Withania somnifera

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• 作者：Srinivasagam RajaSankar ; Thamilarasan Manivasagam ; Venkatachalam Sankar ; Seppan Prakash ; Rathinasamy Muthusamy ; Arumugam Krishnamurti ; Sankar Surendran
• 关键词：Ashwagandha ; Withania somnifera ; TBARS ; Dopamine ; Parkinson's disease ; Neurodegeneration
• 刊名：Journal of Ethnopharmacology
• 出版年：2009
• 出版时间：25 September 2009
• 年：2009
• 卷：125
• 期：3
• 页码：369-373
• 全文大小：321 K

文摘

Ethnopharmacological relevance

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.

Aim of the study

The objective of the study was to examine effect of Ws on catecholamines and physiological abnormalities seen in PD using PD model mouse.

Materials and methods

Mouse were treated with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) for 4 days to show biochemical and physiological abnormalities similar to patients with PD. PD mice were treated with Ws 100 mg/kg body weight for 7 or 28 days. Catecholamines: dopamine (DA), 3,4-dihydroxy-phenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA); antioxidants: glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx); and lipid peroxidation marker (TBARS) were analyzed in the Ws treated and untreated PD mouse striatum.

Results

Mouse treated with MPTP showed reduced levels of DA, DOPAC, HVA, GSH and GPx and induced thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) level compared to the control. Physiological abnormalities were seen in the mouse as determined by hang test and rotarod test. Oral treatment of PD mouse Ws root extract (100 mg/kg body weight) for 7 days or 28 days increased DA, DOPAC and HVA levels and normalized TBARS levels in the corpus striatum of the PD mouse. The 7 days Ws treated mice showed improved motor function as determined by hang test and rotarod test. Treatment with Ws for 28 days increased GSH and GPx levels in the striatum compared to the Ws untreated PD mouse striatum.

Conclusion

These data suggest that Ws is a potential drug in treating catecholamines, oxidative damage and physiological abnormalities seen in the PD mouse.