A critical review of anticancer properties of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal with respect to the biochemical mechanisms of its phytochemical constituents

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.2021.8.2.969

Keywords:

anti-cancer activity, phytochemistry, Withania somnifera, Withaferin

Abstract

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.

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Author Biographies

U R Surya, Department of Life Sciences, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Hosur Road, Bengaluru 560 029, Karnataka, India

A final year undergraduate student of Botany, Chemistry and Biotechnology from CHRIST (Deemed to be University) Bangalore, India.

P M Naik, Department of Botany, Karnatak University, Dharwad 580 003, Karnataka, India

Teaching Assistant at Department of Karnatak University, Dharwad, India. Published over 28 research articles in national and international journals, 10 book chapters, and 2 reviews and 16 conference abstracts. Worked as a Postdoctoral Research Assistant at King Faisal University.

U Vinayak, Department of Forest Products and Utilization, College of Forestry, Banavasi Road, Sirsi – 581401, Karnataka, India

Working as Assistant Professor at College of Forestry (University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad), Sirsi, India since 2017. Completed Ph. D., degree from KLE University Belagavi, India in 2015. Published 30 research articles in national and international journals, 02 book chapters, 2 reviews and 10 popular articles. Worked in various projects at ICMR-National Institute of Traditional Medicine, Belagavi from 2006 to 2017. Research areas of interest are Plant molecular taxonomy, Ethno-medicine, Medicinal Plants and Forest Products.

N Praveen, Department of Life Sciences, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Hosur Road, Bengaluru 560 029, Karnataka, India

Assistant Professor at CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, India since 2014.

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Published

01-04-2021

How to Cite

1.
Surya UR, Naik PM, Vinayak U, Praveen N. A critical review of anticancer properties of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal with respect to the biochemical mechanisms of its phytochemical constituents. Plant Sci. Today [Internet]. 2021 Apr. 1 [cited 2024 Nov. 21];8(2):236-49. Available from: https://horizonepublishing.com/journals/index.php/PST/article/view/969

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