Cited by 95Phytochemicals and Medicinal PlantsPharmacological Effects of Medicinal PlantsBiofield Effects and Biophysics

Withania somnifera and Its Withanolides Attenuate Oxidative and Inflammatory Responses and Up-Regulate Antioxidant Responses in BV-2 Microglial Cells

Sun, Grace Y., Li, Runting, Cui, Jiankun, Hannink, Mark, Gu, Zezong, Fritsche, Kevin L., Lubahn, Dennis B., Simonyi, Agnes·2016·NeuroMolecular Medicine

Abstract

Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, commonly known as Ashwagandha, has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for promoting health and quality of life. Recent clinical trials together with experimental studies indicated significant neuroprotective effects of Ashwagandha and its constituents. This study is aimed to investigate anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties of this botanical and its two withanolide constituents, namely, Withaferin A and Withanolide A, using the murine immortalized BV-2 microglial cells. Ashwagandha extracts not only effectively inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in BV-2 cells, but also stimulates the Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) pathway, leading to induction of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), both in the presence and absence of LPS. Although the withanolides were also capable of inhibiting LPS-induced NO production and stimulating Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, Withaferin A was tenfold more effective than Withanolide A. In serum-free culture, LPS can also induce production of long thin processes (filopodia) between 4 and 8 h in BV-2 cells. This morphological change was significantly suppressed by Ashwagandha and both withanolides at concentrations for suppressing LPS-induced NO production. Taken together, these results suggest an immunomodulatory role for Ashwagandha and its withanolides, and their ability to suppress oxidative and inflammatory responses in microglial cells by simultaneously down-regulating the NF-kB and upregulating the Nrf2 pathways.

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Crossref · 10.1007/s12017-016-8411-0

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Authors
Sun, G. Y., Li, R., Cui, J., Hannink, M., Gu, Z., Fritsche, K. L., Lubahn, D. B., & Simonyi, A.
Affiliations
University of Missouri (US)
Corresponding author
Sun, Grace Y.
Venue
NeuroMolecular Medicine
Published
2016-05-21
Volume
18
Issue
3
Pages
241-252
ISSN
  • 1535-1084 (ISSN-L)
  • 1559-1174
OpenAlex
W2399040283
Cited by
95
References
55
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 1
FWCI
12.34
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • NeuroMolecular Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (P50AT006273)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Phytochemicals and Medicinal Plants
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Pharmacological Effects of Medicinal Plants
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Biofield Effects and Biophysics
Keywords
Withania somnifera, withanolides, withaferin A, withanolide A, BV-2 cells, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, NF-κB signaling, nitric oxide, reactive oxygen species, lipopolysaccharide, filopodia, immunomodulation, neuroprotection, Ayurveda
MeSH terms
Animals, Cell Line, Gene Expression Regulation, Immunologic Factors, Plant Extracts, NF-kappa B, Microglia, Oxidative Stress, Neuroprotective Agents, Withania, NF-E2-Related Factor 2, Mice, Withanolides

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