p ⩽ 0.05) increase of the narcosis time with all the extracts. The recovery of the righting reflex was sex and dose-dependent. These plant extracts have a clear synergism with pentobarbital in depressing the mouse CNS response.

Withania somnifera extract. Its effect on arterial blood pressure in anaesthetized dogs

Abstract: The effect of Withania somnifera extract on arterial blood pressure in ‘normotensive’ pentobarbital anaesthetized dogs was studied. Also a possible effect of Withania somnifera on blood pressure in dogs administered either with adrenaline and acetylcholine was investigated. Thirty mongrel dogs of both sexes were distributed randomly in three series of ten animals each. Each animal was adminstered at intervals of 4 min with either a neurotransmitter, saline or the extract until a cycle of 32 minutes was completed. It is concluded that the Withania somnifera extract induced a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the arterial and diastolic blood pressure in ‘normotensive’ pentobarbital anaesthetized dogs. Withania also significantly prevented the hypotensive effect of acetyltholine and increased the hypertensive effect of adrenaline.