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Showing papers on "Withania somnifera published in 2006"


Journal Article
TL;DR: In vitro and in vivo research demonstrates that the reviewed botanical medicines modulate the secretion of multiple cytokines, indicating that phytotherapy offers a potential therapeutic modality for the treatment of many differing conditions involving cytokines.
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Modulation of cytokine secretion may offer novel approaches in the treatment of a variety of diseases. One strategy in the modulation of cytokine expression may be through the use of herbal medicines. A class of herbal medicines, known as immunomodulators, alters the activity of immune function through the dynamic regulation of informational molecules such as cytokines. This may offer an explanation of the effects of herbs on the immune system and other tissues. For this informal review, the authors surveyed the primary literature on medicinal plants and their effects on cytokine expression, taking special care to analyze research that utilized the multi-component extracts equivalent to or similar to what are used in traditional medicine, clinical phytotherapy, or in the marketplace. METHODOLOGY: MEDLINE, EBSCO, and BIOSIS were used to identify research on botanical medicines, in whole or standardized form, that act on cytokine activity through different models, i.e., in vivo (human and animal), ex vivo, or in vitro. RESULTS: Many medicinal plant extracts had effects on at least one cytokine. The most frequently studied cytokines were IL-1, IL-6, TNF, and IFN. Acalypha wilkesiana, Acanthopanax gracilistylus, Allium sativum, Ananus comosus, Cissampelos sympodialis, Coriolus versicolor, Curcuma longa, Echinacea purpurea, Grifola frondosa, Harpagophytum procumbens, Panax ginseng, Polygala tenuifolia, Poria cocos, Silybum marianum, Smilax glabra, Tinospora cordifolia, Uncaria tomentosa, and Withania somnifera demonstrate modulation of multiple

300 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Results indicate that withanolides inhibit activation of NF-κB and NF-kkB-regulated gene expression, which may explain the ability of withanolide to enhance apoptosis and inhibit invasion and osteoclastogenesis.
Abstract: The plant Withania somnifera Dunal (Ashwagandha), also known as Indian ginseng, is widely used in the Ayurvedic system of medicine to treat tumors, inflammation, arthritis, asthma, and hypertension. Chemical investigation of the roots and leaves of this plant has yielded bioactive withanolides. Earlier studies showed that withanolides inhibit cyclooxygenase enzymes, lipid peroxidation, and proliferation of tumor cells. Because several genes that regulate cellular proliferation, carcinogenesis, metastasis, and inflammation are regulated by activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), we hypothesized that the activity of withanolides is mediated through modulation of NF-kappaB activation. For this report, we investigated the effect of the withanolide on NF-kappaB and NF-kappaB-regulated gene expression activated by various carcinogens. We found that withanolides suppressed NF-kappaB activation induced by a variety of inflammatory and carcinogenic agents, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-1beta, doxorubicin, and cigarette smoke condensate. Suppression was not cell type specific, as both inducible and constitutive NF-kappaB activation was blocked by withanolides. The suppression occurred through the inhibition of inhibitory subunit of IkappaB alpha kinase activation, IkappaB alpha phosphorylation, IkappaB alpha degradation, p65 phosphorylation, and subsequent p65 nuclear translocation. NF-kappaB-dependent reporter gene expression activated by TNF, TNF receptor (TNFR) 1, TNFR-associated death domain, TNFR-associated factor 2, and IkappaB alpha kinase was also suppressed. Consequently, withanolide suppressed the expression of TNF-induced NF-kappaB-regulated antiapoptotic (inhibitor of apoptosis protein 1, Bfl-1/A1, and FADD-like interleukin-1beta-converting enzyme-inhibitory protein) and metastatic (cyclooxygenase-2 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1) gene products, enhanced the apoptosis induced by TNF and chemotherapeutic agents, and suppressed cellular TNF-induced invasion and receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand-induced osteoclastogenesis. Overall, our results indicate that withanolides inhibit activation of NF-kappaB and NF-kappaB-regulated gene expression, which may explain the ability of withanolides to enhance apoptosis and inhibit invasion and osteoclastogenesis.

193 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The aqueous suspension of Withania somnifera root powder showed potent inhibitory activity towards the complement system, mitogen induced lymphocyte proliferation and delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction, thus it could be a candidate for developing as an immunosuppressive drug for the inflammatory diseases.

175 citations


Journal Article
TL;DR: It can be concluded that Withania somnifera reduces tumor cell proliferation while increasing overall animal survival time and has been shown to enhance the effectiveness of radiation therapy while potentially mitigating undesirable side effects.
Abstract: Withania somnifera Dunal, commonly known as ashwagandha, has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine to increase longevity and vitality. Western research supports its polypharmaceutical use, confirming antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immune-modulating, and antistress properties in the whole plant extract and several separate constituents. This article reviews the literature pertaining to Withania somnifera and its botanical constituents as antitumor agents and in conjunction with radiation and chemotherapy treatment. Following a search of MEDLINE and EBSCO databases, it can be concluded that Withania somnifera reduces tumor cell proliferation while increasing overall animal survival time. Furthermore, it has been shown to enhance the effectiveness of radiation therapy while potentially mitigating undesirable side effects. Withania somnifera also reduces the side effects of chemotherapeutic agents cyclophosphamide and paclitaxel without interfering with the tumor-reducing actions of the drugs. These effects have been demonstrated in vitro on human cancer cell lines, and in vivo on animal subjects, but there have been no human trials to date. Given its broad spectrum of cytotoxic and tumor-sensitizing actions, Withania somnifera presents itself as a novel complementary therapy for integrative oncology care.

111 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Findings suggest that the roots of Withania somnifera possess cell cycle disruption and anti-angiogenic activity, which may be a critical mediator for its anti-cancer action.

94 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A protocol was developed for plant regeneration from encapsulated shoot tips collected from in vitro proliferated shoots of Withania somnifera and the maximum percentage response was achieved on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l IBA after 5 weeks of culture.

92 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Evidence is provided for the suppressive effect of W. somnifera root powder by retarding amplification and propagation of the inflammatory response without causing any gastric damage.

90 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that AFLP can be successfully used to resolve the correlation of AFLP data with the presence of secondary metabolites and a total of 913 polymorphic peaks were generated using these primers.

87 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Withania somnifera root extract could be a useful drug for the treatment of drug‐induced dyskinesia and indicates that oxidative stress might play an important role in the pathophysiology of reserpine‐induced abnormal oral movements.
Abstract: Tardive dyskinesia is one of the major side effects of long-term neuroleptic treatment. The pathophysiology of this disabling and commonly irreversible movement disorder is still obscure. Vacuous chewing movements in rats are widely accepted as an animal model of tardive dyskinesia. Oxidative stress and products of lipid peroxidation are implicated in the pathophysiology of tardive dyskinesia. Repeated treatment with reserpine (1.0 mg/kg) on alternate days for a period of 5 days (days 1, 3 and 5) signicantly induced vacuous chewing movements and tongue protrusions in rats. Chronic treatment with Withania somnifera root extract (Ws) for a period of 4 weeks to reserpine treated animals signicantly and dose dependently (50 and 100 mg/kg) reduced the reserpine-induced vacuous chewing movements and tongue protrusions. Reserpine treated animals also showed poor retention of memory in the elevated plus maze task paradigm. Chronic Ws administration signicantly reversed reserpine-induced retention decits. Biochemical analysis revealed that chronic reserpine treatment signicantly induced lipid peroxidation and decreased the glutathione (GSH) levels in the brains of rats. Chronic reserpine treated rats showed decreased levels of antioxidant defense enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase. Chronic administration of Ws root extract dose dependently (50 and 100 mg/kg) and signicantly reduced the lipid peroxidation and restored the decreased glutathione levels by chronic reserpine treatment. It also signicantly reversed the reserpine-induced decrease in brain SOD and catalase levels in rats. The major ndings of the present study indicate that oxidative stress might play an important role in the pathophysiology of reserpine-induced abnormal oral movements. In conclusion, Withania somnifera root extract could be a useful drug for the treatment of drug-induced dyskinesia. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

77 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A new dimeric withanolide, ashwagandhanolide, was isolated from the roots of an Ayurvedic medicinal herb, Withania somnifera, and a detailed spectroscopic evaluation revealed its identity as a dimer with an unusual thioether linkage.
Abstract: A new dimeric withanolide, ashwagandhanolide (1), was isolated from the roots of an Ayurvedic medicinal herb, Withania somnifera. A detailed spectroscopic evaluation revealed its identity as a dimer with an unusual thioether linkage. Compound 1 displayed growth inhibition against human gastric (AGS), breast (MCF-7), central nervous system (SF-268), colon (HCT-116), and lung (NCI H460) cancer cell lines, with IC50 values in the range 0.43-1.48 microg/mL. In addition, it inhibited lipid peroxidation and the activity of the enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 in vitro.

74 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: External application of the plant extract as an antidote in rural parts of India to snakebite victims appears to have a scientific basis because the glycoprotein inhibits hyaluronidase activity of the venoms.
Abstract: Venom hyaluronidases help in rapid spreading of the toxins by destroying the integrity of the extra-cellular matrix of the tissues in the victims. A hyaluronidase inhibitor (WSG) is purified from a folk medicinal plant, Withania somnifera. The glycoprotein inhibited the hyaluronidase activity of cobra (Naja naja) and viper (Daboia russelii) venoms, which was demonstrated by zymogram assay and staining of the skin tissues for differential activity. WSG completely inhibited the activity of the enzyme at a concentration of 1:1 w/w of venom to WSG. Thus we are able to demonstrate that the glycoprotein inhibits hyaluronidase activity of the venoms. External application of the plant extract as an antidote in rural parts of India to snakebite victims appears to have a scientific basis.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Antifungal effect has been demonstrated in that WSG exerts a fungistastic effect by inhibiting spore germination and hyphal growth in the tested fungi.
Abstract: A monomeric glycoprotein with a molecular mass of 28 kDa in SDS-PAGE was isolated from the Withania somnifera root tubers. The protein designated WSG (Withania somnifera glycoprotein) demonstrated potent antimicrobial activity against the phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria tested. Antifungal effect has been demonstrated in that WSG exerts a fungistastic effect by inhibiting spore germination and hyphal growth in the tested fungi. WSG showed potent antifungal activity against Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium oxysporum, F. verticilloides and antibacterial activity against Clvibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis. WSG is an acidic, non-toxic (trypsin-chymotrypsin) protease inhibitor. These results encourage further studies of WSG as a potential therapeutic agent for its antifungal activity.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results indicate that extract at 100 mg/kg resulted significant selective up-regulation of Th1 response and suggests its use for selective Th1/Th2 modulation.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The chloroform extract of the fresh berries of Withania somnifera has been investigated to afford stigmasterol, its glucoside, withanone, 27-hydroxy withanolide A along with two new withanolides, namely, iso-withanone (1) and 6α,7α-epoxy-1α,3β,5α-trihydroxy-witha-24-enolide (2) as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The chloroform extract of the fresh berries of Withania somnifera has been investigated to afford stigmasterol, its glucoside, withanone, 27-hydroxy withanolide A along with two new withanolides, namely, iso-withanone (1) and 6α,7α-epoxy-1α,3β,5α-trihydroxy-witha-24-enolide (2). Compound 1 possesses an uncommon 17α-oriented side chain whereas compound 2 has 1α,3β-dihydroxy group which is a molecule of biogenetic significance for withasteroids.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The immunomodulatory activity of W. somnifera (L.) Dunal extract, which is a known Immunomodulator in indigenous medicine, is concluded against benzo(a)pyrene induced lung cancer in male Swiss albino mice.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Evidence is provided for the first evidence for the upregulation of human MGMT by plant constituents and the possibility of rational dietary approaches for attenuating alkylation-induced carcinogenesis is raised.
Abstract: O6-alkylguanines are potent mutagenic, pro-carcinogenic and cytotoxic lesions induced by exogenous and endogenous alkylating agents. A facilitated elimination of these lesions by increasing the activity of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is likely to be a beneficial chemoprevention strategy, which, however, has not been examined. Because, a marginal enhancement of this protein may be adequate for genomic protection, we studied alterations in MGMT activity and expression in human peripheral blood lymphocytes and cancer cell lines induced by water-soluble and alcohol-soluble constituents of several plants with established antioxidant and medicinal properties. Both the ethanolic and aqueous extracts from neem (Azadirachta indica), holy basil (Ocimum sanctum), winter cherry (Withania somnifera), and oregano (Origanum majorana) increased the levels of MGMT protein and its demethylation activity in a time-dependent manner with a maximum of 3-fold increase after 72-h treatment. The extracts from gooseberry (Emblica officinalis), common basil (Ocimum basilicum), and spearmint (Mentha viridis) were relatively less efficient in raising MGMT levels. Increased levels of MGMT mRNA accounted at least, in part, for the increased activity of the DNA repair protein. The herbal treatments also increased glutathione S-transferase-pi (GSTP1) expression, albeit to a lesser extent than MGMT. These data provide the first evidence for the upregulation of human MGMT by plant constituents and raise the possibility of rational dietary approaches for attenuating alkylation-induced carcinogenesis. Further, they reveal the putative antioxidant responsiveness of the MGMT gene in human cells.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Oral administration of chemically standardized and identified aqueous fraction of W. somnifera root at the graded doses caused significant increase in the stress-induced depleted T-cell population and increased the expression of Th1 cytokines in chronically stressed mice.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the effects of temperature and light on the germination of Withania somnifera seeds were investigated, and it was found that the effect of light and temperature on seed germination was both temperature-and light-dependent.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The plants under study were found to have moderate antiproteolytic activity toward trypsin-induced hydrolysis of bovine serum albumin and may be of use for standardization and validation of herbal drugs containing the above mentioned plants as one of the ingredients.
Abstract: The 50% alcohol extracts of Swertia chirayita. (Roxb. ex Flem) (Gentianaceae), Cedrus deodar. (Roxb. ex Lamb) (Pinaceae), Boerhavia diffusa. (Linn.) (Nyctaginaceae), Berberis aristata. (Linn.) (Berberidaceae), Withania somnifera. Dunal (Solanaceae), Pongamia glabra. (Vent) (Papilionoideae), Petrocarpus santalinus. (Linn.) (Papilionoideae), Tinospora cordifolia. (Willd) Miers (Menispermaceae), and Acrous calamus. (Linn.) (Araceae), were screened for antioxidant and possible anti-inflammatory potential. The evaluation of antioxidant potential was determined by performing 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazine (DPPH˙) reduction assay, OH radical (OH˙) scavenging activity, estimation of vitamin C, total polyphenols, and inhibition of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) as a model oxidizing enzyme. To understand the possible anti-inflammatory potential of the selected plants, trypsin and β.-glucuronidase inhibition assays were carried out. All the plants under study were found to be effective scavengers of DPPH radicals...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Direct rooting from leaf explants of Withania somnifera was achieved on half strength Murashige and Skoog’s medium supplemented with 15 g l−1 sucrose, and different concentrations of growth regulators, achieving maximum number of roots with 100% response.
Abstract: Direct rooting from leaf explants of Withania somnifera was achieved on half strength Murashige and Skoog’s medium supplemented with 15 g l−1 sucrose, and different concentrations of growth regulators. Basal medium supplemented with 2.85 μM indoleacetic acid and 9.85 μM indolebutyric acid achieved maximum number of roots with 100% response. The roots were cultured on MS liquid medium for the establishment of root-organ culture with the same plant growth regulators and incubated on an orbital shaker at 80 rpm at 25 ± 2 °C. A root biomass of 6.15 ± 0.17 g was obtained after 5 weeks. When 1 g roots were inoculated to 2.5 l bubble column reactor, 47 g roots were obtained after 6 weeks. The concentration of alkaloids was increased as compared to field grown roots. The maximum concentration of withanolides (10 mg g−1 dry weight) was obtained in the bioreactor.

Patent
27 Jul 2006
TL;DR: In this article, a method of treatment or management of various adaptogenic conditions, such as, stress in mammals, more particularly, humans, comprising administering Withania somnifera plant extract is described.
Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treatment or management of various adaptogenic conditions, such as, stress in mammals, more particularly, humans, comprising administering Withania somnifera plant extract. A high purity extract composition comprising withanolide glycosides, oligosaccharides, withanolide aglycones and a minimum level of polysaccharides, and a pharmaceutically, veterinary or nutritionally acceptable carrier(s) is disclosed. Preferably, the composition of the present invention can be devoid of any alkaloids or contains trace levels of alkaloids. The method of treatment or management of stress administering the composition comprising Withania somnifera of the present invention does not suffer from any one of the abovementioned side effects even after prolonged use. A method of preconditioning a mammalian patient to improve the patient's resistance and reaction to subsequently encountered stress is described.

Journal Article
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the antiplasmodial activity of a traditionally used medicinal plant, Withania somnifera, L. Dunal, (Solanaceae).
Abstract: OBJECTIVE This study aims at investigating the in vivo antiplasmodial activity of a traditionally used medicinal plant, Withania somnifera, L. Dunal, (Solanaceae). METHODS Rodent malaria parasite, Plasmodium berghei, 0.2 ml of x l0(7) parasites, was inoculated into Swiss albino mice intraperitoneally. Extracts were administered by intra gastric tube daily for four days starting from the day of parasite inoculation. Negative controls received the same amount of solvent used to suspend the exracts and the positive controls were given chloroquine by the same route. Parasite suppressive effect and effects on body weight, packed cell volume (PCV) and body temperature were determined. RESULTS Parasitemia percent inhibition of W. somnifera roots and root barks were 50.43% and 29.13% respectively, with 600 mg/kg dose. Inhibition was statistically significant at all dose levels, compared to the negative controls (p < 0.05), and maximum inhibition was seen at 600 mg/kg. CONCLUSION Extracts of the leaves and root barks of W. somnifera showed parasite suppressive effect and a protective effect on PCV drop (at higher doses), both in dose-related fashions. However, the effects on body weight and body temperature falls are inconclusive.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This report is the first to demonstrate withaferin A production in plant suspension cultures and provides prerequisites for commercial scale, controlled production of withaferIn A.
Abstract: Suspension cultures of Withania somnifera cells were established and shown to produce withaferin A. The identification of withaferin A was done by TLC, UV absorption, HPLC and electron spray mass spectroscopy. These cultures could be strongly elicited by exposure to salacin. Addition of salacin at the concentration of 750 µM to the cultures in production medium enhanced production levels of withaferin A to 25±2.9 mg/l compared to 0.47±0.03 mg/l in unelicited controls. This report is the first to demonstrate withaferin A production in plant suspension cultures and provides prerequisites for commercial scale, controlled production of withaferin A.

Journal Article
TL;DR: The efficiency of Selectively Amplified Microsatellite Polymorphic Loci assay in assessing the levels of genetic diversity among W. somnifera genotypes was analysed and significantly higher level of polymorphism was detected with SAMPL within both Kashmiri and Nagori genotypes.
Abstract: Withania somnifera is a subtropical shrub with important medicinal properties. In the present study, the efficiency of Selectively Amplified Microsatellite Polymorphic Loci (SAMPL) assay in assessing the levels of genetic diversity among W. somnifera genotypes was analysed. Some genotypes of W. coagulans were used as outlier. A comparison of the SAMPL assay was made with the standard Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) technique. The SAMPL assay revealed higher levels of polymorphism among the tested W. somnifera genotypes compared to the use of AFLP. Significantly higher level of polymorphism was detected with SAMPL within both Kashmiri and Nagori genotypes. Cluster analysis showed clear groupings within the W. somnifera Kashmiri, W. somnifera Nagori and W. coagulans genotypes. The Nagori genotypes are separated from the Kashmiri genotypes at low similarity value, indicating that Nagori and Kashmiri types are highly divergent. One of the W. somnifera-specific bands generated with SAMPL was used to develop a simple PCR-based assay. The diagnostic markers thus generated can be used at the seedling stage to distinguish W. somnifera Kashmiri, W. somnifera Nagori and W. coagulans genotypes.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Findings suggest that the venom PLA(2) has multiple sites on it; perhaps some of them are overlapping.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The data suggest that paclitaxel, administered with W. somnifera, may extend its chemotherapeutic effect through modulating protein‐bound carbohydrate levels and marker enzymes, as they are indicators of cancer, by effectively treating benzo(a)pyrene‐induced lung cancer in mice.
Abstract: Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death in the world and is notoriously difficult to treat effectively. In the present study, male Swiss albino mice were divided into five groups of six animals each: group I animals received corn oil orally and served as a control; group II cancer-induced animals received benzo(a)pyrene (50 mg/kg bodyweight dissolved in corn oil, orally) twice weekly for four successive weeks; group III cancer-bearing animals (after 12 weeks of induction) were treated with paclitaxel (33 mg/kg bodyweight, i.p.) once weekly for 4 weeks; group IV cancer-bearing animals were treated with paclitaxel along with Withania somnifera (400 mg/kg bodyweight) orally once weekly for 4 weeks; and group V animals constituted the drug control treated with paclitaxel along with W. somnifera. The serum, lung and liver were investigated biochemically for aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, 5′-nucleotidase, lactate dehydrogenase and protein-bound carbohydrate components (hexose, hexosamine and sialic acid). These enzyme activities were increased significantly in cancer-bearing animals compared with control animals. The elevation of these in cancer-bearing animals was indicative of the persistent deteriorating effect of benzo(a)pyrene in cancer-bearing animals. Our data suggest that paclitaxel, administered with W. somnifera, may extend its chemotherapeutic effect through modulating protein-bound carbohydrate levels and marker enzymes, as they are indicators of cancer. The combination of paclitaxel with W. somnifera could effectively treat the benzo(a)pyrene-induced lung cancer in mice by offering protection from reactive oxygen species damage and also by suppressing cell proliferation. (Cancer Sci 2006; 97: 658–664)

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The modulatory effect of Withania somnifera along with paclitaxel on tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle key enzymes and electron transport chain complexes were investigated against lung cancer induced by benzo(a)pyrene in Swiss albino mice and these results are consistent with the hypothesis that the combination chemotherapy of W. somnifiera along as a promising chemotherapeutic agent.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results suggest that WSE indirectly modulates immune activity and probably disengages Listeria-induced suppression of these responses by inducing a higher reserve of myeloid progenitors in the bone marrow, proliferation of lymphocytes and increased INF-gamma levels.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of a phytoplasma belonging to 16Sr VI group from W. somnifera, and this phyto-plasma is classified as a member of Clover proliferation group (16SrVI).
Abstract: Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal is cultivated in India as an important medicinal cash crop. The whole plant is of great importance in the Indian system of medicine and pharmaceutical industries, but the roots are the main source of active alkaloids. Some of the important alkaloids are tro-pine, pseudotropine, somniferine, colin, withaferin A, withanoides, and a few flavanoides. Typical disease symptoms include phyllody, little leaf, dense clusters of highly proliferating branches with shortened internodes, and resulting witches'-broom. The disease was first observed in and around Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Province, India during January and February 1992. On the basis of symptoms, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and antibiotic treatment, the causal organism was identified as a phytoplasma (4). The disease is now spreading to other parts of the country (Gujrat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Rajasthan provinces) with a high disease incidence (70%). In this report, molecular characterization and tax...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The niacin‐bound chromium (III) based energy formula is safe and effective supplement to boost energy levels and cardioprotection and significant improvement was observed in all parameters in the EF treatment groups as compared to their corresponding controls.
Abstract: The impetus for the novel Energy Formula (EF) which combines the niacin-bound chromium (III) (0.45%) (NBC), standardized extract of Withania somnifera extracts (10.71%), caffeine (22.76%), D-ribose (10.71%) and selected amino acids such as phenylalanine, taurine and glutamine (55.37%) was based on the knowledge of the cardioprotective potentials of the Withania somnifera extract, caffeine and D-ribose as well as their abilities to increase energy levels and the abilities of amino acids to increase the muscle mass and energy levels. The effect of oral supplementation of EF on the safety, myocardial energy levels and cardioprotective ability were investigated in an ischemic-reperfused myocardium model in both male and female Sprague-Dawley rats over 90 days trial period. At the completion of 90 days, the EF-treated male and female rats gained 9.4% and 3.1% less body weights, respectively, as compared to their corresponding control groups. No significant difference was found in the levels of lipid peroxidation and activities of hepatic Aspartate transaminase, Alanine transaminase and Alkaline phosphatase in EF treatment when compared with control animals. The male and female rat hearts were subjected to 30 min of global ischemia followed by 2 h of reperfusion at 30 and 90 days of EF treatment. Cardiovascular functions including heart rate, coronary flow, aortic flow, dp/dt(max), left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) and infarct size were monitored. The levels of myocardial adenosine triphosphate (ATP), creatine phosphate (CP), phospho-adenosine monophosphate kinase (p-AMPK) levels, were analyzed at the end of 30 and 90 days of treatment. Significant improvement was observed in all parameters in the EF treatment groups as compared to their corresponding controls. Thus the niacin-bound chromium (III) based energy formula is safe and effective supplement to boost energy levels and cardioprotection.