A critical review of anticancer properties of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal with respect to the biochemical mechanisms of its phytochemical constituents
- Title
- A critical review of anticancer properties of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal with respect to the biochemical mechanisms of its phytochemical constituents
- Creator
- Rutwick Surya U.; Naik P.M.; Upadhya V.; Praveen N.
- Description
- Cancer is a leading cause of mortality worldwide, the conventional chemotherapeutic drugs have been known for their toxicity and numerous side effects. A new approach to treat cancer involves phytochemical drugs. In the present review, anti-cancer activity of a class of steroidal lactones called withanolides obtained from Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal is discussed. The commonly studied bioactive compounds namely withaferin-A, withanoside IV, withanoside VI and withanolide-A among others obtained from methanolic and chloroform extract of the leaves and various alcoholic, aqueous and chloroform extract of roots have shown inhibition to various human cancer cell lines including skin, breast, colon, prostate, liver, ovary, cervical and lung. Prominent mechanisms of action include induction of apoptosis by NOS upregulation, ROS production and NBS2 or COX-2 inhibition; cytotoxicity by humoral and cell mediated immune response, activation of p53 and pRB and inhibition of various viral oncoproteins; cell cycle arrest by Cdc2 facilitated mitotic catastrophe, cyclin-D1 down-regulation and inhibition of transcription factors. Cancers are also controlled by inhibition of angiogenesis and metastasis of the tumor cells. In addition to anti-tumorogenic properties, W. somnifera also holds properties that make it a potential adjuvant in integrated cancer therapeutics and in enhancing the effectiveness of ongoing radiation therapy. Surya et al (2021).
- Source
- Plant Science Today, Vol-8, No. 2, pp. 236-249.
- Date
- 2021-01-01
- Publisher
- Horizon e-Publishing Group
- Subject
- Anti-cancer activity; Phytochemistry; Withaferin-A; Withania somnifera; Withanolide-A; Withanolides
- Coverage
- Rutwick Surya U., Department of Life Sciences, CHRIST (Deemed to Be University), Hosur Road, Karnataka, Bengaluru, 560 029, India; Naik P.M., Department of Botany, Karnatak University, Karnataka, Dharwad, 580 003, India; Upadhya V., Department of Forest Products and Utilization, College of Forestry (University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad), Banavasi Road, Karnataka, Sirsi, 581 401, India; Praveen N., Department of Life Sciences, CHRIST (Deemed to Be University), Hosur Road, Karnataka, Bengaluru, 560 029, India
- Rights
- Restricted Access
- Relation
- ISSN: 23481900
- Format
- Online
- Language
- English
- Type
- Review
Collection
Citation
Rutwick Surya U.; Naik P.M.; Upadhya V.; Praveen N., “A critical review of anticancer properties of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal with respect to the biochemical mechanisms of its phytochemical constituents,” CHRIST (Deemed To Be University) Institutional Repository, accessed February 23, 2025, https://archives.christuniversity.in/items/show/21605.