What is it about?
Doxorubicin (DOX) is a strong chemotherapy drug, but it can be toxic and sometimes doesn't work well in certain types of breast cancer. Withania somnifera, also known as Ashwagandha, is a plant known for its healing properties, including reducing inflammation and fighting cancer. This study tested whether a special extract from Ashwagandha could protect the kidneys from damage caused by DOX. It also looked at whether combining Ashwagandha with DOX could make the drug more effective against drug-resistant breast cancer cells. In the experiment, rats were given Ashwagandha for two weeks while receiving DOX in the middle of the treatment. The results showed that Ashwagandha helped protect the kidneys by reducing damage, inflammation, and harmful changes in kidney tissue caused by DOX. It also improved the function of certain protective proteins in the kidneys. When combined with DOX, Ashwagandha made the drug more effective at killing breast cancer cells that were resistant to it. The study also found that Ashwagandha contains 34 different compounds, such as alkaloids and fatty acids, which work together to reduce inflammation, protect cells from damage, and promote cell death in cancer cells, all while helping to reduce the harmful side effects of DOX. This suggests that Ashwagandha could be a helpful addition to cancer treatment by both protecting organs and improving the effectiveness of chemotherapy.
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Why is it important?
This study utilized an animal model to show that WIT improved kidney function while lowering oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis of DOX-treated animals. Furthermore, WIT improved the effectiveness of DOX in the treatment of breast cancer utilizing an in vitro model, specifically targeting drug-resistant breast cancer cells. Therefore, WIT is an effective chemotherapeutic supplement with potent an-ti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and antioxidant properties. This allows it not only to decrease the possibility of adverse effects but to increase its pharmacological efficacy as well.
Perspectives
.. More research into WIT's potential as a kidney-protective drug is needed both in pharmacodynamic and clinical settings. Moreover, subsequent investigations could utilize sophisticated target finding techniques, such as protein and PROTAC probes, to further elucidate the mechanisms of action of active compounds. Additional research and clinical trials are required to validate their anticancer properties in human, which may facilitate their application in cancer chemotherapy, either as monotherapies or in conjunction with other anticancer agents.
Dr Alaaeldin A Hamza
National Organization for Drug Control and Research
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Withania somnifera Ameliorates Doxorubicin-Induced Nephrotoxicity and Potentiates Its Therapeutic Efficacy Targeting SIRT1/Nrf2, Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Apoptosis, Pharmaceuticals, February 2025, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/ph18020248.
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