Remedial antioxidant action of Withania somnifera on restraint stress‐induced oxidative damage

Abstract

Restraint stress is known to produce chronic physical and emotional stress, with impaired antioxidant defenses playing a key role at the intracellular level. Oxidative stress has been implicated in the complex pathology of stress‐related depression. Withania somnifera (L.) is an evergreen shrub categorized as an adaptogen in the traditional Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine. Thus, in the present study the aqueous solution of a root extract of Withania somnifera (WS) was evaluated for its effect on restraint stress‐induced pro‐oxidant status. Two different groups of rats were orally administered WS root powder (250 mg/kg) either alone, or after exposure to 4 hours of restraint stress. Control animals and stress alone‐treated rats were handled simultaneously. Restraint stress induced a decrease in circulating antioxidant enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione‐s‐transferease (GST) as well as glucose levels. WS administration to stressed animals was observed to be effective in increasing these values towards their respective controls. Therefore, (WS) can be used as an effective antioxidant to combat stress‐induced oxidative damage and provide protection in a diverse range of stress‐related physical and mental disorders. This research is supported by Al‐Zaytoonah University and A.M. University.