Dietary Supplementation of <i>Ashwagandha</i> (<i>Withania somnifera</i>, Dunal) Enhances <scp>NK</scp> Cell Function in Ovarian Tumors in the Laying Hen Model of Spontaneous Ovarian Cancer

Barua, Animesh; Bradaric, Michael J.; Bitterman, Pincas; Abramowicz, Jacques S.; Sharma, Sameer; Basu, Sanjib; Lopez, Heather; Bahr, Janice M.

doi:10.1111/aji.12172

Cited by 21 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Another study conducted in hens susceptible to ovarian cancer development showed that ashwagandha supplementation reduced the incidence of tumor development; changes in NK cell population were also observed. Both stromal and intratumoral NK cell populations significantly increased after supplementation, suggesting a protective function of NK cells against carcinogenesis [83]. The influence of ashwagandha extracts on NK cells requires both the identification of an active compound in the extracts and further studies on its mechanism of action.…”

Section: Phytochemicalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Natural Compounds on NK Cell Activation

Grudzień

Rapak

2018

Journal of Immunology Research

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Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes of the innate immune system that survey the body for stressed and abnormal cells. The integration of signals that they receive through various inhibitory and activating cell surface receptors controls their activation and ability to kill target cells and produce cytokines. In this manner, phenotypically and functionally distinct subsets of NK cells help protect against microbial infections and cancer and shape the adaptive immune response. NK cells can use two different mechanisms to kill their targets, either by cytotoxic granule exocytosis or by induction of death receptor-mediated apoptosis. Death ligands belong to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family of ligands. Upon release in close proximity to a cell slated for killing, perforin forms pores in the cell membrane of the target cell through which granzymes and associated molecules can enter and induce apoptosis. NK cells are also involved in antibody-dependent cellular toxicity via the CD16 receptor. In addition to target recognition, NK cells can be also activated by treatment with multiple compounds with stimulatory properties. Apart from interleukins, which belong to the best characterized group of NK cell-stimulating compounds, vitamins and constituents extracted from plants also display the ability to activate NK cells. The current review characterizes several groups of NK cell-activating compounds: vitamins belonging to classes A, B, C, D, and E, polysaccharides, lectins, and a number of phytochemicals used in cancer research, exhibiting stimulatory properties when applied to NK cells. Although in most cases the exact mechanism of action is not known, constituents described in this review seem to be promising candidates for NK cell-stimulating drugs.

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Section: Phytochemicalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Natural Compounds on NK Cell Activation

Grudzień

Rapak

2018

Journal of Immunology Research

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“…ovarian cancer (39). This finding suggests that ashwagandha may enhance the antitumor function of natural killer cells.…”

Section: The Chicken: the Perfect Animal Model To Study Human Ovarianmentioning

confidence: 80%

My Scientific Journey: From an Agrarian Start to an Academic Setting

Bahr

2017

Annu. Rev. Anim. Biosci.

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This article is a combination of an autobiography and a review of outstanding research done by over 70 graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and visiting scientists along with excellent collaborators during my over-40-year career as a professor of reproductive physiology at the University of Illinois, UrbanaChampaign. I have also shared thoughts on mentoring, how research has changed over the years, and the future of reproductive physiology. I provide the reader with a snapshot of the challenges faced by a woman eager to obtain a PhD under the guidance of renowned professors in the early 1970s and to be hired as the first woman, and the only permanent female faculty member, for more than 20 years on a faculty of 40 men. As a comparative reproductive physiologist, I describe the various animal models used because they were the best models to answer specific questions in reproduction. Also, my graduate students and postdoctoral fellows were given the freedom to identify their research topics, articulate hypotheses to be tested, and select appropriate animal models. This approach caused students to take ownership of their research, resulting in the development of independent and creative scientists and over 170 publications, excluding chapters in top-tier journals. Finally, I am so grateful for a truly rich life mentoring graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who have become my lifelong friends.

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“…Despite all research focused towards WA formulation as an anticancer drug, Barua et al (2013) have focused on the direct application of W. somnifera, in the form of powder obtained from root, into the diet of hen for the study of natural killer cells function in ovarian tumors. For this, plant root powder was supplemented in the diet of hen continuously for 90 d and compared it with control (hens that were not supplemented with W. somnifera root powder in their diet) and examined for the stromal natural killer cells with intratumoral natural killer cells of ovarian cancer.…”

Section: Withaferin a (Wa)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Anticancer activities ofWithania somnifera: Current research, formulations, and future perspectives

Rai

Jogee

Agarkar

et al. 2015

Pharmaceutical Biology

104

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Context: Cancer, being a cause of death for major fraction of population worldwide, is one of the most studied diseases and is being investigated for the development of new technologies and more accurate therapies. Still the currently available therapies for cancer have many lacunae which affect the patient's health severely in the form of side effects. The natural drugs obtained from the medicinal plants provide a better alternative to fight against this devastating disease. Withania somnifera L. Dunal (Solanaceae), a well-known Ayurvedic medicinal plant, has been traditionally used to cure various ailments for centuries. Objectives: Considering the immense potential of W. somnifera, this review provides a detail account of its vital phytoconstituents and summarizes the present status of the research carried out on its anticancerous activities, giving future directions. Methods: The sources of scientific literature were accessed from various electronic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and library search. Results: Various parts of W. somnifera especially the roots with its unique contents have been proved effective against different kinds of cancers. The most active components withanolides and withaferins along with a few other metabolites including withanone (WN) and withanosides have been reported effective against different types of cancer cell lines. Conclusion: This herb holds an important place among various anticancer medicinal plants. It is very essential to further screen and to investigate different formulations for anticancer therapy in vitro as well as in vivo in combination with established chemotherapy.

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Dietary Supplementation of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera, Dunal) Enhances NK Cell Function in Ovarian Tumors in the Laying Hen Model of Spontaneous Ovarian Cancer

Cited by 21 publications

References 46 publications

Effect of Natural Compounds on NK Cell Activation

Effect of Natural Compounds on NK Cell Activation

My Scientific Journey: From an Agrarian Start to an Academic Setting

Anticancer activities ofWithania somnifera: Current research, formulations, and future perspectives

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