An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract

Lopresti, Adrian L.; Smith, Stephen J.; Malvi, Hakeemudin; Kodgule, Rahul

doi:10.1097/md.0000000000017186

Cited by 135 publications

(134 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…27,352 Primarily, adaptogens have potential benefits in cases of behavior-related disorders, mental illness, stressinduced fatigue ( Figure 5), and cognitive function. 11,14,15,26,27,48,74,75,216,275,350,[353][354][355][356][357][358][359][360][361][362][363][364][365][366][367] In a number of clinical studies, the beneficial effects of adaptogens have been demonstrated on healthy subjects in stress conditions. 26,27,48,74,75,324,353,356,357,359,362 This is especially true of the mental and physical performance of fatigue and mental strain.…”

Section: Current and Prospective Use Of Adaptogens In Stress-inducementioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of the adaptogenic concept from traditional use to medical systems: Pharmacology of stress‐ and aging‐related diseases

Panossian¹,

Efferth

Shikov

et al. 2020

Medicinal Research Reviews

198

124

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Adaptogens comprise a category of herbal medicinal and nutritional products promoting adaptability, resilience, and survival of living organisms in stress. The aim of this review was to summarize the growing knowledge about common adaptogenic plants used in various traditional medical systems (TMS) and conventional medicine and to provide a modern rationale for their use in the treatment of stress‐induced and aging‐related disorders. Adaptogens have pharmacologically pleiotropic effects on the neuroendocrine‐immune system, which explain their traditional use for the treatment of a wide range of conditions. They exhibit a biphasic dose‐effect response: at low doses they function as mild stress‐mimetics, which activate the adaptive stress‐response signaling pathways to cope with severe stress. That is in line with their traditional use for preventing premature aging and to maintain good health and vitality. However, the potential of adaptogens remains poorly explored. Treatment of stress and aging‐related diseases require novel approaches. Some combinations of adaptogenic plants provide unique effects due to their synergistic interactions in organisms not obtainable by any ingredient independently. Further progress in this field needs to focus on discovering new combinations of adaptogens based on traditional medical concepts. Robust and rigorous approaches including network pharmacology and systems pharmacology could help in analyzing potential synergistic effects and, more broadly, future uses of adaptogens. In conclusion, the evolution of the adaptogenic concept has led back to basics of TMS and a new level of understanding of holistic approach. It provides a rationale for their use in stress‐induced and aging‐related diseases.

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Section: Current and Prospective Use Of Adaptogens In Stress-inducementioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of the adaptogenic concept from traditional use to medical systems: Pharmacology of stress‐ and aging‐related diseases

Panossian¹,

Efferth

Shikov

et al. 2020

Medicinal Research Reviews

198

124

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Though patients take natural products and herbs to enhance their quality of life and for symptomatic management, there is little documented benefit of these products [ 122 , 123 ]. Since cancer is an inflammatory state resulting in oxidative stress with increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, reactive oxygen species, cyclooxygenase (COX-2), nuclear factor κB (NFκB), some of the herbal products like curcumin, Ashwagandha ( Withania somnifera ) exert immunomodulatory activity by interacting with these key mediators and exert antitumor effects [ 127 , 128 ]. A randomized clinical trial in subjects with history of chronic perceived stress using high concentration full-spectrum Ashwagandha root extract showed decrease in serum cortisol and improved resistance towards perceived stress and improved self-assessed quality of life [ 129 ].…”

Section: Natural Productsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stress reduction strategies in breast cancer: review of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic based strategies

et al. 2020

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Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women. It is associated with multiple symptoms in both patients and caregivers, such as stress, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, and fatigue. Stress appears to promote cancer progression via activation of the sympathetic nervous system releasing epinephrine and norepinephrine as well as activation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis releasing cortisol. These stress hormones have been shown to promote the proliferation of cancer cells. This review focuses on stress-reducing strategies which may decrease cancer progression by abrogating these pathways, with a main focus on the β-adrenergic signaling pathway. Patients utilize both non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic strategies to reduce stress. Non-pharmacologic stress-reduction strategies include complementary and alternative medicine techniques, such as meditation, yoga, acupuncture, exercise, use of natural products, support groups and psychology counseling, herbal compounds, and multivitamins. Pharmacologic strategies include abrogating the β2-adrenergic receptor signaling pathway to antagonize epinephrine and norepinephrine action on tumor and immune cells. β-Blocker drugs may play a role in weakening the pro-migratory and pro-metastatic effects induced by stress hormones in cancer and strengthening the anti-tumor immune response. Preclinical models have shown that non-selective β1/2-blocker use is associated with a decrease in tumor growth and metastases and clinical studies have suggested their positive impact on decreasing breast cancer recurrence and mortality. Thus, non-pharmacological approaches, along with pharmacological therapies part of clinical trials are available to cancer patients to reduce stress, and have promise to break the cycle of cancer and stress.

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“…Indeed, we show that the DHEA to CT ratio was significantly lower in depressed mothers compared to controls; it seems that DHEA secretion was even more sensitive than CT to allostatic pressures in depressed mothers, a finding that may be of interest when developing new therapeutic strategies for chronic maternal depression (9,12). There is some evidence that the beneficial effects of these agents are mediated by the regulation of the HPA axis (48). Depressed mothers tend to respond less sensitively to their infants' signals (49), which in turn may affect the infants' ability to regulate stress and negative emotions (38) and engage in social interactions (50).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

Chronic Depression Alters Mothers’ DHEA and DEHA-to-Cortisol Ratio: Implications for Maternal Behavior and Child Outcomes

2020

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Maternal depression is a major public health problem that typically occurs in the period surrounding childbirth. The neurobiological mechanisms underlying maternal depression have been the focus of increasing research and studies pointed to the crucial role of the HPA axis in this disorder. However, most studies focused on cortisol expression and regulation while recent attention has shifted to include the sulfate steroids DHEA and DHEA-S. A community cohort of 1,983 women with no comorbid risk was recruited at birth and depression was assessed periodically across the first postpartum year. At 6 years, 156 families were re-visited: 46 mothers were defined as chronically-depressed and 103 controls reported no depression from birth to six years. Mothers and children were diagnosed by structured psychiatric interviews and mother-child interactions were observed. Maternal diurnal cortisol (CT) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) were assessed. Depressed mothers had lower levels of DHEA (AUCg), flattened DHEA diurnal variability (AUCi), and smaller DHEA-to-CT Ratio. Regression analysis demonstrated that maternal sensitivity during mother-child interaction was independently predicted by maternal depression, DHEA levels, child CT, and child social withdrawal. Results underscore the need for multi-level understanding of the dynamic interplay between maternal psychopathology, mother-child relationship, and pituitary-adrenal-cortex-to-medulla balance in studying the cross generational transfer of psychiatric vulnerability from depressed mothers to their children.

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An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract

Cited by 135 publications

References 33 publications

Evolution of the adaptogenic concept from traditional use to medical systems: Pharmacology of stress‐ and aging‐related diseases

Evolution of the adaptogenic concept from traditional use to medical systems: Pharmacology of stress‐ and aging‐related diseases

Stress reduction strategies in breast cancer: review of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic based strategies

Chronic Depression Alters Mothers’ DHEA and DEHA-to-Cortisol Ratio: Implications for Maternal Behavior and Child Outcomes

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