Differentiation of Human Glioma Cells by Ashwagandha Leaf Extract and its Components

摘要

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera),an Indian traditional medicinal plant has been known for the treatment of various ailments for many centuries.It is reported that it has the effects of antitumor,radiosensitizer,antistressor,immunomodulatory,anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial.We previously reported that an alcoholic extract of its leaves (i-Extract) could kill selectively cancer cells that functioned through activation of tumor suppressor protein,p53.We also demonstrated by reverse-phase HPLC that i-Extract contained Withaferin A,Withanone and Withanolide A as its main components.Of these,Withanone was mainly involved in tumor suppressor activity.In the present study,we report that low doses and combinations of different components of i-Extract could be employed for the induction of senescence like growth arrest in glioma ceils,high doses being apoptotic.The increase in GFAP expression was coupled with morphological changes towards astrocyte type.The change in mortalin,a heat shock protein 70 family member,staining pattern from perinuclear to pancytoplasmic in response to the treatment with i-Extract and its different components indicated the occurrence of differentiation in these glioma cells.Based on the data,we suggest the use ofi-Extract and its components for differentiation based new,milder and effective glioma therapy.