Neuroprotective Effects of Withania somnifera on 4-Hydroxynonenal Induced Cell Death in Human Neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y Cells Through ROS Inhibition and Apoptotic Mitochondrial Pathway

Neuroprotective effect of Withania somnifera leaves extract nanoemulsion against penconazole-induced neurotoxicity in albino rats via modulating TGF-β1/Smad2 signaling pathway

Penconazole (PEN) is a systemic triazole fungicide used to control various fungal diseases on grapes, stone fruits, cucurbits, and strawberries. Still, it leaves residues on treated crops after collection with many hazardous effects on population including neurotoxicity. Withania somnifera leaves extract (WSLE) is known for its memory and brain function enhancing ability. To evoke such action efficiently, WSLE bioactive metabolites are needed to cross the blood-brain barrier, that could limit the availability of such compounds to be localized within the brain. Therefore, in the present study, the association between PEN exposure and neurotoxicity was evaluated, and formulated WSLE nanoemulsion was investigated for improving the permeability of the plant extract across the blood-brain barrier. The rats were divided into five groups (n = 6). The control group was administered distilled water, group II was treated with W. somnifera leaves extract nanoemulsion (WSLE NE), group III received PEN, group IV received PEN and WSLE, and group V received PEN and WSLE NE. All rats were gavaged daily for 6 weeks. Characterization of compounds in WSLE using LC-MS/MS analysis was estimated. Neurobehavioral disorders were evaluated in all groups. Oxidative stress biomarkers, antioxidant enzyme activities, and inflammatory cytokines were measured in brain tissue. Furthermore, the gene expression patterns of GFAP, APP, vimentin, TGF-β1, Smad2 and Bax were measured. Histopathological changes and immunohistochemical expression in the peripheral sciatic nerve and cerebral cortex were evaluated. A total of 91 compounds of different chemo-types were detected and identified in WSLE in both ionization modes. Our data showed behavioral impairment in the PEN-treated group, with significant elevation of oxidative stress biomarkers, proinflammatory cytokines, neuronal damage, and apoptosis. In contrast, the PEN-treated group with WSLE NE showed marked improvement in behavioral performance and histopathological alteration with a significant increase in antioxidant enzyme activity and anti-inflammatory cytokines compared to the group administered WSLE alone. The PEN-treated group with WSLE NE in turn significantly downregulated the expression levels of GFAP, APP, vimentin, TGF-β1, Smad2 and Bax in brain tissue. In conclusion, WSLE NE markedly enhanced the permeability of plant extract constituents through the blood brain barrier to boost its neuroprotective effect against PEN-induced neurotoxicity.

Withania somnifera: Progress towards a Pharmaceutical Agent for Immunomodulation and Cancer Therapeutics

Chemotherapy is one of the prime treatment options for cancer. However, the key issues with traditional chemotherapy are recurrence of cancer, development of resistance to chemotherapeutic agents, affordability, late-stage detection, serious health consequences, and inaccessibility. Hence, there is an urgent need to find innovative and cost-effective therapies that can target multiple gene products with minimal adverse reactions. Natural phytochemicals originating from plants constitute a significant proportion of the possible therapeutic agents. In this article, we reviewed the advances and the potential of Withania somnifera (WS) as an anticancer and immunomodulatory molecule. Several preclinical studies have shown the potential of WS to prevent or slow the progression of cancer originating from various organs such as the liver, cervix, breast, brain, colon, skin, lung, and prostate. WS extracts act via various pathways and provide optimum effectiveness against drug resistance in cancer. However, stability, bioavailability, and target specificity are major obstacles in combination therapy and have limited their application. The novel nanotechnology approaches enable solubility, stability, absorption, protection from premature degradation in the body, and increased circulation time and invariably results in a high differential uptake efficiency in the phytochemical’s target cells. The present review primarily emphasizes the insights of WS source, chemistry, and the molecular pathways involved in tumor regression, as well as developments achieved in the delivery of WS for cancer therapy using nanotechnology. This review substantiates WS as a potential immunomodulatory, anticancer, and chemopreventive agent and highlights its potential use in cancer treatment.