ArticlePloS one2010
Selective killing of cancer cells by Ashwagandha leaf extract and its component Withanone involves ROS signaling.
Article in PloS one, 2010. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 78 papers.
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Who cites it
78 citing papers in PubMed, 156 citations in OpenAlex.
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- Cytotoxic Potential Evaluation of Innovative Pressurised Cyclic Solid-Liquid Extracts fromPlants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera): a comprehensive narrative review of its role in enhancing physical performance and health.Nutrition & metabolism · 2026Review
- Overview of Ayurveda and Ashwagandha: Bioactive Phytochemicals and Potential Applications to Gliomas.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Molecular Characterization of Cancer Preventive and Therapeutic Potential of Three Antistress Compounds, Triethylene Glycol, Withanone, and Withaferin A.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Article
- Withanone as an Emerging Anticancer Agent and Understanding Its Molecular Mechanisms: Experimental and Computational Evidence.Current cancer drug targets · 2025Review
- Immunomodulatory and anticancer effects of moringa polyherbal infusions: potentials for preventive and therapeutic use.Frontiers in immunology · 2025Article
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- Ashwagandha-Induced Programmed Cell Death in the Treatment of Breast Cancer.Current issues in molecular biology · 2024Review
- Review
- Physapruin A Exerts Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress to Trigger Breast Cancer Cell Apoptosis via Oxidative Stress.International journal of molecular sciences · 2023Article
- Liver Dangers of Herbal Products: A Case Report of Ashwagandha-Induced Liver Injury.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Article
- The use of African medicinal plants in cancer management.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2023Review
- Functional Validation of the Putative Oncogenic Activity ofBiomedicines · 2022Article
- Combined Treatment (Ultraviolet-C/Physapruin A) Enhances Antiproliferation and Oxidative-Stress-Associated Mechanism in Oral Cancer Cells.Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Habb-e-Asgandh Suppresses Cell Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis through Mitochondria Dysfunction in Multiple Myeloma Cells (RPMI8226).Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP · 2022Article
- The Impact of Oxidative Stress and AKT Pathway on Cancer Cell Functions and Its Application to Natural Products.Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Review
- Methanol Extract ofAntioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Physapruin A Enhances DNA Damage and Inhibits DNA Repair to Suppress Oral Cancer Cell Proliferation.International journal of molecular sciences · 2022Article
18 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
background and purposeAshwagandha is a popular Ayurvedic herb used in Indian traditional home medicine. It has been assigned a variety of health-promoting effects of which the mechanisms remain unknown. We previously reported the selective killing of cancer cells by leaf extract of Ashwagandha (i-Extract) and its purified component Withanone. In the present study, we investigated its mechanism by loss-of-function screening (abrogation of i-Extract induced cancer cell killing) of the cellular targets and gene pathways. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL
findingsRandomized ribozyme library was introduced into cancer cells prior to the treatment with i-Extract. Ribozymes were recovered from cells that survived the i-Extract treatment. Gene targets of the selected ribozymes (as predicted by database search) were analyzed by bioinformatics and pathway analyses. The targets were validated for their role in i-Extract induced selective killing of cancer cells by biochemical and molecular assays. Fifteen gene-targets were identified and were investigated for their role in specific cancer cell killing activity of i-Extract and its two major components (Withaferin A and Withanone) by undertaking the shRNA-mediated gene silencing approach. Bioinformatics on the selected gene-targets revealed the involvement of p53, apoptosis and insulin/IGF signaling pathways linked to the ROS signaling. We examined the involvement of ROS-signaling components (ROS levels, DNA damage, mitochondrial structure and membrane potential) and demonstrate that the selective killing of cancer cells is mediated by induction of oxidative stress.
conclusionAshwagandha leaf extract and Withanone cause selective killing of cancer cells by induction of ROS-signaling and hence are potential reagents that could be recruited for ROS-mediated cancer chemotherapy.
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