Showing papers on "Withania somnifera published in 2001"
TL;DR: The results indicate that, at least part of chronic stress-induced pathology may be due to oxidative stress, which is mitigated by WSG, lending support to the clinical use of the plant as an antistress adaptogen.
271 citations
TL;DR: Seven new withanolide glycosides called withanosides I, II, III, IV, V, VI, and VII were isolated from an Indian natural medicine, Ashwagandha, the roots of Indian Withania somnifera DUNAL.
181 citations
TL;DR: The results clearly indicate the commercial potential of P. indica for large-scale cultivation of S. calva and W. somnifera and show a significant increase in growth and yield relative to uninoculated controls.
Abstract: The medicinal plants Spilanthes calva and Withania somnifera were inoculated with Piriformospora indica, a plant growth-promoting root endophyte, in nurseries and subsequently transferred to the field. A significant increase in growth and yield of both plant species was recorded relative to uninoculated controls. Shoot and root length, biomass, basal stem, leaf area, overall size, number of inflorescences and flowers and seed production were all enhanced in the presence of the fungus. Net primary productivity was also higher than in control plants. The results clearly indicate the commercial potential of P. indica for large-scale cultivation of S. calva and W. somnifera.
177 citations
TL;DR: These antioxidant effects of active principle of CP, PK and WS may explain, at least in part, the reported anti-stress, immunomodulatory, cognition-facilitating, anti-inflammatory and antiaging effects produced by them in experimental animal and in clinical situations and may justify the further investigation of their other beneficial biological properties.
172 citations
TL;DR: In the Indian traditional system of medicine Withania somnifera Dun.
Abstract: The practitioners of the traditional Indian system of medicine regard Withania somnifera Dun. as the 'Indian ginseng'. A new withanolide-free aqueous fraction was isolated from the roots of this plant and was evaluated for putative antistress activity against a battery of tests such as hypoxia time, antifatigue effect, swimming performance time, swimming induced gastric ulceration and hypothermia, immobilization induced gastric ulceration, autoanalgesia and biochemical changes in the adrenal glands. This bioactive fraction exhibited significant antistress activity in a dose-related manner in all the parameters studied. The extract of Withania somnifera root (a commercial preparation available locally) was used to compare the results. A preliminary acute toxicity study in mice showed a good margin of safety.
132 citations
TL;DR: It was concluded that extracts of both plants have a direct spermatogenic influence on the seminiferous tubules of immature rats presumably by exerting a testosterone-like effect.
106 citations
TL;DR: Oral treatment of animals with 400 mg/kg body weight of Withania somnifera extract significantly reduced the tumour incidence, tumour volume and enhanced the survival of the mice, compared with 20‐methylcholanthrene injected mice, which may be due to its antioxidant and detoxifying properties.
Abstract: The current experimental work deals with the chemopreventive studies of a hydroalcoholic extract of Withania somnifera roots, against 20-methylcholanthrene induced fibrosarcoma tumours in Swiss albino mice. A single subcutaneous injection of 200 microg 20-methylcholanthrene in 0.1 mL of dimethylsulphoxide into the thigh region of mice produced a high incidence (96%) of tumours. Oral treatment of animals with 400 mg/kg body weight of Withania somnifera extract (one week before injecting 20-methylcholanthrene and continued until 15 weeks thereafter) significantly reduced the tumour incidence, tumour volume and enhanced the survival of the mice, compared with 20-methylcholanthrene injected mice. The tumour incidence was also delayed in the treatment group when compared with 20-methylcholanthrene injected mice. Liver biochemical parameters revealed a significant modulation of reduced glutathione, lipid peroxides, glutathione-S-transferase, catalase and superoxide dismutase in extract treated mice compared with 20-methylcholanthrene injected mice. The mechanism of chemopreventive activity of Withania somnifera extract may be due to its antioxidant and detoxifying properties.
101 citations
TL;DR: Administration of an extract of Withania somnifera was found to reduce two stage skin carcinogenesis induced by DMBA (dimethyl benzanthracene) and croton oil and Enzyme analysis of skin and liver showed significant enhancement in antioxidant enzymes such as GSH, GST, Glutathione peroxides and Catalases in Withanias treated group when compared with the control.
99 citations
TL;DR: The antistress neuroprotective effects of W. somnifera were studied on stressed adult female Swiss albino rats and root powder extract significantly reduced the number of degenerating cells in both the CA2 and CA3 sub‐areas.
Abstract: The neuroprotective effects of W. somnifera were studied on stressed adult female Swiss albino rats. Experimental rats were subjected to immobilization stress for 14 h and were treated with a root powder extract of W. somnifera available as Stresscom capsules (Dabur India Ltd). Control rats were maintained in completely, non stressed conditions. Thionin stained serial coronal sections (7 microm) of brain passing through the hippocampal region of stressed rats (E(1) group) demonstrated 85% degenerating cells (dark cells and pyknotic cells) in the CA(2) and CA(3) sub-areas. Treatment with W. somnifera root powder extract significantly reduced (80%) the number of degenerating cells in both the areas. The study thus demonstrates the antistress neuroprotective effects of W. somnifera.
93 citations
01 Jan 2001
TL;DR: Oral treatment of animals with 400 mg/kg body weight of Withania somnifera extract significantly reduced the tumour incidence, tumour volume and enhanced the survival of the mice, compared with 20-methylcholanthrene injected mice, and Liver biochemical parameters revealed a significant modulation of reduced glutathione, lipid peroxides, glutathion-S-transferase, catalase and superoxide dismutase in extract treated mice.
Abstract: The current experimental work deals with the chemopreventive studies of a hydroalcoholic extract of Withania somnifera roots, against 20-methylcholanthrene induced fibrosarcoma tumours in Swiss albino mice. A single subcutaneous injection of 200 microg 20-methylcholanthrene in 0.1 mL of dimethylsulphoxide into the thigh region of mice produced a high incidence (96%) of tumours. Oral treatment of animals with 400 mg/kg body weight of Withania somnifera extract (one week before injecting 20-methylcholanthrene and continued until 15 weeks thereafter) significantly reduced the tumour incidence, tumour volume and enhanced the survival of the mice, compared with 20-methylcholanthrene injected mice. The tumour incidence was also delayed in the treatment group when compared with 20-methylcholanthrene injected mice. Liver biochemical parameters revealed a significant modulation of reduced glutathione, lipid peroxides, glutathione-S-transferase, catalase and superoxide dismutase in extract treated mice compared with 20-methylcholanthrene injected mice. The mechanism of chemopreventive activity of Withania somnifera extract may be due to its antioxidant and detoxifying properties.
90 citations
TL;DR: The above article has been retracted by agreement between the author, the Editor‐in‐Chief of Phytotherapy research (PTR) and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Abstract: Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera L.) root extract (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg; orally) improved retention of a passive avoidance task in a step-down paradigm in mice. Ashwagandha (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg; orally) also reversed the scopolamine (0.3 mg/kg)-induced disruption of acquisition and retention and attenuated the amnesia produced by acute treatment with electroconvulsive shock (ECS), immediately after training. Chronic treatment with ECS, for 6 successive days at 24 h intervals, disrupted memory consolidation on day 7. Daily administration of ashwagandha for 6 days significantly improved memory consolidation in mice receiving chronic ECS treatment. Ashwagandha, administered on day 7, also attenuated the disruption of memory consolidation produced by chronic treatment with ECS. On the elevated plus-maze, ashwagandha reversed the scopolamine (0.3 mg/kg)-induced delay in transfer latency on day 1. On the basis of these findings, it is suggested that ashwagandha exhibits a nootropic-like effect in naive and amnesic mice.
TL;DR: Multiple shoot cultures of Withania somnifera were established from single shoot tip explants and their potential for the production of two principle withanolides, withaferin A and withanolide D was investigated.
Abstract: Multiple shoot cultures of Withania somnifera were established from single shoot tip explants and their potential for the production of two principle withanolides, withaferin A and withanolide D was investigated. Shoot tips grown on MS medium supplemented with BA (1 mg l-1) induced 10.0 ± 1.15 microshoots per explants and shoot cultures accumulated both withanolides (withaferin A = 0.04 %, withanolide D = 0.06 %). Supplementation of MSSM (solid) agar medium with 4 % sucrose enhanced accumulation of both withaferin A (0.16 %) and withanolide D (0.08 %). Reduction of the agar concentration to 0.16 % increased the number of microshoots induced per explant to 25.5. MSSM liquid medium containing 10 % coconut milk favoured a maximum increase in biomass (27 fold); number of microshoots induced (37.6 ± 1.45) as well as accumulation of withaferin A (0.14 %). BA:N6-Benzyladenine Kn:Kinetin 2iP:N6-[2-Isopentenyl]adenine MS:Murashige and Skoog (1962) MSSM:Murashige and Skoog's basal medium + BA (1 mg l-1)
TL;DR: The results indicate that Withania species may require longer time and better differentiation and also natural environment for the production of withaferin A.
Abstract: Withania somnifera plantlets were produced in vitro from the shoot-tip of aseptically germinated seedlings. Culture conditions were optimized using different plant growth regulators which gave rise to 120 shoots from a single bud. The plantlets were then transferred to pots and maintained in greenhouse for 4 months. 90% of these in vitro propagated plantlets survived and showed normal growth. Leaves from these plants were used for isolation of the withanolides. Methanolic extract of leaves from plantlets growing in tissue culture and those transferred to the greenhouse were evaluated for immunomodulatory activity. While the extract from greenhouse samples showed potent immunosuppressive activity, those from tissue cultures samples did not show any activity. Fractionation and characterization of withanolides, using HPLC, NMR, MS methods revealed the presence of withaferin A in the greenhouse samples. Our results indicate that Withania species may require longer time and better differentiation and also natural environment for the production of withaferin A.
TL;DR: This report focuses for the first time on calystegines in Withania and Brunfelsia genera and in Mandragora autumnalis and Solanum sodomaeum species.
TL;DR: Ethanolic extracts of Punica granatum, Mangifera indica, Boerhaavia diffusa, Embelia ribes, Phyllanthus maderaspatensis, and Withania somnifera were found to exhibit interesting α-amylase inhibitory activity.
TL;DR: It is clear that rats treated with the fresh aqueous suspension and compound X ofWithania somnifera, could withstand the multiple stress of C-H-R better than control group.
Abstract: In Ayurvedic medicine,Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) is well known for its anti-stress activity. A passive rat experimental model, where the animals are subjected to multiple stress of cold, hypoxia, restraint (C-H-R) has been developed to evaluate adaptogenic properties of various fractions of W. somnifera root extracts. We have carried out extraction of roots of W. somnifera with water and further isolated one of the active constituents called compound X and also tested its anti-stress activity in C-H-R model. The effect of administration of W. somnifera water suspension (360 mg/Kg bw) and compound X (20mg/Kg bw) on the fall and recovery of colonic temperature was noted. There was an increase of ≈38% and ≈54% in the time taken to attain Trec 23°C by rats given a single dose of fresh aqueous suspension and biologically active constituent (Compound X) respectively, where as decrease in the recovery time to attain Trec 37°C is ≈13% and ≈33% respectively, as compared to control group. It is clear that rats treated with the fresh aqueous suspension and compound X ofWithania somnifera, could withstand the multiple stress of C-H-R better than control group.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The findings of the study suggest the potential of W. somnifera as an adjuvant during cancer chemotherapy for the prevention of bone marrow depression associated with anticancer drugs.
Abstract: The effect of aqueous extract of Withania somnifera (L. Solanaceae) was studied against paclitaxel induced neutropenia in mice. After paclitaxel 1 mg/kg, i.v. administration significant fall in total WBC and absolute neutrophil count was observed on day 3 and day 5. W. Somnifera (200 mg/kg, p.o.) per se produced significant increase in neutrophil counts. W. somnifera (200 mg/kg, p.o.) when administered for 4 days before paclitaxel treatment and continued for 12 days caused significant reversal of neutropenia of paclitaxel. The findings of the study suggest the potential of W. somnifera as an adjuvant during cancer chemotherapy for the prevention of bone marrow depression associated with anticancer drugs.
TL;DR: Microorganisms including bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi were recovered from the leaves of Withania somnifera, which were collected from two altitudinal ranges (0-300 m and 1700-2000 m) in the Asir region, Saudi Arabia, and pathogenicity was confirmed inside the leaf tissue.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Pretreatment of aqueous extracts of Zyrulina (Spirulina), Aswagandha (Withania) and Nopane (Boswellia) on colchicine induced chromosome damage showed weakness of clastogenic activity in Swiss albino mice.
Abstract: Pretreatment of aqueous extracts of Zyrulina (Spirulina), Aswagandha (Withania) and Nopane (Boswellia) on colchicine induced chromosome damage showed weakness of clastogenic activity in Swiss albino mice. None of the treatments increased significantly the number of chromosome aberrations.
Dissertation•
01 Jan 2001
01 Jan 2001
TL;DR: It was concluded that extracts of both plants have a direct spermatogenic influence on the seminiferous tubules of immature rats presumably by exerting a testosterone-like effect.
Abstract: The effect of lyophilized aqueous extract of Cynomorium coccineum and Withania somnifera on testicular development and on serum levels of testosterone, ICSH and FSH was studied in immature male Wistar rats. There was a notable increase in testicular weight of animals treated with both extracts. Histological examination revealed an apparent increase in the diameter of seminiferous tubules and the number of seminiferous tubular cell layers in the testes of treated rats as compared with control ones. Extracts of both plants elicited notable spermatogenesis in immature rats but C. coccineum was more effective than W. somnifera in that respect. Serum testosterone and FSH levels were lower in animals treated with plants extracts than controls, whereas ICSH levels was higher in treated animals, specially in those treated with C. coccineum. It was concluded that extracts of both plants have a direct spermatogenic influence on the seminiferous tubules of immature rats presumably by exerting a testosterone-like effect. © 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.