Abstract
Medicinal plants serve as a lead source of bioactive compounds and have been an integral part of day-to-day life in treating various disease conditions since ancient times. Withaferin A (WFA), a bioactive ingredient of Withania somnifera, has been used for health and medicinal purposes for its adaptogenic, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties long before the published literature came into existence. Nearly 25% of pharmaceutical drugs are derived from medicinal plants, classified as dietary supplements. The bioactive compounds in these supplements may serve as chemotherapeutic substances competent to inhibit or reverse the process of carcinogenesis. The role of WFA is appreciated to polarize tumor-suppressive Th1-type immune response inducing natural killer cell activity and may provide an opportunity to manipulate the tumor microenvironment at an early stage to inhibit tumor progression. This article signifies the cumulative information about the role of WFA in modulating antitumor immunity and its potential in targeting prostate cancer.
Highlights
Since ancient times, people have used herbal medicines from plants or their extracts derived from flowers, seeds, bark, leaves, or roots to prevent or treat multiple disease types
Various parts of this plant are used for multiple disease treatments, root extract is a rich source of Withaferin A (WFA)
WFA inhibits chymotrypsin-like activity of a 26S proteasome in PC3 xenografts in nude mice and the PC3 cell line, leading to accretion of proteasome target proteins p27, Bax, and IκB-α and increase in PARP cleavage proteins inducing apoptosis in prostate cancer cells [32]
Summary
People have used herbal medicines from plants or their extracts derived from flowers, seeds, bark, leaves, or roots to prevent or treat multiple disease types. Currently in use as chemotherapy drugs, including taxanes, the camptothecin derivatives, the epipodophyllotoxins, and the vinca alkaloids, have been extracted and isolated from plant sources [2]. Understanding the role of plant-based therapies in determining the immune mechanisms of prostate cancer prevention and the therapeutic efficacy is crucial. Known as Indian ginseng, is a traditional Ayurvedic medicinal plant that contains diverse bioactive compounds, including alkaloids, withanolides, and saponins. Various parts of this plant are used for multiple disease treatments, root extract is a rich source of WFA. This review highlights the effect of WFA in regulating both the Journal of Immunology Research immunological and nonimmunological targets and its potential as an anticancer agent for prostate carcinoma
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
