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Review

Steroidal Lactones from Withania somnifera, an Ancient Plant for Novel Medicine

by
Mohammad Hossein Mirjalili
1,
Elisabeth Moyano
2,
Mercedes Bonfill
3,
Rosa M. Cusido
3 and
Javier Palazón
3,*
1
Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C., Evin, Tehran, Iran
2
Departament de Ciencies Experimentals i de la Salut, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Av. Doctor Aiguader 80, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
3
Laboratori de Fisiologia Vegetal, Facultat de Farmacia. Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Molecules 2009, 14(7), 2373-2393; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules14072373
Submission received: 27 May 2009 / Revised: 23 June 2009 / Accepted: 2 July 2009 / Published: 3 July 2009
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Triterpenes and Triterpenoids 2013)
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Abstract

Withania somnifera, commonly known as Ashwagandha, is an important medicinal plant that has been used in Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine for over 3,000 years. In view of its varied therapeutic potential, it has also been the subject of considerable modern scientific attention. The major chemical constituents of the Withania genus, the withanolides, are a group of naturally occurring C28-steroidal lactone triterpenoids built on an intact or rearranged ergostane framework, in which C-22 and C-26 are appropriately oxidized to form a six-membered lactone ring. In recent years, numerous pharmacological investigations have been carried out into the components of W. somnifera extracts. We present here an overview of the chemical structures of triterpenoid components and their biological activity, focusing on two novel activities, tumor inhibition and antiangiogenic properties of withaferin A and the effects of withanolide A on Alzheimer's disease. The most recent attempts in biotechnological production of withanolides are also discussed.
Keywords: Withania somnifera; withanolides; withaferin A; withanolide A; triterpenoids Withania somnifera; withanolides; withaferin A; withanolide A; triterpenoids
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MDPI and ACS Style

Mirjalili, M.H.; Moyano, E.; Bonfill, M.; Cusido, R.M.; Palazón, J. Steroidal Lactones from Withania somnifera, an Ancient Plant for Novel Medicine. Molecules 2009, 14, 2373-2393. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules14072373

AMA Style

Mirjalili MH, Moyano E, Bonfill M, Cusido RM, Palazón J. Steroidal Lactones from Withania somnifera, an Ancient Plant for Novel Medicine. Molecules. 2009; 14(7):2373-2393. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules14072373

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mirjalili, Mohammad Hossein, Elisabeth Moyano, Mercedes Bonfill, Rosa M. Cusido, and Javier Palazón. 2009. "Steroidal Lactones from Withania somnifera, an Ancient Plant for Novel Medicine" Molecules 14, no. 7: 2373-2393. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules14072373

APA Style

Mirjalili, M. H., Moyano, E., Bonfill, M., Cusido, R. M., & Palazón, J. (2009). Steroidal Lactones from Withania somnifera, an Ancient Plant for Novel Medicine. Molecules, 14(7), 2373-2393. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules14072373

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