title: Effect of Withania somnifera glycowithanolides on iron-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.
abstract: Glycowithanolides, consisting of equimolar concentrations of sitoindosides VII-X and withaferin A, isolated from the roots of Withania somnifera Dunal, have been reported to have an antioxidant effect in the rat brain frontal cortex and striatum. In the present study, the effect of 10 days of oral administration of these active principles, in graded doses (10, 20 and 50 mg/kg), was noted on iron overload (FeSo(4), 30 mg/kg, i.p.) induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Apart from hepatic lipid peroxidation (LPO), the serum enzymes, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase, were assessed as indices of hepatotoxicity. Silymarin (20 mg/kg, p.o.) was used for comparison. Iron overload induced marked increase in hepatic LPO and serum levels of the enzymes, which was attenuated by WSG in a dose-related manner, and by silymarin. The results indicate that the reported use of WS in Ayurveda for hepatoprotection against heavy metals and other environmental toxins, may be due the antioxidant action of WSG.
authors.affiliation: Drug Research and Development Centre, Calcutta, India.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhattacharya
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramanathan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghosal
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Bhattacharya
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004875:Ergosterol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000633:toxicity; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019657:Solanaceae / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054358:Withanolides
chemical_list: D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D010936:Plant Extracts; D020011:Protective Agents; D012855:Sitosterols; D054358:Withanolides; C020748:ferrous sulfate; C009684:withaferin A; D004875:Ergosterol