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Ashwagandha-Role as Anti-inflammatory and in Arthritis PDF Print E-mail
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Written by Dr Margaret   
Apr 16, 2008 at 12:19 AM
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF ASHWAGANDHAAshwagandha has shown promising effects as an anti-inflammatory agent in animal studies, but still requires further work on effects in humans. 

Rasool and Varalakshmi investigated the immunomodulatory effects of an aqueous suspension of the powdwered root of Ashwagandha (botanical name Withania somnifera) both in vitro and in vivo. It showed potent inhibitory activity towards the complement system, mitogen induced lymphocyte proliferation and delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction. Their results demonstrated immunosuppressive effects of Ashwagandha root powder, suggesting it could be a candidate for developing as an immunosuppressive drug for inflammatory diseases(1.  Rasool and Varalakshmi 2007).

 Researchers implanted cotton pellets in rat paws and assessed the inflammatory response with and without application of methanolic extract of the aerial parts of  ashwagandha. Findings demonstrated antiinflammatory activities comparable to that of hydrocortisone sodium succinate in Ashwagandha treated rats. (2. al-Hindawi et al 1992)

An 80% ethanolic extract of Withania somnifera displayed significant antiinflammatory activity on carrageenan-induced paw edema (3.al-Hindawi 1989). Ashwagandha’s effectiveness in osteoarthritis was evaluated by Sumantran and colleagues. Chondroprotective effects of aqueous extracts of Withania somnifera root powder were demonstrated.  The extracts had a statistically signicant,  short-term chondroprotective effect on damaged human osteoarthritic cartilage matrix in 50% of the patients tested. In addition , these extracts caused a significant and reproducible inhibition of the gelatinase activity of collagenase type 2 enzyme in vitro. (4.Sumantran et al 2007)

Ashwaganda has also been shown effective in the treatment of experimentally-induced gouty arthritis in rats.(5.Rasool and Varalakshmi 2006)

 

References:

1.  Rasool,M. Varalakshmi, P Immunomodulatory role of Withania Somnifera root powder on experimental induced inflammation: An in vivo and in vitro study. Vascul Pharmacol. 2006 Jun;44(6):406-102. Anti-granuloma activity of Iraqi Withania somnifera.
MK al-Hindawi, SH al-Khafaji, and MH Abdul-Nabi
J Ethnopharmacol, September 1, 1992; 37(2): 113-6.3. Anti-inflammatory activity of some Iraqi plants using intact rats.
MK Al-Hindawi, IH Al-Deen, MH Nabi, and MA Ismail
J Ethnopharmacol, Sep 1989; 26(2): 163-8.4. Chondroprotective potential of root extracts of Withania somnifera in osteoarthritis.
VN Sumantran, A Kulkarni, S Boddul, T Chinchwade, SJ Koppikar, A Harsulkar, B Patwardhan, A Chopra, and UV Wagh
J Biosci, March 1, 2007; 32(2): 299-307.5.Suppressive effect of Withania somnifera root powder on experimental gouty arthritis: An in vivo and in vitro study.
M Rasool and P Varalakshmi
Chem Biol Interact, Dec 2006; 164(3): 174-80.