| prophylactic administration of withania somnifera extract increases host resistance in listeria monocytogenes infected mice. | in this study, we demonstrated that withania somnifera l. extract (wse) protects mice from a lethal dose of listeria monocytogenes when administered prophylactically at 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg for 10 days, with survival rates up to 30%. these doses also prevented the myelosuppression and the splenomegaly caused by a sublethal infection with l. monocytogenes, due to increased numbers of granulocyte-macrophage progenitors (cfu-gm) in the bone marrow. investigation of the production of colony-stimul ... | 2006 | 16919825 |
| small molecule anti-angiogenic probes of the ubiquitin proteasome pathway: potential application to choroidal neovascularization. | to characterize the angiogenic and inflammatory responses of human choroidal endothelial cells (hcecs) to stimulators and inhibitors of the ubiquitin proteasome pathway (upp). | 2006 | 16936134 |
| screening of selected indian medicinal plants for acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. | seventy-six plant extracts including methanolic and successive water extracts from 37 indian medicinal plants were investigated for acetylcholinesterase (ache) inhibitory activity (in vitro). results indicated that methanolic extracts to be more active than water extracts. the potent ache inhibiting methanolic plant extracts included withania somnifera (root), semecarpus anacardium (stem bark), embelia ribes (root), tinospora cordifolia (stem), ficus religiosa (stem bark) and nardostachys jatama ... | 2007 | 16950584 |
| stabilization of membrane bound enzyme profiles and lipid peroxidation by withania somnifera along with paclitaxel on benzo(a)pyrene induced experimental lung cancer. | the present study was aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of withania somnifera along with paclitaxel on lung tumor induced by benzo(a)pyrene in male swiss albino mice. the levels of atpase enzymes and lipid peroxidation were evaluated in lung cancer bearing mice, in erythrocyte membrane and tissues. the extent of peroxidation was estimated by measuring the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances. simultaneously the activities of different atpases (na(+)/k(+)-atpases, mg(2+)-atpases and ca ... | 2006 | 17003952 |
| antimicrobial properties of a non-toxic glycoprotein (wsg) from withania somnifera (ashwagandha). | 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, ... | 2006 | 17009292 |
| enhanced cardiovascular function and energy level by a novel chromium (iii)-supplement. | 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 increa ... | 2006 | 17012764 |
| chemopreventative strategies targeting the mgmt repair protein: augmented expression in human lymphocytes and tumor cells by ethanolic and aqueous extracts of several indian medicinal plants. | 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 pe ... | 2006 | 17016661 |
| anti-plasmodial activity and toxicity of extracts of plants used in traditional malaria therapy in meru and kilifi districts of kenya. | the methanol and aqueous extracts of 10 plant species (acacia nilotica, azadirachta indica, carissa edulis, fagaropsis angolensis, harrissonia abyssinica, myrica salicifolia, neoboutonia macrocalyx, strychnos heningsii, withania somnifera and zanthoxylum usambarensis) used to treat malaria in meru and kilifi districts, kenya, were tested for brine shrimp lethality and in vitro anti-plasmodial activity against chloroquine-sensitive and chloroquine-resistant strains of plasmodium falciparum (nf54 ... | 2006 | 16530996 |
| suppressive effect of withania somnifera root powder on experimental gouty arthritis: an in vivo and in vitro study. | the effect of withania somnifera l. dunal root powder on paw volume and serum lysosomal enzyme activities was investigated in monosodium urate crystal-induced rats. the levels of beta-glucuronidase and lactate dehydrogenase were also measured in monosodium urate crystal incubated polymorphonuclear leucocytes (pmnl). a significant increase in the level of paw volume and serum lysosomal enzymes was observed in monosodium urate crystal-induced rats. the increased beta-glucuronidase and lactate dehy ... | 2006 | 17084827 |
| withanoside iv and its active metabolite, sominone, attenuate abeta(25-35)-induced neurodegeneration. | at the present, medication of dementia is limited to symptomatic treatments such as the use of cholinesterase inhibitors. to cure dementia completely, that is regaining neuronal function, reconstruction of neuronal networks is necessary. therefore, we have been exploring antidementia drugs based on reconstructing neuronal networks in the damaged brain and found that withanoside iv (a constituent of ashwagandha; the root of withania somnifera) induced neurite outgrowth in cultured rat cortical ne ... | 2006 | 16553605 |
| withania somnifera improves bone calcification in calcium-deficient ovariectomized rats. | osteoporosis, characterized by reduction in bone density, is a significant source of mortality among the elderly, particularly in oestrogen-deficient women. we studied the effect of withania somnifera (ws) root extract (ethanolic), which contains oestrogen-like withanolides for anti-osteoporotic activity. female sprague-dawley rats were either sham operated (n = 12) or ovariectomized (n = 12) and treated with ws/vehicle (65 mg kg(-1)), orally for 16 weeks (n = 12). all rats were allowed free acc ... | 2006 | 16597369 |
| changes in morphological phenotypes and withanolide composition of ri-transformed roots of withania somnifera. | developmental variability was introduced into withania somnifera using genetic transformation by agrobacterium rhizogenes, with the aim of changing withasteroid production. inoculation of w. somnifera with a. rhizogenes strains lba 9402 and a4 produced typical transformed root lines, transformed callus lines, and rooty callus lines with simultaneous root dedifferentiation and redifferentiation. these morphologically distinct transformed lines varied in t-dna content, growth rates, and withastero ... | 2007 | 17103214 |
| selective th1 up-regulating activity of withania somnifera aqueous extract in an experimental system using flow cytometry. | withania somnifera (ashwagandha) is reported to be immunoprotective and immunoadjuvant. we studied its roots aqueous extract on t helper (th) immunity using flow cytometry. this extract was standardized with six withanolides as marker compounds using hplc. once daily dose ranging from 25 to 400 mg/kg/p.o. was used to study effect on th1: ifn-gamma, il-2 and th2: il-4 cytokine modulation. we also studied effect on cd4 and cd8 in normal and immunesuppressed mice. the results indicate that extract ... | 2006 | 16603328 |
| genetic and phytochemical difference between some indian and italian plants of withania somnifera (l.) dunal. | the geographical distribution of withania somnifera (l.) dunal is quite wide. however, in italy, this species is very rare and grows spontaneously only in sicily and in sardinia. the pcr-rapd technique has been utilized in this work to determine the genetic relationship among sicilian, sardinian and indian samples and the hplc analysis of whitaferin a was used as a marker to evaluate the phytochemical differences. the genetic difference between indian and sicilian plants of w. somnifera turned o ... | 2007 | 17680504 |
| ancient medicine, modern use: withania somnifera and its potential role in integrative oncology. | 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 ... | 2006 | 17176166 |
| par-4-dependent apoptosis by the dietary compound withaferin a in prostate cancer cells. | deletion or mutation of the androgen receptor (ar) renders prostate tumors refractory to apoptosis by androgen ablation, the mainstay of prostate cancer therapy. to identify novel therapeutics that can induce apoptosis regardless of the ar status of prostate cancer cells, we screened dietary herbal compounds using a reporter assay for the prostate apoptosis response-4 (par-4) gene, which induces p53- and pten-independent and cancer-selective apoptosis. one of the compounds, withaferin a (wa), a ... | 2007 | 17185378 |
| ashwagandhanolide, a bioactive dimeric thiowithanolide isolated from the roots of withania somnifera. | 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 peroxidati ... | 2006 | 17190461 |
| withanolide composition and in vitro culture of italian withania somnifera. | from italian plants of withania somnifera six withanolides were isolated, whose structures allowed us to assign the italian race of w. somnifera to the israel chemotype iii. in vitro cultures of italian w. somnifera under different conditions were obtained, as well as infection by agrobacterium rhizogenes. hplc analysis of in vitro derived tissues showed low contents of withanolides. | 1996 | 17252448 |
| modulation of cytokine expression by traditional medicines: a review of herbal immunomodulators. | 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 aut ... | 2006 | 16813462 |
| withanolide production by root cultures of withania somnifera transformed with agrobacterium rhizogenes. | transformed root cultures of withania somnifera dunal (solanaceae) were obtained by infecting shoots cultured in vitro with agrobacterium rhizogenes lba 9402. they grew axenically in the absence of exogenous plant growth regulators in murashige and skoog's medium containing 3% (w/v) sucrose. the root cultures synthesized several withanolides of which withanolide d was isolated and identified. transformed root (clone hr (1)) showed a growth index of 20.07 and a withanolide d yield of 0.30 mg g(-1 ... | 1996 | 17252504 |
| purification and physico-kinetic characterization of 3beta-hydroxy specific sterol glucosyltransferase from withania somnifera (l) and its stress response. | sterol glycosyltransferases catalyze the synthesis of diverse glycosteroids in plants, leading to a change in their participation in cellular metabolism. withania somnifera is a medically important plant, known for a variety of pharmacologically important withanolides and their glycosides. in this study, a cytosolic sterol glucosyltransferase was purified 3406 fold to near homogeneity from w. somnifera leaves and studied for its biochemical and kinetic properties. the purified enzyme was active ... | 2007 | 17293176 |
| dual elicitation for improved production of withaferin a by cell suspension cultures of withania somnifera. | high yielding transformed callus culture of w. somnifera was established by infecting hypocotyls with agrobacterium tumefaciens mtcc-2250. maximum withaferin a content of 0.0875 mg/g dry cell weight and transformation efficiency of 80% were obtained. confirmation of transformation was done on the basis of the presence of the ags gene by using polymerase chain reaction. various abiotic elicitors (arachidonic acid, methyl jasmonate, calcium chloride, and copper sulfate) and biotic elicitors (cell ... | 2008 | 18449479 |
| chemotherapeutic efficacy of paclitaxel in combination with withania somnifera on benzo(a)pyrene-induced experimental lung cancer. | 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 t ... | 2006 | 16827807 |
| molecular cloning and characterization of one member of 3beta-hydroxy sterol glucosyltransferase gene family in withania somnifera. | sterol glycosides are constituents of plant cell membranes. glucosylations of the sterols are catalyzed by sterol glucosyltransferases (sgts), which are members of family 1 glycosyltransferases. we have identified the family of sgt genes expressed in the leaves of a medicinal plant withania somnifera. one member (sgtl1) of this gene family was cloned. the full-length cdna sequence of sgtl1 represents 2532 bp, comprising untranslated regions (utrs) of 337 and 89 bp at the 5' and 3' ends, respecti ... | 2007 | 17324374 |
| protective effect of withania somnifera (solanaceae) on collagen glycation and cross-linking. | modification of collagen such as non-enzymatic glycation and cross-linking plays an important role in diabetic complications and age-related diseases. we evaluate the effect of withania somnifera on glucose-mediated collagen glycation and cross-linking in vitro. extent of glycation, viscosity, collagen-linked fluorescence and pepsin solubility were assessed in different experimental procedures to investigate the effect of w. somnifera. tail tendons obtained from rats (rattus norvegicus) weighing ... | 2007 | 17329138 |
| a standardized root extract of withania somnifera and its major constituent withanolide-a elicit humoral and cell-mediated immune responses by up regulation of th1-dominant polarization in balb/c mice. | the effects of graded doses of a chemically standardized aqueous alcoholic (1:1) root extract (agb) of withania somnifera on the immune system of srbc immunized balb/c mice were investigated. mice were administrated agb orally for 15 days. agb stimulated cell mediated immunity, igm and igg titers reaching peak value with 30 mg/kg b.wt. flow cytometric analysis of lymphocyte surface markers of t cells (cd3(+), cd4(+) and cd8(+)) and b cells (cd19(+)) indicated prominent enhancement in proliferati ... | 2007 | 17336338 |
| protective effect of withania somnifera root powder in relation to lipid peroxidation, antioxidant status, glycoproteins and bone collagen on adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats. | the present investigation was carried out to evaluate the protective effect of withania somnifera linn. dunal (family-solanaceae), commonly known as ashwagandha, on adjuvant-induced arthritic rats. results were compared with those for indomethacin, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. arthritis was induced by intradermal injection of complete freund's adjuvant (0.1 ml) into the right hind paw of wistar albino rats. withania somnifera root powder (1000 mg/kg/day) and indomethacin (3 mg/kg/day) ... | 2007 | 17391288 |
| effect of withania somnifera on forced swimming test induced immobility in mice and its interaction with various drugs. | the objective of the present study was to evaluate the antidepressant action of withania somnifera (ws) as well as its interaction with the conventional antidepressant drugs and to delineate the possible mechanism of its antidepressant action using forced swimming model in mice. effect of different doses of ws, fluoxetine and imipramine were studied on forced swimming test induced mean immobility time (mit). moreover effect of ws 100 mg/kg, i.p. was observed at different time intervals. effect p ... | 2006 | 17402272 |
| the neuroprotective effect of withania somnifera root extract in mptp-intoxicated mice: an analysis of behavioral and biochemical variables. | we studied the influence of withania somnifera (ws) root extract (100 mg/kg body weight) on parkinsonism induced by 1-methyl 4-phenyl 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (mptp; i.p, 20 mg/kg body weight for 4 days), via the analysis of behavioral features and the oxidant-antioxidant imbalance in the midbrain of mice. a significant alteration in behavior, increased levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (tbars), and increased activities of superoxide dismutase (sod) and catalase (cat) were notic ... | 2007 | 17415533 |
| total phenol, antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities of some medicinal plants. | phenols, a major group of antioxidant phytochemicals, have profound importance due to their biological and free radical scavenging activities. to identify their potential sources, extracts of some plants were studied for their total phenolic content (tpc), antioxidant (aoa) and free radical scavenging activities (frsa) by different methods at multiple concentrations followed by specific phenolic composition. the amount of tpc varied from 2.8 mg/g (withania somnifera, roots) to 107.8 mg/g (cassia ... | 2007 | 17415953 |
| chondroprotective potential of root extracts of withania somnifera in osteoarthritis. | this is the first report describing two novel chondroprotective activities of aqueous extracts of withania somnifera root powder.first,these extracts had a statistically significant,short-term chondroprotective effect on damaged human osteoarthritic cartilage matrix in 50% of the patients tested. second,these extracts caused a significant and reproducible inhibition of the gelatinase activity of collagenase type 2 enzyme in vitro. | 2007 | 17435322 |
| inhibition of aflatoxin b production of aspergillus flavus, isolated from soybean seeds by certain natural plant products. | the inhibitory effect of cowdung fumes, captan, leaf powder of withania somnifera, hyptis suaveolens, eucalyptus citriodora, peel powder of citrus sinensis, citrus medica and punica granatum, neem cake and pongamia cake and spore suspension of trichoderma harzianum and aspergillus niger on aflatoxin b(1) production by toxigenic strain of aspergillus flavus isolated from soybean seeds was investigated. | 2006 | 17032218 |
| anti-malarial activity of withania somnifera l. dunal extracts in mice. | this study aims at investigating the in vivo antiplasmodial activity of a traditionally used medicinal plant, withania somnifera, l. dunal, (solanaceae). | 2006 | 17447395 |
| characterization and control of endophytic bacterial contaminants in in vitro cultures of piper spp., taxus baccata subsp. wallichiana, and withania somnifera. | bacterial contamination is a serious problem that causes severe loss of in vitro grown cultures of a number of plants. this problem becomes even more acute if the bacterial contamination is of endophytic origin. in such cases, identification and characterization of the contaminants is essential for achieving specific control of the contaminants through selective use of antibiotic agents, especially if the routinely used contamination control methods practiced elsewhere in tissue culture studies ... | 2007 | 17496951 |
| the protective effect of a purified extract of withania somnifera against doxorubicin-induced cardiac toxicity in rats. | the therapeutic value of doxorubicin as an effective antineoplastic agent is limited by its cardiotoxic side-effects. the administration of doxorubicin (10 mg/kg) to male wistar rats induced necrosis and apoptosis in heart tissues. it also caused oxidative stress damage as evidenced by the elevation of malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl levels and catalase activity, accompanied by the concurrent depletion of total antioxidant capacity and of superoxide dismutase level in cardiac tissues. the d ... | 2008 | 17520333 |
| withania somnifera inhibits nf-kappab and ap-1 transcription factors in human peripheral blood and synovial fluid mononuclear cells. | withania somnifera (ws) is an important herb with known antiinflammatory activity. its molecular mechanism of action has not been investigated. the effect of a ws crude ethanol extract was studied on peripheral blood mononuclear cells of normal individuals and rheumatoid arthritis (ra) patients and synovial fluid mononuclear cells of ra patients in vitro. the ws extract significantly suppressed lipopolysaccharide (lps) induced production of proinflammatory cytokines tnf-alpha, il-1beta and il-12 ... | 2007 | 17562568 |
| protective effect of withania somnifera dunal on the behavioral and biochemical alterations in sleep-disturbed mice (grid over water suspended method). | sleep disruption involves extensive changes in physiological function, including eeg, motor, metabolic, autonomic processes physiological homeostasis and psychological balance that are necessary for physical health. benzodiazepines are the most widely used drugs for the sleep related problems in spite of their limitations and side effects. objective of the study was to investigate the protective effect of w. somnifera on the behavioral and biochemical alterations in sleep disturbed mice. pretrea ... | 2007 | 17585686 |
| antimalarial activity of methanolic extracts from plants used in kenyan ethnomedicine and their interactions with chloroquine (cq) against a cq-tolerant rodent parasite, in mice. | methanolic extracts from 15 medicinal plants representing 11 families, used traditionally for malaria treatment in kenya were screened for their in vivo antimalarial activity in mice against a chloroquine (cq)-tolerant plasmodium berghei nk65, either alone or in combination with cq. the plant parts used ranged from leaves (l), stem bark (sb), root bark (rb), seeds (s) and whole plant (w). when used alone, extracts from seven plants, clerodendrum myricoides (rb), ficus sur (l/sb/rb), maytenus acu ... | 2007 | 17145149 |
| withaferin a strongly elicits ikappab kinase beta hyperphosphorylation concomitant with potent inhibition of its kinase activity. | the transcription factor nfkappab plays a critical role in normal and pathophysiological immune responses. therefore, nfkappab and the signaling pathways that regulate its activation have become a major focus of drug development programs. withania somnifera (ws) is a medicinal plant that is widely used in palestine for the treatment of various inflammatory disorders. in this study we show that the leave extract of ws, as well as its major constituent withaferin a (wa), potently inhibits nfkappab ... | 2007 | 17150968 |
| reactive oxygen species generation and mitochondrial dysfunction in the apoptotic cell death of human myeloid leukemia hl-60 cells by a dietary compound withaferin a with concomitant protection by n-acetyl cysteine. | induction of apoptosis in cancer cells has become the major focus of anti-cancer therapeutics development. withaferina, a major chemical constituent of withania somnifera, reportedly shows cytotoxicity in a variety of tumor cell lines while its molecular mechanisms of action are not fully understood. we observed that withaferina primarily induces oxidative stress in human leukemia hl-60 cells and in several other cancer cell lines. the withanolide induced early ros generation and mitochondrial m ... | 2007 | 17874299 |
| withania somnifera: an indian ginseng. | withania somnifera, popularly known as ashwagandha is widely considered as the indian ginseng. in ayurveda, it is classified as a rasayana (rejuvenation) and expected to promote physical and mental health, rejuvenate the body in debilitated conditions and increase longevity. having wide range of activity, it is used to treat almost all disorders that affect the human health. the present review discusses the pharmacological basis of the use of w. somnifera in various central nervous system (cns) ... | 2008 | 17959291 |
| effect of nr-anx-c (a polyherbal formulation) on haloperidol induced catalepsy in albino mice. | use of typical antipsychotics like haloperidol in treatment of schizophrenia is associated with a high incidence of extrapyramidal side effects. in rodents, administration of haloperidol leads to the development of a behavioural state called catalepsy, in which the animal is not able to correct an externally imposed posture. in the present study we evaluated the anticataleptic efficacy of nr-anx-c, a polyherbal formulation containing bioactives of withania somnifera, ocimum sanctum, camellia sin ... | 2007 | 18160755 |
| effect of withania somnifera on insulin sensitivity in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus rats. | we investigated the effect of an aqueous extract of withania somnifera (ws) on insulin sensitivity in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (niddm) rats. niddm was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (100 mg/kg) to 2 days old rat pups. ws (200 and 400 mg/kg) was administered orally once a day for 5 weeks after the animals were confirmed diabetic (i.e. 75 days after streptozotocin injection). a group of citrate control rats (group i) were also maintained that has recei ... | 2008 | 18346053 |
| indian herbs and herbal drugs used for the treatment of diabetes. | traditional medicines derived from medicinal plants are used by about 60% of the world's population. this review focuses on indian herbal drugs and plants used in the treatment of diabetes, especially in india. diabetes is an important human ailment afflicting many from various walks of life in different countries. in india it is proving to be a major health problem, especially in the urban areas. though there are various approaches to reduce the ill effects of diabetes and its secondary complic ... | 2007 | 18398493 |
| withania somnifera provides cardioprotection and attenuates ischemia-reperfusion induced apoptosis. | the present study was undertaken to evaluate the cardioprotective mechanisms of withania somnifera (ws), in the setting of ischemia and reperfusion (ir) injury. | 2008 | 18620784 |
| transgenic mimicry of pathogen attack stimulates growth and secondary metabolite accumulation. | plant secondary metabolites, including pharmaceuticals, flavorings and aromas, are often produced in response to stress. we used chemical inducers of the pathogen defense response (jasmonic acid, salicylate, killed fungi, oligosaccharides and the fungal elicitor protein, cryptogein) to increase metabolite and biomass production in transformed root cultures of the medicinal plant, withania somnifera, and the weed, convolvulus sepium. in an effort to genetically mimic the observed effects of crypt ... | 2009 | 18668338 |
| [overcoming several neurodegenerative diseases by traditional medicines: the development of therapeutic medicines and unraveling pathophysiological mechanisms]. | ashwagandha (root of withania somnifera) has been used for many purposes, it is mainly considered a tonic in traditional ayurvedic medicine. this review focuses on the effects of compounds isolated from ashwagandha on dementia models and on the spinal cord injury model. our study demonstrated that the active constituents, withanolide a, withanoside iv, and withanoside vi, restored presynapses and postsynapses, in addition to both axons and dendrites in cortical neurons after abeta(25-35)-induced ... | 2008 | 18670181 |
| the relationship between chondroprotective and antiinflammatory effects of withania somnifera root and glucosamine sulphate on human osteoarthritic cartilage in vitro. | using a validated explant model of in vitro cartilage damage, the effects of aqueous extracts of withania somnifera (ashwagandha) root and glucosamine sulphate (glcs) were tested on the levels of nitric oxide (no) and glycosaminoglycans (gags) secreted by knee cartilage from chronic osteoarthritis (oa) patients. w. somnifera extracts significantly decreased no release by explants from one subset of patients (antiinflammatory response) and significantly increased levels of no and gags released by ... | 2008 | 18697233 |
| effect of withania somnifera dunal root extract against pentylenetetrazol seizure threshold in mice: possible involvement of gabaergic system. | withania somnifera (ashwagandha) is a widely used herb in the ayurvedic system of medicine. the objective of the present study was to elucidate the effect of w. somnifera root extract (ws) alone or in combination with exogenous gamma-amino butyric acid (gaba), a gaba receptor agonist or with diazepam, a gaba receptor modulator against pentylenetetrazol (ptz, iv) seizure threshold in mice. minimal dose of ptz (iv, mg/kg) needed to induce different phases (myoclonic jerks, generalized clonus and t ... | 2008 | 18697606 |
| effect of withania somnifera dunal in ethanol-induced anxiolysis and withdrawal anxiety in rats. | withania somnifera (ws) or its psychotropic preparation is known to play a critical role in morphine, alcohol and benzodiazepines addiction. this study investigates the role of ws in acute ethanol and withdrawal from chronic ethanol consumption using elevated plus maze paradigm in rats. acute administration of ethanol (1.5-2 g/kg, ip) triggered anxiolytic effect and withdrawal from prolonged ethanol (9% v/v ethanol, 15 days) consumption elicited enhanced behavioral despair (anxiety). acute admin ... | 2008 | 18697607 |
| establishment of withania somnifera hairy root cultures for the production of withanolide a. | withania sominifera (indian ginseng) was transformed by agrobacterium rhizogenes. explants from seedling roots, stems, hypocotyls, cotyledonary nodal segments, cotyledons and young leaves were inoculated with a. rhizogenes strain r1601. hairy (transformed) roots were induced from cotyledons and leaf explants. the transgenic status of hairy roots was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction using nptii and rolb specific primers and, subsequently, by southern analysis for the presence of nptii and r ... | 2008 | 18713347 |
| protective role of withaferin-a on 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced genotoxicity in bone marrow of syrian golden hamsters. | the present study has investigated the antigenotoxic effect of withaferin-a, a steroidal lactone obtained from the roots and leaves of withania somnifera, in 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (dmba)-induced genotoxicity. measurement of the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (mnpces) and chromosomal aberrations is used as cytogenetic endpoints. a single intraperitoneal injection of dmba (30 mg/kg b.w.) to golden syrian hamsters resulted in marked elevation in the frequency of mnp ... | 2008 | 18752311 |
| withaferin a causes foxo3a- and bim-dependent apoptosis and inhibits growth of human breast cancer cells in vivo. | withaferin a (wa) is derived from the medicinal plant withania somnifera, which has been safely used for centuries in indian ayurvedic medicine for treatment of different ailments. we now show, for the first time, that wa exhibits significant activity against human breast cancer cells in culture and in vivo. the wa treatment decreased viability of mcf-7 (estrogen-responsive) and mda-mb-231 (estrogen-independent) human breast cancer cells in a concentration-dependent manner. the wa-mediated suppr ... | 2008 | 18794155 |
| retraction. nootropic-like effect of ashwagandha (withania somnifera l.) in mice. | | 2008 | 18814186 |
| withaferin a induces apoptosis by activating p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling cascade in leukemic cells of lymphoid and myeloid origin through mitochondrial death cascade. | withaferin a (wa) is present abundantly in withania somnifera, a well-known indian medicinal plant. here we demonstrate how wa exhibits a strong growth-inhibitory effect on several human leukemic cell lines and on primary cells from patients with lymphoblastic and myeloid leukemia in a dose-dependent manner, showing no toxicity on normal human lymphocytes and primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells. wa-mediated decrease in cell viability was observed through apoptosis as demonstrated by externa ... | 2008 | 18987975 |
| withanolide z, a new chlorinated withanolide from withania somnifera. | reverse-phase preparative hplc analysis of the n-butanol fraction of the methanolic extract of withania somnifera dunal (leaves) afforded a novel chlorinated withanolide, namely withanolide z (1), along with four known withanolides, withanolide b (2), withanolide a (3), 27-hydroxywithanolide b (4) and withaferin a (5). their structures were elucidated by ir, ms, cd and a combination of 1 d and 2 d nmr spectral analyses. the leishmania donovani dna topoisomerase i inhibitory activities of the iso ... | 2008 | 18988152 |
| induction of apoptosis by withaferin a in human leukemia u937 cells through down-regulation of akt phosphorylation. | withaferin a, a major chemical constituent of withania somnifera, has been reported for its tumor cell growth inhibitory activity, antitumor effects, and impairing metastasis and angiogenesis. the mechanism by which withaferin a initiates apoptosis remains poorly understood. in the present report, we investigated the effect of withaferin a on the apoptotic pathway in u937 human promonocytic cells. we show that withaferin a induces apoptosis in association with the activation of caspase-3. jnk an ... | 2008 | 19002588 |
| traditional medicine in the treatment of drug addiction. | to evaluate clinical trials and neurochemical mechanisms of the action of traditional herbal remedies and acupuncture for treating drug addiction. | 2009 | 19152199 |
| screening of indigenous palestinian medicinal plants for potential anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activity. | organic extracts of 24 selected plant species, used by palestinian traditional healers to treat different illnesses and diseases, were tested for their anti-inflammatory and anti-tumoral activities. the plant selection was based on existing ethnobotanic information and interviews with local healers. the extracts of the plants under investigation were tested for their potential anti-tumor (cytotoxic) effect on the murine fibrosarcoma l929sa cells, and on the human breast cancer cells mda-mb231 an ... | 2007 | 17716845 |
| effect of withaferin a on the development and decay of thermotolerance in b16f1 melanoma: a preliminary study. | protein synthesis inhibitors can suppress the development of thermotolerance in tumor tissues during [corrected] repeated heating. withaferin a (wa), isolated from withania somnifera has cytotoxic and inhibitory action on protein synthesis. in the present investigation, effect of wa on development and decay of thermotolerance in b16f1 melanoma was studied in c57bl mice. tumors of 100 +/- 10 [corrected] mm(3) size were subjected to repeated hyperthermia (ht) at 43 degrees c for 30 minutes. wa was ... | 2009 | 19190033 |
| effect of withania somnifera root extract on haloperidol-induced catalepsy in albino mice. | the objective of the study was to evaluate the anticataleptic effect of withania somnifera (ws) extract, on haloperidol-induced catalepsy in albino mice. catalepsy was induced with haloperidol (1 mg/kg) i.p. in five groups of male albino mice (n = 6). three groups received withania somnifera extract (1.7, 4.25, 8.5 mg/kg) respectively, one group received scopolamine (1 mg/kg) and one group received the vehicle (1% gum acacia) orally, 30 min prior to haloperidol administration. catalepsy was meas ... | 2008 | 17886228 |
| ultrastructure of platelets and fibrin networks of asthmatic mice exposed to selenium and withania somnifera. | platelets and fibrin play an important role in allergic processes, including allergic asthma. the asthmatic balb/c mouse model was used to induce asthma, and asthmatic mice were treated with the anti-inflammatory plant withania somnifera, separately and in combination with the antioxidant selenium. selenium is an important supplement in asthma, because asthmatics may have a selenium deficiency. hydrocortisone was used as positive control. results indicate control mice possess major thick fibers, ... | 2009 | 19214657 |
| immune modulation and apoptosis induction: two sides of antitumoural activity of a standardised herbal formulation of withania somnifera. | deregulated apoptosis and suppressed tumour reactive immunity render tumour cells to grow amok in the host body. traditionally used botanicals may offer potential anticancer chemo-immunotherapeutic leads. we report in this study a chemically standardised herbal formulation (wsf) of withania somnifera possessing anticancer and th1 immune up-regulatory activities. wsf produced cytotoxicity in a panel of human cancer cell lines in vitro. the molecular mechanism of cell cytotoxicity, ic(50) 48h appr ... | 2009 | 19269163 |
| in vivo effects of ashwagandha (withania somnifera) extract on the activation of lymphocytes. | this study investigated the immunologic effects of ashwagandha (withania somnifera) on four types of immune cells in a human sample to determine the immunologic mechanism. | 2009 | 19388865 |
| agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of withania somnifera (l.) dunal: an important medicinal plant. | this report describes agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of withania somnifera--an important indian medicinal plant. a. tumefaciens strain lba4404, containing the binary vector pig121hm was used for transformation, along with the gusa reporter gene with intron under the transcriptional control of the cauliflower mosaic virus (camv) 35s promoter. the leaf segments from two-and-a-half-month-old green house-grown seedlings were more efficient in transformation, as compared to those f ... | 2010 | 20012541 |
| caffeine withdrawal retains anticataleptic activity but withania somnifera withdrawal potentiates haloperidol-induced catalepsy in mice. | the previous study showed that chronic treatment with withania somnifera extract (ws) inhibited haloperidol-induced catalepsy. it is suggested that caffeine and ws may be useful adjuvants in pharmacotherapy of parkinson's disease. there are no studies on the effect of haloperidol on mice withdrawn from caffeine or w. somnifera. we therefore studied the effect of a single administration of standardised ws containing 5.1% total withanolides (ws, 30 or 100 mg kg(-1) i.p.) and/or caffeine (3 mg kg(- ... | 2009 | 19418355 |
| protective effect of withania somnifera dunal root extract against protracted social isolation induced behavior in rats. | this study investigated the effect of withania somnifera dunal (ws) root extract and diazepam in social isolation induced behavior such as anxiety and depression in rats. rats were isolated for 6 weeks and the assessment of changed behavior were done on elevated plus maze (epm) and forced swim test (fst). isolation reared rats spent less time into the open arms on epm and significantly increased immobility time in fst compared to group housed rats. ws (100, 200 or 500 mg/kg, oral) and diazepam ( ... | 2007 | 18476388 |
| ashwagandha leaf extract: a potential agent in treating oxidative damage and physiological abnormalities seen in a mouse model of parkinson's disease. | parkinson's disease (pd) is a neurodegenerative disorder that leads to impairment of balance and coordination. therapy for the disease is still under investigation. withania somnifera (a-extract), a herbal medicine, has been known for a spectrum of health-promoting effects including activation of immune, muscle and neuronal systems. therefore effect of a-extract in the mouse model of pd was examined. the midbrain and corpus striatum of pd mouse showed increased levels of superoxide dismutase, ca ... | 2009 | 19429045 |
| ethnopharmacological survey of wild medicinal plants in showbak, jordan. | two main research questions are framing this investigation: (1) the main taxa of the medicinal importance value altered the showbak forest stand and species composition? (2) the most safe species and what are the toxic ones (unsafe). these two research questions are the vital ones to draw a clear image about the wild medicinal plants of this investigated area of showbak region in jordan. 79 wild medicinal plant species were investigated in this study which are used in traditional medication for ... | 2009 | 19429338 |
| inhibition of nfkappab by the natural product withaferin a in cellular models of cystic fibrosis inflammation. | abstract: cystic fibrosis (cf) is one of the most common autosomal genetic disorders in humans. this disease is caused by mutations within a single gene, coding for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (cftr) protein. the phenotypic hallmark of cf is chronic lung infection and associated inflammation from opportunistic microbes such as pseudomonas aeruginosa (pa), haemophilus influenzae, and staphylococcus aureus. this eventually leads to deterioration of lung function and dea ... | 2009 | 19439083 |
| neuroprotective effects of withania somnifera dunal.: a possible mechanism. | present study was carried out to understand the possible mechanism of neuroprotective action of the root extract of withania somnifera dunal (ws). the study is focused on ws mediated inhibition of nitric oxide production, which is known to mediate neurodegeneration during stress. adult mice (28 +/- 5 g) were exposed to restraint stress for 30 days. activity of nadph diaphorase (nadph-d) and factors (acetylcholine, serotonin and corticosterone), which regulates nadph-d activity were studied. trea ... | 2009 | 19444606 |
| glycowithanolides accumulation in in vitro shoot cultures of indian ginseng (withania somnifera dunal). | phytochemical investigations of multiple shoot cultures of selected accessions agb002 and agb025 of withania somnifera established in vitro utilizing shoot tip apices cultured on murashige and skoog's medium supplemented with bap (1 mg/l) have been carried out. this has lead to isolation of four glycowithanolides viz. withanoside iv (wsg-3), withanoside vi (wsg-3a), physagulin d (wsg-p) and withastraronolide (wsc-o). the structures of these have been confirmed on the basis of spectroscopic data. ... | 2009 | 19475989 |
| in vivo enhancement of natural killer cell activity through tea fortified with ayurvedic herbs. | the effect of a tea fortified with five herbs selected from indian traditional medicine (ayurveda) for their putative immunoenhancing effect (withania somnifera, glycyrrhzia glabra, zingiber officinale, ocimum sanctum and elettaria cardamomum) on innate immunity was investigated. ex vivo natural killer (nk) cell activity was assessed after consumption of fortified tea compared with regular tea in two independent double-blind intervention studies. both studies were conducted in india with healthy ... | 2010 | 19504465 |
| antileishmanial activity in israeli plants. | leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease caused by flagellated protozoan parasites of the genus leishmania, which affects both humans and other mammals. most of the available drugs against the disease are toxic and parasite resistance to some of the drugs has already developed. in the present study, the leishmanicidal activities of methanolic extracts of some israeli plants have been evaluated in vitro, against the free-living promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes of leishmania major. of th ... | 2009 | 19508747 |
| restoration of stress-induced altered t cell function and corresponding cytokines patterns by withanolide a. | this study was taken up to see the effect of withanolide a (ws-1), a compound isolated from withania somnifera root extract on chronic stress-induced alterations on t lymphocyte subset distribution and corresponding cytokine secretion patterns in experimental swiss albino mice. stress disturbs the homeostatic state of the organism and brings about behavioral, endocrine and immunological changes. the chronic suppression induced by stress depresses the immune functioning and increases susceptibili ... | 2009 | 19524704 |
| withania somnifera prevents morphine withdrawal-induced decrease in spine density in nucleus accumbens shell of rats: a confocal laser scanning microscopy study. | opiate withdrawal is associated with morphological changes of dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area and with reduction of spine density of second-order dendrites of medium size spiny neurons in the nucleus accumbens shell but not core. withania somnifera has long been used in the middle east, africa, and india as a remedy for different conditions and diseases and a growing body of evidence points to its beneficial effects on a number of experimental models of neurological disorders. rec ... | 2009 | 19551457 |
| metabolic clustering of a core collection of indian ginseng withania somnifera dunal through dna, isoenzyme, polypeptide and withanolide profile diversity. | withania somnifera is one of the most important medicinal plants of ayurveda and finds extensive uses in indian traditional herbal preparations. in this investigation, selected accessions of the plant were examined for diversity through rapds, isoenzymes, polypeptide polymorphism and withanolide profiles. the accessions clustered together with respect to their characteristic profile of major withanolides and represented withaferin a, withanone, withanolide d or withanolide a rich groups. this le ... | 2009 | 19559768 |
| hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic effects of withania somnifera root and leaf extracts on alloxan-induced diabetic rats. | withania somnifera is an important medicinal plant, which is used in traditional medicine to cure many diseases. flavonoids were determined in the extracts of w. somnifera root (wsret) and leaf (wslet). the amounts of total flavonoids found in wsret and wslet were 530 and 520 mg/100 g dry weight (dw), respectively. hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic effects of wsret and wslet were also investigated in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. wsret and wslet and the standard drug glibenclamide were orally ad ... | 2009 | 19564954 |
| evaluation of anti-leishmanial activity of selected indian plants known to have antimicrobial properties. | the severe toxicity, exorbitant cost and the emerging resistance of leishmania spp. against most of the currently used drugs led to the urgent need for exploiting our traditional ayurvedic knowledge to treat visceral leishmaniasis. the aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro anti-leishmanial activity of various extracts from ten traditionally used indian medicinal plants. the methanolic extract from only two plants, withania somnifera dunal (ashwagandha) and allium sativum linn. (garlic), ... | 2009 | 19593584 |
| sominone enhances neurite outgrowth and spatial memory mediated by the neurotrophic factor receptor, ret. | orally administered withanoside iv (a compound isolated from the roots of withania somnifera) improved memory deficits in mice with a model of alzheimer's disease induced by the amyloid peptide abeta(25-35). sominone, an aglycone of withanoside iv, was identified as an active metabolite after oral administration of withanoside iv. we aimed to identify receptors or associated molecules of sominone, and to investigate the effects of sominone on memory in normal mice. | 2009 | 19594760 |
| ayurvedic medicine constituent withaferin a causes g2 and m phase cell cycle arrest in human breast cancer cells. | withaferin a (wa) is derived from the medicinal plant withania somnifera that has been safely used for centuries in the indian ayurvedic medicine for treatment of various ailments. we now demonstrate that wa treatment causes g2 and mitotic arrest in human breast cancer cells. treatment of mda-mb-231 (estrogen-independent) and mcf-7 (estrogen-responsive) cell lines with wa resulted in a concentration- and time-dependent increase in g2-m fraction, which correlated with a decrease in levels of cycl ... | 2008 | 19003581 |
| possible neuroprotective effect of withania somnifera root extract against 3-nitropropionic acid-induced behavioral, biochemical, and mitochondrial dysfunction in an animal model of huntington's disease. | huntington's disease (hd) is a neurodegenerative disorder that results from the destruction of neurons in the basal ganglia, and oxidative stress has been implicated in its pathogenesis. 3-nitropropionic acid (3-np), a potent neurotoxin, has been reported to induce oxidative/nitrosative stress and causes neurobehavioral and biochemical changes that mimic hd in humans. it also inhibits complex ii of the mitochondrial electron transport chain, thereby causing cellular energy deficit. in the presen ... | 2009 | 19627208 |
| withanolide sulfoxide from aswagandha roots inhibits nuclear transcription factor-kappa-b, cyclooxygenase and tumor cell proliferation. | investigation of the methanol extract of aswagandha (withania somnifera) roots for bioactive constituents yielded a novel withanolide sulfoxide compound (1) along with a known withanolide dimer ashwagandhanolide (2) with an s-linkage. the structure of compound 1 was established by extensive nmr and ms experiments. compound 1 was highly selective in inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 (cox-2) enzyme by 60% at 100 microm with no activity against cox-1 enzyme. the ic(50) values of compound 1 against human ... | 2009 | 19152372 |
| amelioration of metformin-induced hypothyroidism by withania somnifera and bauhinia purpurea extracts in type 2 diabetic mice. | an investigation was carried out to reveal the possible ameliorative role of two plant extracts on an antidiabetic drug-induced hypothyroidism in type 2 diabetic animals. dexamethasone (1.0 mg/kg, i.m.) administration caused hyperglycemia with a parallel increase in renal lipid peroxidation (lpo), relative risk ratio (rr), and the concentrations of serum insulin; total cholesterol (tc); low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (ldl-c); very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (vldl-c) and triglycerid ... | 2009 | 19170137 |
| withania somnifera root extract improves catecholamines and physiological abnormalities seen in a parkinson's disease model mouse. | withania somnifera root extract (ws)/ashwagandha/indian ginseng is a traditional herbal medicine, used over 4000 years in india, shown to have effect on neural growth and locomotor function. although catecholamines and oxidative stress resulting in neurodegeneration and locomotor disorder are the main events in parkinson's disease (pd), efficacy of the drug on these molecules and physiological abnormality are not clear. | 2009 | 19666100 |
| withaferin a targets heat shock protein 90 in pancreatic cancer cells. | the purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy and the mechanism of hsp90 inhibition of withaferin a (wa), a steroidal lactone occurring in withania somnifera, in pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo. withaferin a exhibited potent antiproliferative activity against pancreatic cancer cells in vitro (with ic(50)s of 1.24, 2.93 and 2.78 microm) in pancreatic cancer cell lines panc-1, miapaca2 and bxpc3, respectively. annexin v staining showed that wa induced significant apoptosis in pan ... | 2010 | 19769945 |
| nephroprotective effect of withania somnifera: a dose-dependent study. | in the present study, we investigated the protective effect of withania somnifera, an indigenous medicinal herb used in ayurvedic traditional systems for more than 3000 years in india, on gentamicin (gen)-induced nephrotoxicity. the root extract of three different doses of w. somnifera (viz., 250, 500, and 750 mg/kg) was administered orally to rats for 14 days before gen treatment and thereafter concurrently with gen (100 mg/kg) for 8 days. nephrotoxicity was evident in gen-treated rats by signi ... | 2009 | 19925290 |
| withanamides in withania somnifera fruit protect pc-12 cells from beta-amyloid responsible for alzheimer's disease. | alzheimer's disease (ad) is an irreversible neurodegenerative disorder with symptoms of confusion, memory loss, and mood swings. the beta-amyloid peptide, with 39-42 amino acid residues (bap), plays a significant role in the development of ad. although there is no cure for ad, it can be managed with available drugs to some degree. several studies have revealed that natural antioxidants, such as vitamin e, vitamin c and beta-carotene, may help in scavenging free radicals generated during the init ... | 2010 | 19957250 |
| safety assessment of a novel niacin-bound chromium-based energy formulation. | over 35 million adults suffer from fatigue or lack of energy. in this study, we assessed the safety of a novel niacin-bound chromium-based energy formulation, which also contained caffeine, d-ribose, withania somnifera extract, and selected amino acids. niacin-bound chromium is a novel source of bioavailable chromium (iii), and known to promote healthy lipid profile. male and female sprague-dawley rats were fed 125 ppm energy formulation for 90 consecutive days. body weight, feed, and water inta ... | 2006 | 20021019 |
| notch-1 inhibition by withaferin-a: a therapeutic target against colon carcinogenesis. | notch signaling plays a crucial role in the development of colon cancer; targeting the notch pathway may sensitize colon cancers to various adjuvant agents. the focus of our current study is to identify natural compounds that target notch signaling and that might be beneficial for the prevention and treatment of colon cancer. withaferin-a (wa) is a bioactive compound derived from withania somnifera, which inhibits notch-1 signaling and downregulates prosurvival pathways, such as akt/nf-kappab/bc ... | 2010 | 20053782 |
| effect of extract of withania somnifera on dehydration-induced oxidative stress-related uremia in male rats. | dehydration or water deprivation in the body decreases urinary excretion and allows urea and other protein waste products to accumulate in the blood. the aim of the present study is to evaluate the association of uremia and oxidative stress by applying the herbal plant withania somnifera (w. somnifera) (aswagandha). the study was performed on male wister strain rats in which, dehydration was achieved by water withdrawal. a total of 18 rats were studied and were randomly divided into three groups ... | 2010 | 20061697 |
| antioxidant effect of dietary supplement withania somnifera l. reduce blood glucose levels in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. | the phenolic compounds and flavonoids were determined from the extracts of withania somnifera root (wsret) and leaf (wslet). the wsret has 28.26 mg/g total phenolic compounds and 17.32 mg/g flavonoids, whereas wslet has 5.4 mg/g total phenolic compounds and 5.1 mg/g flavonoids. the wsret, wslet and glibenclamide were orally administered daily to diabetic rats for 8 weeks. after the treatment, the levels of urine sugar, blood glucose, liver glycogen, and antioxidants like vitamin c and e in plasm ... | 2010 | 20186490 |
| protective effect of withania somnifera root powder on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxic rats. | we investigated the protective effect of withania somnifera root powder (used in ayurvedic medicine in india) on gentamicin (gen) induced nephrotoxicity in male wistar rats. the root powder was administered orally to rats for 14 days before gen treatment and thereafter with gen for 8 days. nephrotoxicity was manifested in gen-treated rats as significant increases in urea, creatinine, uric acid, non protein nitrogen, urinary protein, n-acetyl-beta-d-glucosaminidase, thiobarbituric acid reactive s ... | 2010 | 20506689 |
| propoxur-induced acetylcholine esterase inhibition and impairment of cognitive function: attenuation by withania somnifera. | propoxur (2-isopropoxyphenyl n-methylcarbamate) is widely used as an acaricide in agriculture and public health programs. studies have shown that sub-chronic exposure to propoxur can cause oxidative stress and immuno-suppression in rats. carbamates are also known to exhibit inhibitory effect on cholinesterase activity, which is directly related to their cholinergic effects. in the present study, the effect of withania somnifera (ashwagandha), a widely used herbal drug possessing anti-stress and ... | 2010 | 20521626 |
| scientific basis for the use of indian ayurvedic medicinal plants in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders: ashwagandha. | ayurveda is a sanskrit word, which means "the scripture for longevity". it represents an ancient system of traditional medicine prevalent in india and in several other south asian countries. it is based on a holistic view of treatment which is believed to cure human diseases through establishment of equilibrium in the different elements of human life, the body, the mind, the intellect and the soul [1]. ayurveda dates back to the period of the indus valley civilization (about 3000 b.c) and has be ... | 2010 | 20528765 |
| effect of withania somnifera (l. dunal) root as a feed additive on immunological parameters and disease resistance to aeromonas hydrophila in labeo rohita (hamilton) fingerlings. | the present study evaluated the efficacy of dietary doses of withania somnifera (ashwagandha) root powder on immunological parameters and disease resistance against the bacterial pathogen aeromonas hydrophila infections in indian major carp, labeo rohita fingerlings. fishes were fed with dry diet containing 0 gkg(-1) (control), 1 gkg(-1) (t(1)), 2 gkg(-1) (t(2)) and 3 gkg(-1) (t(3)) w. somnifera root powder for 42 days. immunological (nbt level, phagocytic activity, total immunoglobulin and lyso ... | 2010 | 20580830 |
| in vitro protective effects of withania somnifera (l.) dunal root extract against hydrogen peroxide and β-amyloid(1-42)-induced cytotoxicity in differentiated pc12 cells. | withania somnifera l. dunal (solanaceae), also known as 'ashwagandha' in sanskrit and as 'indian ginseng', is used widely in ayurvedic medicine as a nerve tonic and memory enhancer, with antiaging, antistress, immunomodulatory and antioxidant properties. there is a paucity of data on the potential neuroprotective effects of w. somnifera root, as traditionally used, against h(2)o(2)- and aβ((1-42))-induced cytotoxicity which are current targets for novel approaches to treat dementia, especially d ... | 2010 | 20680931 |
| evaluation of the anti-ulcer activity of nr-anx-c (a polyherbal formulation) in aspirin & pyloric ligature induced gastric ulcers in albino rats. | the aetiology of gastric ulcers is not completely understood and continuous use of anti-ulcer agents leads to many side effects. in this study we evaluated the anti-ulcer efficacy of a polyherbal formulation with potent antioxidant activity in aspirin and pyloric ligature induced gastric ulcers in rats. | 2010 | 20716823 |
| withaferin a inhibits activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 in human breast cancer cells. | we have shown previously that withaferin a (wa), a promising anticancer constituent of ayurvedic medicine plant withania somnifera, inhibits growth of human breast cancer cells in culture and in vivo in association with apoptosis induction. the present study builds on these observations and demonstrates that wa inhibits constitutive as well as interleukin-6 (il-6)-inducible activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (stat3), which is an oncogenic transcription factor activa ... | 2010 | 20724373 |
| molecular insight into the immune up-regulatory properties of the leaf extract of ashwagandha and identification of th1 immunostimulatory chemical entity. | withania somnifera, commonly called ashwagandha in the indian traditional system of medicine has been reported for several pharmacological activities. this study demonstrates, for the first time, the potential role of the chemically standardized leaf extract of w. somnifera (wsl) and it's identified component in activating immune system. wsl enhanced th1 cytokine ifn-gamma expression in con a primed splenocytes in vitro. when given orally for 2 weeks to balb/c mice immunized with emulsion of ova ... | 2009 | 19628058 |