WithaniaSomnifera: A New Approach To Cancer

Abstract

Cancer is a hyper proliferative disorder characterized by the abnormal proliferation of cells that invades into the adjacent tissues and causes the destruction. Many cancers are hereditary, other arise from the internal and external environmental factor. Various treatment modalities available for cancer are Surgery, Radiation, Chemotherapy and targeted therapy. Inspite of major advances in drug discovery, research is still undergoing to understand complex biology of cancer with new therapeutics available. A popular ayurvedic herb Withania Somnifera (WS) also known as Indian Winter Cherry and Indian Ginseng is used as a traditional medicine for various cancers. The results of the studies carried out on WS and its chemical components like Withaferin A(WA), Withanolide D (WithaD) etc, describe that it is effective in prevention and treatment of different kinds of cancer like colon, blood, lung, skin, breast, renal, fibrosarcoma, prostate, pancreatic, renal, malignant melanoma, osteosarcoma by preventing proliferation and progression of cancer cells, alteration in hematological and biochemical parameters, modulation of cell cycle markers etc. Withania somnifera can be given alone or in combination with synthetic drugs. Identification of novel natural anticancer compound is highly demanding for prevention and treatment of cancer. However, multicentric long term clinical studies should be carried out to provide complementary and alternative therapy