Potential therapeutic use of withania somnifera for treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Abstract

Despite continued effort for last few decades, there are no effective therapies available to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This is, in part, due to the multi-factorial nature of the disease, which makes it difficult to treat with a single drug targeted at a specific factor, pathway or mechanism. In the ensuing chapter, we discuss the potential therapeutic action of Withania somnifera extracts in ALS pathogenesis. Withania somnifera, which is commonly known as Ashwagandha, has been used in traditional medical systems in India, China and some middle- eastern countries for the past 3000 years. The most common use of the plant extract is as a rejuvenator, but it also possesses potent anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, antineoplastic, and immunomodulatory properties. Based on these, the plant extract has been used in numerous diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, with various degrees of efficacy. In this chapter, we shall present the rationale for considering Withania somnifera and its constituents as therapeutic possibility in ALS.