Plant Extract Analysis and Cancer-Fighting Potential of Ashwagandha Stem

Jenn Hoskins
22nd August, 2024

Plant Extract Analysis and Cancer-Fighting Potential of Ashwagandha Stem

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • Researchers at Era University studied the methanolic extract of Withania somnifera stem (WSME) for its health benefits
  • WSME is rich in Withaferin A and has high phenolic and flavonoid content
  • WSME showed strong antioxidant activity and mild antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus aureus
  • WSME significantly inhibited the growth of breast cancer cells without harming normal cells
Phytotherapy, the use of plant-derived medicines, has garnered significant attention for its potential in treating various illnesses. Among these, Withania somnifera, also known as Ashwagandha, is a prominent herb in the Indian Ayurvedic system, revered for its wide range of medicinal applications and pharmacological properties. A recent study conducted by researchers at Era University delved into the biological activities of Withania somnifera methanolic extract of stem (WSME) to explore its potential in cancer therapy and other health benefits[1]. The study aimed to quantify the total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) of WSME, identify its bioactive components using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS), and evaluate its antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer activities. The antioxidant potential was measured using DPPH and H2O2 radical scavenging assays, while antibacterial efficacy was assessed against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli using the disc diffusion method. The anticancer activity was tested on the human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231, and toxicity was evaluated on normal Vero cells using the MTT assay. The results revealed that WSME is rich in Withaferin A, a bioactive compound known for its therapeutic properties. The TPC was found to be 4.73 ± 0.15 mg GAE/g, and the TFC was 94.94 ± 6.15 mg QE/g dry weight of extract. WSME exhibited significant antioxidant activity, inhibiting 43.28% and 66.8% of radicals at 1,000 μg/mL in DPPH and H2O2 assays, respectively. It also showed mild antibacterial effects against S. aureus but not against E. coli. Importantly, WSME induced cell death in MDA-MB-231 cells, significantly inhibiting their growth with an IC50 of 66 μg/mL, while it did not affect normal Vero cells in the studied range (IC50: 6.09 mg/mL). These findings align with previous studies that have highlighted the medicinal properties of Withania somnifera. For instance, earlier research demonstrated its adaptogenic and anti-stress activities, as well as its efficacy in neurodegenerative diseases and rheumatoid arthritis[2]. Additionally, another study found that Withania somnifera extracts exhibited potent anticancer activity against the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line, with methanolic and ethanolic extracts showing significant cytotoxic effects[3]. The current study further substantiates these findings by demonstrating the anticancer potential of WSME, particularly against breast cancer cells, while also confirming its safety on normal cells. The study's methodology involved several key assays to evaluate WSME's biological activities. The DPPH and H2O2 assays are standard methods for measuring antioxidant activity, where DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) radicals are neutralized by antioxidants in the extract. The disc diffusion method is a common technique to assess antibacterial activity, where the extract is placed on a disc and its ability to inhibit bacterial growth is observed. The MTT assay is used to measure cell viability and cytotoxicity, where metabolically active cells reduce MTT (a yellow tetrazole) to formazan (a purple dye), indicating cell viability. The study's findings suggest that WSME holds promise as a complementary therapy for breast cancer. Its antioxidant properties may help mitigate oxidative stress, a factor in cancer progression, while its selective cytotoxicity towards cancer cells without harming normal cells is particularly encouraging. The mild antibacterial activity against S. aureus also adds to its potential therapeutic benefits. In conclusion, the research conducted by Era University provides compelling evidence for the potential use of Withania somnifera methanolic extract in cancer therapy, particularly for breast cancer. The study's results, combined with previous research[2][3], highlight the diverse medicinal properties of Withania somnifera, reinforcing its status as a valuable herb in phytotherapy. Further preclinical studies on other cancer cell lines and animal models are warranted to validate its efficacy and safety, paving the way for its potential integration into human breast cancer therapy.

MedicineBiochemPlant Science

References

Main Study

1) Phytochemical characterization, biochemical profiling and evaluation of anticancer potential of methanolic extract of Withania somnifera stem.

Published 20th August, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1515/jcim-2024-0185

Related Studies

2) An overview on ashwagandha: a Rasayana (rejuvenator) of Ayurveda.

https://doi.org/10.4314/ajtcam.v8i5S.9

3) Evaluation and Comparison of the In Vitro Cytotoxic Activity of Withania somnifera Methanolic and Ethanolic Extracts against MDA-MB-231 and Vero Cell Lines.

https://doi.org/10.3797/scipharm.1507-13


Related Articles

An unhandled error has occurred. Reload 🗙