Disease relevance of Withania

• The chemopreventive effect of Withania somnifera hydroalcoholic root extract (WSRE) on 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced skin cancer was investigated in Swiss albino mice [1].
• Comparative study of the antiulcer and antisecretory activity of Asparagus racemosus Willd (Shatawari) and Withania somnifera Dunal (Ashwagandha) root extract with a standard drug, ranitidine, in various models of gastric ulcer in rats is presented [2].
• These studies indicate that Withania somnifera could reduce the cyclophosphamide induced toxicity and its usefulness in cancer therapy [3].
• The effect of ethanolic extract of the root of Withania somnifera Dunal (REWS) against Dalton's Ascitic Lymphoma has been evaluated in Swiss albino mice [4].
• 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 [5].

High impact information on Withania

• Treatment with Shilajit or the defined extract from Withania somnifera affected neither GABAA and benzodiazepine receptor binding nor NMDA and AMPA glutamate receptor subtypes in any of the cortical or subcortical regions studied [6].
• The drug-induced increase in cortical muscarinic acetylcholine receptor capacity might partly explain the cognition-enhancing and memory-improving effects of extracts from Withania somnifera observed in animals and humans [6].
• We report the purification and characterization of a glycoprotein phospholipase A inhibitor from Withania somnifera, medicinal plant [7].
• Dendrite extension by methanol extract of Ashwagandha (roots of Withania somnifera) in SK-N-SH cells [8].
• Two withanolides, 20beta-hydroxy-1-oxo-(22R)-witha-2,5,24-trienolide (1) and withacoagulin (2), along with a known withanolide, 17beta-hydroxy-14alpha, 20alpha-epoxy-1-oxo-(22R)-witha-3,5,24-trienolide (3) were isolated from Withania coagulans [9].

Biological context of Withania

• Treatment with Withania somnifera successfully attenuated GPx activity and inhibited lipid peroxidation in a dose dependent manner [10].

Anatomical context of Withania

• Both PHA and Con A mitogens along with Withania treated splenocytes, bone marrow cells and thymocytes could stimulate proliferation twice greater than the normal [11].
• The effect of Indian herbs namely, Asparagus racemosus, Tinospora cordifolia, Withania somnifera and Picrorhiza kurrooa on the functions of macrophages obtained from mice treated with the carcinogen ochratoxin A (OTA) was investigated [12].
• The levels of corticosterone were estimated by the HPLC method in the adrenal glands of stressed (5 h constant swimming) male albino mice treated with Trichopus zeylanicus, Withania somnifera and Panax ginseng preparations and compared with non-treated stressed and normal controls [13].

Associations of Withania with chemical compounds

• Effect of Withania somnifera on cyclophosphamide-induced urotoxicity [14].
• Oral administration of oxyphenbutazone or a herbal anti-inflammatory drug (Withania somnifera) prior to formalin injection, resulted in no alteration in the jejunal absorption of glucose [15].
• Two new ergostane-type steroidal lactones from Withania coagulans [16].
• Blood urea N2 level which was drastically enhanced (136.78 mg/100 ml) 2 after the CTX treatment was significantly reduced (52.08 mg/100 ml) when the animals were treated with Withania extract [14].
• Withania somnifera was administered at doses 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg and Vitamin E at a dose of 100 mg/kg, orally for 4 weeks [17].

Gene context of Withania

• Withania extract lowered the levels of Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) production [18].
• Dried ethanolic plant extracts of Withania somnifera (WS), Convolvulus pleuricauas (CP) and Aloe vera (AV) dissolved in distilled water were tested for their total antioxidant activity [19].
• Effect of Withania somnifera on cytokine production in normal and cyclophosphamide treated mice [18].
• The total WBC count on the 12th day of the CTX-treated group was 3720 cells/mm3 and that of CTX along with Withania was 6120 cells/mm3 [3].
• GST level was also significantly increased (451 micromoles/min/mg protein) (P<0.001) in Withania treated animals compared to control animals (205 micromoles/min/mg protein) [20].

References