Anticancer Mechanism of Withania Somnifera and Its Bioactive Compounds : A Short Review Along with Computational Molecular Docking Study

Abstract

<p>Withania somnifera, known as Aswogondha in Bangladesh and some part of India, is a shrub of Solanceae family. Parts of this plant is used as alternative medicine in this region to cure diseases from bronchitis to insomnia. Although such use of the plant is not supported by clinical research, recent studies have found anticancer activity of some proteins derived from w. somnifera. The purpose of this study is to summarize the anticancer activity of medicinal plant Withania somnifera and its bioactive compounds as well as to predict the interaction between phytochemicals (Withanolide, Withaferin-A) and macromolecules that are responsible for cancer cell proliferation. Studies suggested that Withanolide and Withaferin-A from W. somnifera can be used as a cancer chemotherapeutic agent for cancerous cell lines in mice models through modulating various signaling pathway including inhibition, autophagy, apoptosis, radiopreventive pathway and reactive oxygen species pathway. Molecular docking of Withanolide and Withaferin-A against 9 types of vital protein mediators concluded that 3A8X (Protein kinase C iota type) and 1A9U (MAP KINASE P38) are the most active receptor for binding and interacting with Withanolide and Withaferin-A for the prevention and treatment of cancer. On the basis of this review and docking study, it can be concluded that Withania somnifera as well as its derivatives Withanolide and Withaferin-A may be considered as a promising anticancer agent. </p>

The use of African medicinal plants in cancer management

“…The anticancer potential of W. somnifera has been mainly attributed to Withanolide and Withaferin A, which are two principal phytochemicals from this plant. In vivo , in mice, it was reported that W. somnifera , through the activities of Withanolide and Withaferin-A, modulate different signalling pathways such as apoptosis, autophagy and reactive oxygen species (ROS) pathways ( Shikder et al, 2020 ). In male Swiss albino mice, extracts from W. somnifera were shown to inhibit lung adenoma ( Senthilnathan et al, 2006a ) while the root extracts of this plant were shown to prevent ROS-induced injury in model mice ( Senthilnathan et al, 2006b ).…”

Molecular Docking of Phytochemicals as Inhibitors of Egfr in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

“…It is a traditional Southeast Asian medicine that is commonly utilized in India. It has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, antistress, and immunomodulatory properties, according to scientific studies [9]. Some of its phytochemicals, such as eugenol, rosmarinic acid, apigenin, myretenal, luteolin,-sitosterol, and carnosic acid, have been shown in preclinical studies to prevent chemical-induced skin, liver, oral, and lung cancers and to mediate these effects by increasing antioxidant activity, altering gene expressions, inducing apoptosis, and inhibiting angiogenesis and metastasis [9].…”