title: Axon- or dendrite-predominant outgrowth induced by constituents from Ashwagandha.
abstract: We previously reported that the methanol extract of Ashwagandha (roots of Dunal) induced dendrite extension in a human neuroblastoma cell line. In this study, we found that six of the 18 compounds isolated from the methanol extract enhanced neurite outgrowth in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Double immunostaining was performed in rat cortical neurons using antibodies to phosphorylated NF-H as an axonal marker, and to MAP2 as a dendritic marker. In withanolide A-treated cells, the length of NF-H-positive processes was significantly increased compared with vehicle-treated cells, whereas, the length of MAP2-positive processes was increased by withanosides IV and VI. These results suggest that axons are predominantly extended by withanolide A, and dendrites by withanosides IV and VI.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Ethnomedicines, Institute of Natural Medicine, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Toyama, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuboyama
authors.forename: Chihiro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tohda
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hattori
authors.forename: Katsuko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Komatsu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology*; D003712:Dendrites / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015394:Molecular Structure; D016501:Neurites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D032341:Withania / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D006133:Growth Substances; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; C051774:neurofilament protein H; C030693:Ashwagandha