Use of Withania somnifera Dunal as an adjuvant during radiation therapy
Kuttan, G.
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 34(9): 854-856
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5189 PMID: 9014519 Document Number: 458124
Withania somnifera popularly known as Aswagandha is used in several indigenous drug preparations. Administration of a 75% methanolic extract of the plant was found to significantly increase the total WBC count in normal Balb/c mice and reduce the leucopenia induced by sublethal dose of gamma radiation. Treatment with W. somnifera was found to increase the bone marrow cellularity significantly, the percentage increase being 146.3. Treatment with W. somnifera had normalized the ratio of normochromatic erythrocytes and polychromatic erythrocytes in mice after the radiation exposure. Major activity of W. somnifera seemed to be in the stimulation of stem cell proliferation.