Withania somnifera Dunal (Ashwagandha) : potential plant source of a promising drug for cancer chemotherapy and radiosensitization
Devi, P.U.
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 34(10): 927-932
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5189 PMID: 9055640 Document Number: 458271
Studies on the antitumour and radiosensitizing properties of W. somnifera (Ashwagandha), a well known medicinal plant, are reviewed. The alcoholic extract of the dried roots and the active component withaferin A isolated from the extract showed significant antitumour and radiosensitizing effects on experimental tumours 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 ~ 2 micro M; its mechanism of action 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.