Withaferin A is a steroidal lactone generally obtained from Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, commonly known as Ashwagandha[1]. Withaferin A can inhibits NF-κB at a very low concentration in endothelial cells[2] and exhibits a broad spectrum of biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antistress, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, and anticancer activities[3]. Withaferin A is commonly utilized in cancer research due to its anticancer activities against various cancer cell lines and preclinical cancer models, achieved by modulating the expression and activity of different oncogenic proteins[4].
Withaferin A potently inhibited cell proliferation in human MPM cells, treatment with Withaferin A at 5µM for 72h significantly inhibit cell growth[5]. In MCF-7 cells, treatment with Withaferin A at 2.5µM for 24h can increase in the level of total as well as S15 phosphorylated p53, which has been implicated in apoptosis induction[6].
Withaferin A (4mg/kg; 14d; i.p.) treatment can inhibits Isoproterenol-induced myocardial fibrosis in mice and significantly reduce heart necrosis[7]. Treatment with Withaferin A (4mg/kg; 10d; i.p.) significantly reduced murine solid tumour growth and improved survival rate of tumour bearing mice[8].
References:
[1]. Paul S, Chakraborty S, Anand U, et al. Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (Ashwagandha): A comprehensive review on ethnopharmacology, pharmacotherapeutics, biomedicinal and toxicological aspects. Biomed Pharmacother. 2021 Nov;143:112175. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112175. Epub 2021 Sep 27. PMID: 34649336.
[2]. Mohan R, Hammers HJ, Bargagna-Mohan P, et al. Withaferin A is a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis. Angiogenesis. 2004;7(2):115-22. doi: 10.1007/s10456-004-1026-3. PMID: 15516832.
[3]Tewari D, Chander V, Dhyani A, et al. Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal: Phytochemistry, structure-activity relationship, and anticancer potential. Phytomedicine. 2022 Apr;98:153949. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.153949. Epub 2022 Jan 19. PMID: 35151215.
[4]. Kumar S, Mathew SO, Aharwal RP, et al. Withaferin A: A Pleiotropic Anticancer Agent from the Indian Medicinal Plant Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2023 Jan 22;16(2):160. doi: 10.3390/ph16020160. PMID: 37259311; PMCID: PMC9966696.
[5]. Yang H, Wang Y, Cheryan VT, et al. Withaferin A inhibits the proteasome activity in mesothelioma in vitro and in vivo. PLoS One. 2012;7(8):e41214. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0041214. Epub 2012 Aug 17. PMID: 22912669; PMCID: PMC3422308.
[6]. Hahm ER, Lee J, Huang Y, et al. Withaferin a suppresses estrogen receptor-α expression in human breast cancer cells. Mol Carcinog. 2011 Aug;50(8):614-24. doi: 10.1002/mc.20760. Epub 2011 Mar 22. PMID: 21432907; PMCID: PMC3129407.
[7]. Challa AA, Vukmirovic M, Blackmon J, et al. Withaferin-A reduces type I collagen expression in vitro and inhibits development of myocardial fibrosis in vivo. PLoS One. 2012;7(8):e42989. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042989. Epub 2012 Aug 10. PMID: 22900077; PMCID: PMC3416765.
[8]. Abeesh P, Vishnu WK, Guruvayoorappan C. Preparation and characterization of withaferin A loaded pegylated nanoliposomal formulation with high loading efficacy: In vitro and in vivo anti-tumour study. Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl. 2021 Sep;128:112335. doi: 10.1016/j.msec.2021.112335. Epub 2021 Jul 27. Erratum in: Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl. 2021 Nov;130:112432. doi: 10.1016/j.msec.2021.112432. PMID: 34474886.
Withaferin A是一种甾体内酯，通常从冬虫夏草（Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal）中提取[1]。Withaferin A 在内皮细胞中能以极低浓度抑制NF-κB[2]，此外Withaferin A表现出广泛的生物活性，包括抗氧化、抗炎、抗菌、抗应激、心脏保护、神经保护和抗癌活性[3]。Withaferin A 常用于癌症研究，它可以通过调节不同致癌蛋白的表达和活性，对多种癌细胞系和临床前癌症模型具有抗癌活性[4]。
Withaferin A 在人类MPM细胞中强效抑制细胞增殖，使用5µM Withaferin A处理72小时可显著抑制细胞生长[5]。在MCF-7细胞中，使用2.5µM Withaferin A处理24小时可增加总p53蛋白及S15位点磷酸化p53蛋白的水平，这与诱导凋亡有关[6]。
使用Withaferin A（4mg/kg；连续14天；腹腔注射）处理可抑制异丙肾上腺素诱导的小鼠心肌纤维化，并显著减少心脏坏死[7]。使用Withaferin A（4mg/kg；连续10天；腹腔注射）处理可显著减少小鼠实体肿瘤生长，并提高肿瘤负荷小鼠的生存率[8]。