Uses of Ashwagandha in Biotechnology

Ashwagandha, also known as Withania somnifera, is a shrub in the nightshade family that has been used in traditional Indian medicine. Extracts of the plant have shown promise in augmenting several maladies in humans, which include inflammatory bowel disease, Huntington's disease, breast cancer and male infertility. However, further research has been recommended to fully understand the molecular workings of this medicinal plant.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Ashwagandha has been tested for its ability to treat inflammatory bowel disease, which is characterized by the swelling and blockage of the intestine. An article appearing in the April 2011 issue of "BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine" investigated the effects of a gel prepared from the root of W. somnifera to regenerate the integrity of the tissues of the large intestine using a rat model. The researchers found that a preparation containing 500 g/mL decreased the edema, or swelling, and the cellular death of the tissue associated with this disease. The study concluded that rectal gel containing W. somnifera indicated a significant improvement in restoring the mucus layer of the intestine and greatly reduced the swelling caused by inflammatory bowel disease.

Huntington's Disease

Huntington's disease is an insidious, genetic neurological disorder marked by the inability to control the muscles and eventually leads to dementia. An article in the June 2009 issue of the "Journal of Medicinal Food" explored the effects of W. somnifera on the decline in motor function and brain activity in a rat model of this disease. The researchers treated the test animals with either 100 or 200 mg doses for each kg of body weight and found that protective actions of the plant extract occurred in a dose-dependent manner to reduce the complications of the disease. The study concluded, however, that further studies are needed to identify the molecular pathways involved before the extract is used for human therapy.

Breast Cancer

A compound called withaferin A is contained in extracts from the root of W. somnifera and has shown promise as an agent to promote apoptosis, or genetically programmed cell death. A group from the University of Pittsburg published an article in "Molecular Carcinogenesis," which investigated the ability of withaferin A to combat breast cancer by initiating apoptosis of cancer cells. The researchers designed a study to determine the role of this compound in suppressing the actions of estrogen, a female hormone known to advance the proliferation of breast cancer cells. The study found that withaferin A significantly decreased the levels of the estrogen receptors in cancer cells and inhibited the growth and reproduction of them. The authors concluded that extracts of W. somnifera is a promising natural therapy in preventing the advancement of breast cancer.

Male Infertility

Infertility in men is most often a result of sperm quality and ability of the cells to utilize metal ions for normal function. A study published in the March 2011 issue of "Reproductive Biomedicine Online" documented the effects of W. somnifera in maintaining sufficient concentrations of metal ions in seminal fluid for the proper functioning of sperm cells. The researchers found that sperm apoptosis was greatly reduced and essential copper, zinc and iron ion concentrations were maintained due to treatment with W. somnifera. The study concluded that a three-month treatment of the plant extract was sufficient to improve semen quality by reducing apoptosis and improving metal ion concentration in seminal fluid.