Withaferin A: From Ancient Remedy to Potential Drug Candidate
Authors
Tahira Sultana
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan; [email protected]
Mohammad Okla
Botany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; [email protected] (M.K.O.); [email protected] (A.A.-H.)
Madiha Ahmed
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan; [email protected]
Nosheen Akhtar
Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi 43600, Pakistan; [email protected]
Abdulrahman Al-Hashimi
Botany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; [email protected] (M.K.O.); [email protected] (A.A.-H.)
Hamada Abdelgawad
Integrated Molecular Plant Physiology Research, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, 2020 Antwerpen, Belgium; [email protected]
Ihsan-ul- Haq
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan; [email protected]
Keywords:
anticancer, antitumor, antiinflammatory, antiherpes virus, antileishminial, Withania somnifera, withaferin A
Abstract
Withaferin A (WA) is a pivotal withanolide that has conquered a conspicuous place in research, owning to its multidimensional biological properties. It is an abundant constituent in Withania somnifera Dunal. (Ashwagandha, WS) that is one of the prehistoric pivotal remedies in Ayurveda. This article reviews the literature about the pharmacological profile of WA with special emphasis on its anticancer aspect. We reviewed research publications concerning WA through four databases and provided a descriptive analysis of literature without statistical or qualitative analysis. WA has been found as an effective remedy with multifaceted mechanisms and a broad spectrum of pharmacological profiles. It has anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiherpetic, antifibrotic, antiplatelet, profibrinolytic, immunosuppressive, antipigmentation, antileishmanial, and healing potentials. Evidence for wide pharmacological actions of WA has been established by both in vivo and in vitro studies. Further, the scientific literature accentuates the role of WA harboring a variable therapeutic spectrum for integrative cancer chemoprevention and cure. WA is a modern drug from traditional medicine that is necessary to be advanced to clinical trials for advocating its utility as a commercial drug.
Keywords: anticancer, antitumor, antiinflammatory, antiherpes virus, antileishminial, Withania somnifera, withaferin A
Author Biography
Madiha Ahmed, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan; [email protected]
Shifa College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
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