Withania somnifera

About: Withania somnifera is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 2116 publications have been published within this topic receiving 43404 citations. The topic is also known as: Ashwaganda & Indian ginseng.

Genotype independent and efficient Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of the medicinal plant Withania somnifera Dunal.

Abstract: Withania somnifera one of the most reputed Indian medicinal plant has been extensively used in traditional and modern medicines as active constituents. A high frequency genotype and chemotype independent Agrobacterium-mediated transformation protocol has been developed for W. somnifera by optimizing several factors which influence T-DNA delivery. Leaf and node explants of Withania chemotype was transformed with A. tumefaciens strain GV3101 harboring pIG121Hm plasmid containing the gusA gene encoding β-glucuronidase (GUS) as a reporter gene and the hptII and the nptII gene as selection markers. Various factors affecting transformation efficiency were optimized; as 2 days preconditioning of explants on MS basal supplemented with TDZ 1 μM, Agrobacterium density at OD600 0.4 with inclusion of 100 μM acetosyringone (As) for 20 min co-inoculation duration with 48 h of co-cultivation period at 22 °C using node explants was found optimal to improved the number of GUS foci per responding explant from 36 ± 13.2 to 277.6 ± 22.0, as determined by histochemical GUS assay. The PCR and Southern blot results showed the genomic integration of transgene in Withania genome. On average basis 11 T0 transgenic plants were generated from 100 co-cultivated node explants, representing 10.6 % transformation frequency. Our results demonstrate high frequency, efficient and rapid transformation system for further genetic manipulation in Withania for producing engineered transgenic Withania shoots within very short duration of 3 months.

In vitro differentiation of shoots from leaf callus cultures of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal

Abstract: Leaf explants of Withania somnifera (L) Dunal differentiated shoot buds on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium containing different combinations and concentrations of auxin and cytokinin. Shoot buds were formed either directly from the explants or from the callus. Regenerated shoots were rooted on a medium containing half-strength MS medium with 2 mg/l NAA. Rooted shoots were successfully established in the soil.

Anticancer Activity of Withania Somnifera (Leaves) Flavonoids Compound

Abstract: In this research article make known on Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) as Medicinal plants have therapeutic potential due to the presence of natural antioxidants functioning as reducing agents, free radical scavengers and quenchers of singlet oxygen. And this article also determines the use of Withania Somnifera (leaves) Polyphenolic Compound activity on MCF-7, A549 and PA-1 cancer cell line (breast, lung and ovary respectively). By providing a scientific basis the study can be made conventional to evaluate its constituents (natural product) to determine which of Withania Somnifera (leaves), would facilitate further study as potential new anticancer agents or lead to new anticancer compounds. Hydro alcoholic (1:1) sample of Withania Somnifera (leaves) were prepared and tested for their cytotoxic activities against cancer cell lines (MCF7, A549and PA1) with standard Doxorubicin. The most essential reason of this study is to estimate cytotoxicity of certain important Indian medicinal plants with facilitate of MTT assay. Concentrations are set of each plant extract which are 100 µg/ml, 10 µg/ml , 0.1 µg/ml, 0.01 µg/ml and 5-10×10 3 cells/ml are taken into each well which are exposed to different Concentrations of Withania Somnifera (leaves) for 96 hr and then treated with MTT. For MTT absorbance in use at 570 nm. From IC50 values of MTT assay of Withania Somnifera (leaves) for MCF7, A549 and PA1 cancer cell lines, from this it may conclude that Withania Somnifera (leaves)shows efficient cytotoxicity on MCF-7 (10 ± 1 µg ) than PA-1 (13 ± 1 µg) and A-459 (11± 1 µg) cancer cell line.

Functional characterization of a flavonoid glycosyltransferase gene from Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha).

Abstract: Glycosylation of flavonoids is mediated by family 1 uridine diphosphate (UDP)-dependent glycosyltransferases (UGTs). Until date, there are few reports on functionally characterized flavonoid glycosyltransferases from Withania somnifera. In this study, we cloned the glycosyltransferase gene from W. somnifera (UGT73A16) showing 85-92 % homology with UGTs from other plants. UGT73A16 was expressed as a His(6)-tagged fusion protein in Escherichia coli. Several compounds, including flavonoids, were screened as potential substrates for UGT73A16. HPLC analysis and hypsochromic shift indicated that UGT73A16 transfers a glucose molecule to several different flavonoids. Based on kinetic parameters, UGT73A16 shows more catalytic efficiency towards naringenin. Here, we explored UGT73A16 of W. somnifera as whole cell catalyst in E. coli. We used flavonoids (genistein, apigenin, kaempferol, naringenin, biochanin A, and daidzein) as substrates for this study. More than 95 % of the glucoside products were released into the medium, facilitating their isolation. Glycosylation of substrates occurred on the 7- and 3-hydroxyl group of the aglycone. UGT73A16 also displayed regiospecific glucosyl transfer activity towards 3-hydroxy flavone compound, which is the backbone of all flavonols and also for a chemically synthesized compound, not found naturally. The present study generates essential knowledge and molecular as well as biochemical tools that allow the verification of UGT73A16 in glycosylation.