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.

Studies on Substitution of Inorganic Fertilizers for Organic and Biological Fertilizers in Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Dunal.) Production

Abstract: Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Dunal.) popularly known as “Indian ginseng” is an important cultivated medicinal plant of India. The root of the plant is mainly used in ayurvedic and unani preparations. The pharmacological activity of roots is attributed International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 8 Number 04 (2019) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com

Radical scavenging activity of different extracts of Withania somnifera leaves.

Abstract: Oxygen is essential for survival however, its univalent reduction generates several harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS) inevitable to living cells and highly associated with wide range of pathogenesis such as diabetes, liver damage, inflammation, aging, neurological disorder and cancer (Tripathi and Kamat, 2007).The high levels of reactive oxygen species and free radicals cause damage to nucleic acid, proteins and membrane lipids, the antioxidants in diet would terminate attacks by the free radicals and reduce the risk of these diseases (Terashima et al., 2007). Antioxidant compounds may function as free radical scavenger, complexers of pro-oxidant metal reducing agents and quenchers of singlet oxygen formation (Rajeswar et al., 2005). Antioxidants may offer resistance against the oxidative stress by scavenging the free radicals, inhibiting the lipid peroxidation and by other mechanisms and thus prevent disease (Baskar et al., 2006). Medicinal plants, which form the back bone of traditional medicine, have in the last few decades been the subject for very intense pharmacological studies. This has been brought about by the acknowledgement of the value of medicinal plants as potential source of new compounds of therapeutic value and as sources of lead compound in the drug development (Kumar et al., 2006). One such popularly used plant that is reported to have antitumour, radiosensitizer, anti-stressor, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects is W.somnifera Dunal, which is commonly known as Ashwagandha (Padmavathy et al., 2005). In all these medicinal preparation, it is the dry tubers that are exploited. Previous studies conducted in our laboratory showed the leaves and fresh tubers are also good sources of antioxidants and radical scavengers (Sumathi and Padma, 2008). The results were also confirmed using in vitro and in vivo models. In order to better understand the component responsible for all these activities, three different extracts of leaves in polar and non-polar solvents were analysed in the present study.

Withaferin A inhibits cell proliferation of U266B1 and IM-9 human myeloma cells by inducing intrinsic apoptosis.

Abstract: Withaferin A, a withanolide obtained from Withania somnifera exhibits remarkable pharmacological properties. Withaferin A has been reported to exert cytotoxic effects against human multiple myeloma cells. Nevertheless, the in-depth understanding of the withaferin A induced antiproliferative effects against human myeloma cells is still unclear. The results showed that withaferin A inhibited the viability of six different myeloma cells with a lowest IC50 of 9 μM against the U266B1 and IM-9 cell lines. Withaferin A inhibited the viability and colony formation of the U266B1 and IM-9 cells in a dose and time-dependent manner. The DAPI and annexin V/PI staining assays revealed that withaferin A exerts anticancer effects against the human myeloma cells via induction of apoptosis. The induction of apoptosis in U266B1 and IM-9 cells was associated with upregulation of Bax and cytochrome c, downregulation of Bcl-2 and activation of PARP, caspase-3 and capase-9 cleavage. Additionally, withaferin A triggered the production of ROS in human myeloma cells indicative of ROS mediated apoptosis in human myeloma cells. The treatment of the U266B1 and IM-9 with ascorbic acid (antioxidant) could prevent the withaferin A mediated ROS production and the withaferin A induced antiproliferative effects. Collectively, the results show that withaferin A inhibits human myeloma cell proliferation via ROS mediated intrinsic apoptosis.

Neuroprotective Potential of Withania Somnifera in Cerebral Ischemia

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