Withania somnifera Dunal (Ashwagandha): potential plant source of a promising drug for cancer chemotherapy and radiosensitization.
Indian J Exp Biol
;
1996 Oct; 34(10): 927-32
Article
in English
| IMSEAR
| ID: sea-59720
ABSTRACT
Study of antitumor and radiosensitizing properties of W. somnifera (Ashwagandha), a well known medicinal plant, have yielded encouraging results. The alcoholic extract of the dried roots of the plant as well as the active component withaferin A isolated from the extract showed significant antitumor and radiosensitizing effects in experimental tumors in vivo, without any noticeable systemic toxicity. Withaferin A gave a sensitizer enhancement ratio of 1.5 for in vitro cell killing of V79 Chinese hamster cells at a non toxic concentration of approximately 2 microM. The mechanism of action of this compound is not known. The studies so far indicate that W. somnifera could prove to be a good natural source of a potent and relatively safe radiosensitizer/chemotherapeutic agent. Further studies are needed to explore the clinical potential of this plant for cancer therapy.
Full text:
Available
Index:
IMSEAR (South-East Asia)
Main subject:
Plants, Medicinal
/
Radiation-Sensitizing Agents
/
Sarcoma 180
/
Humans
/
Cell Line
/
Cricetinae
/
Ergosterol
/
Animals
/
Medicine, Ayurvedic
/
Mice
Language:
English
Journal:
Indian J Exp Biol
Year:
1996
Type:
Article
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