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.

Rectal gel application of Withania somnifera root extract expounds anti-inflammatory and muco-restorative activity in TNBS-induced Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is marked with chronic inflammation of intestinal epithelium driven by oxidative stress. Traditional treatments with plant extracts gained renewed interest due to their ability to ameliorate the multi factorial conditions like inflammation. We investigated the beneficial effects of Withania somnifera in Trinitro Benzyl Sulfonic Acid (TNBS) induced experimental IBD through a rectally applicable formulation. The study included (i) preparation of gel formulation from aqueous Withania somnifera root extract (WSRE), (ii) biochemical assays to determine its performance potential, (iii) testing of formulation efficacy in TNBS-induced IBD rat model, and (iv) histo-patholgical studies to assess its healing and muco-regenerative effect in IBD-induced rats. For this purpose, concentration dependant antioxidant activity of the extracts were evaluated using biochemical assays like (a) inhibition of lipid peroxidation, (b) NO scavenging, (c) H2O2 scavenging, and (d) ferric reducing power assay. The extract, at 500 μg/ml, the highest concentration tested, showed 95.6% inhibition of lipid peroxidation, 14.8% NO scavenging, 81.79% H2O2 scavenging and a reducing capacity of 0.80. The results were comparable with standard antioxidants, ascorbic acid and curcumin. WSRE treatment positively scored on histopathological parameters like necrosis, edema, neutrophil infiltration. The post treatment intestinal features showed restoration at par with the healthy intestine. In view of these results, gel formulation containing an aqueous extract of W. somnifera, prepared for rectal application was tested for its anti-inflammatory activity in TNBS-induced rat models for IBD. Commercially available anti-inflammatory drug Mesalamine was used as the standard in this assay. Dose of the rectal gel applied at 1000 mg of WSRE per kg rat weight showed significant muco-restorative efficacy in the IBD-induced rats, validated by histo-pathological studies.

Effect of Withania somnifera root extract on haloperidol-induced orofacial dyskinesia: possible mechanisms of action.

Abstract: We investigated the role of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of haloperidol (HP)-induced orofacial dyskinesia and evaluated the beneficial effect of Withania somnifera (Ws) root extract in the amelioration of HP-induced vacuous chewing movements (VCMs) and tongue protrusions in the rat model for TD. Rats were treated for 21 days with intraperitoneal HP (1 mg/kg); on day 22, VCMs and tongue protrusions were counted during a 5-minute observation period. HP-treated rats significantly developed these extrapyramidal symptoms, but coadministration of Ws root extract (100-300 mg/kg) dose-dependently reduced them. Biochemical analysis revealed that chronic HP treatment significantly increased lipid peroxidation and decreased forebrain levels of glutathione and the antioxidant defense enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase. Coadministration of Ws extract significantly reduced the lipid peroxidation and significantly reversed the decrease in forebrain SOD and catalase levels but had no significant effect on the HP-induced decrease in forebrain glutathione levels. These findings strongly suggest that oxidative stress plays a significant role in HP-induced orofacial dyskinesia and that Ws could be effective in preventing neuroleptic-induced extrapyramidal side effects.

THERAPEUTIC USES OF WITHANIA SOMNIFERA (ASHWAGANDHA) WITH A NOTE ON WITHANOLIDES AND ITS PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIONS Review Article

Abstract: Withania somnifera is a medicinal plant extends over a large area, from the Atlantic ocean to South East Asia and from the Mediterranean region to South Africa. The medicinal plants are widely used by the traditional medical practitioners for curing various diseases in their day to day practice. In traditional systems of medicine, different parts (leaves, stem, flower, root, seeds, bark and even whole plant) of Withania somnifera (known as Ashwagandha in Hindi), a small herb seen throughout India, have been recommended for the treatment of aphrodisiac, liver tonic, antiinflammatory agent, astringent, and more recently to treat bronchitis, asthma, ulcers, emaciation, insomnia, and senile dementia etc. Clinical trials and animal research support the therapeutic use of ashwaganda for anxiety, cognitive and neurological disorders, inflammation, and Parkinson’s disease. Ashwaganda’s chemopreventive properties make it a potentially useful adjunct for the patients undergoing radiation and chemotherapy. Ashwaganda is also used therapeutically as an adaptogen for patients with nervous exhaustion, insomnia, and debility due to stress, and as an immune stimulant in patients with low white blood cell counts in blood. The major biochemical constituents of ashwaganda root are steroidal alkaloids and steroidal lactones in a class of constituents called withanolides.