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| Ashwagandha (Withaferin A) — Withaferin A (WA; WFA) is a bioactive steroidal lactone (a “withanolide”) found in Withania somnifera (ashwagandha/Indian ginseng), with most translational oncology discussion centered on WA as a small-molecule electrophile rather than the whole-herb supplement. It is best classified as a natural-product small molecule (steroidal lactone/withanolide) with pleiotropic proteostasis, cytoskeletal, redox-stress, and inflammatory signaling effects; in supplements, WA exposure depends strongly on extract standardization (root vs leaf, % withanolides) and formulation. Primary mechanisms (ranked):
Bioavailability / PK relevance: WA shows measurable systemic exposure in animals (reported oral bioavailability in rats), but PK is variable across species, doses, and extract matrices; human exposure data exist from a phase I osteosarcoma study and from healthy-volunteer PK work on standardized Withania extracts measuring circulating withanolides (including WA). WA is lipophilic and subject to first-pass metabolism; typical pharmacodynamic in-vitro micromolar concentrations may exceed achievable unbound plasma levels depending on formulation and dosing. In-vitro vs systemic exposure relevance: Many mechanistic cancer studies use ~1–10 µM WA; translation requires caution because free (unbound) systemic concentrations and tumor penetration are not well-constrained in humans, and whole-extract products can have low/variable WA content (model- and formulation-dependent). Clinical evidence status: Limited human oncology evidence: a phase I study in advanced high-grade osteosarcoma reported feasibility/safety and proposed a daily dose level; an active clinical trial evaluates an ashwagandha/withaferin-A strategy with liposomal doxorubicin in recurrent ovarian cancer. Most anticancer support remains preclinical, while non-oncology human data for ashwagandha primarily address stress/sleep and are not evidence of anticancer efficacy. The main active constituents of Ashwagandha leaves are alkaloids and steroidal lactones (commonly known as Withanolides).-The main constituents of ashwagandha are withanolides such as withaferin A, alkaloids, steroidal lactones, tropine, and cuscohygrine. Ashwagandha is an herb that may reduce stress, anxiety, and insomnia. *-Ashwagandha is often characterized as an antioxidant. -Some studies suggest that while ashwagandha may protect normal cells from oxidative damage, it can simultaneously stress cancer cells by tipping their redox balance toward cytotoxicity. Pathways: -Induction of Apoptosis and ROS Generation -Hsp90 Inhibition and Proteasomal Degradation Cell culture studies vary widely, typically ranging from low micromolar (e.g., 1–10 µM). In animal models (commonly mice), Withaferin A has been administered in doses ranging from approximately 2 to 10 mg/kg body weight. - General wellness, Ashwagandha supplements are sometimes taken in doses ranging from 300 mg to 600 mg of an extract (often standardized to contain a certain percentage of withanolides) once or twice daily. - 400mg of WS extract was given 3X/day to schizophrenia patients. report#2001. - Ashwagandha Pure 400mg/capsule is available from mcsformulas.com. -Note half-life 4-6 hrs?. BioAv Pathways: - well-recognized for promoting ROS in cancer cells, while no effect(or reduction) on normal cells. - ROS↑ related: MMP↓(ΔΨm), ER Stress↑, UPR↑, GRP78↑, Cyt‑c↑, Caspases↑, DNA damage↑, cl-PARP↑, HSP↓, Prx, - Confusing results about Lowering AntiOxidant defense in Cancer Cells: NRF2↓, TrxR↓**, SOD↓, GSH↓ Catalase↓ HO1↓ GPx↓ - Raises AntiOxidant defense in Normal Cells: ROS↓, NRF2↑, SOD↑, GSH↑, Catalase↑, - lowers Inflammation : NF-kB↓, COX2↓, p38↓, Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines : NLRP3↓, IL-1β↓, TNF-α↓, IL-6↓, IL-8↓ - inhibit Growth/Metastases : TumMeta↓, TumCG↓, EMT↓, MMPs↓, MMP2↓, MMP9↓, TIMP2, uPA↓, VEGF↓, ROCK1↓, NF-κB↓, CXCR4↓, SDF1↓, TGF-β↓, α-SMA↓, ERK↓ - reactivate genes thereby inhibiting cancer cell growth : HDAC↓(combined with sulfor), DNMT1↓, DNMT3A↓, P53↑, HSP↓, Sp proteins↓, TET↑ - cause Cell cycle arrest : TumCCA↑, cyclin E↓, CDK2↓, CDK4↓, - inhibits Migration/Invasion : TumCMig↓, TumCI↓, TNF-α↓, ERK↓, EMT↓, TOP1↓, - inhibits glycolysis /Warburg Effect and ATP depletion : HIF-1α↓, PKM2↓, cMyc↓, GLUT1↓, LDH↓, LDHA↓, HK2↓, OXPHOS↓, GRP78↑, GlucoseCon↓ - inhibits angiogenesis↓ : VEGF↓, HIF-1α↓, Notch↓, PDGF↓, EGFR↓, Integrins↓, - inhibits Cancer Stem Cells : CSC↓, β-catenin↓, sox2↓, - Others: PI3K↓, AKT↓, JAK↓, STAT↓, Wnt↓, β-catenin↓, AMPK, α↓, ERK↓, JNK, - Synergies: chemo-sensitization, chemoProtective, RadioSensitizer, RadioProtective, Others(review target notes), Neuroprotective, Cognitive, Renoprotection, Hepatoprotective, CardioProtective, - Selectivity: Cancer Cells vs Normal Cells Mechanistic pathway map for Ashwagandha (Withaferin A) in cancer biology
TSF legend: P: 0–30 min R: 30 min–3 hr G: >3 hr |
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| Type: enzymes |
| Tricarboxylic Acid (TCA) cycle, also known as the Citric Acid cycle or Krebs cycle, is a key metabolic pathway that plays a central role in cellular energy production. The TCA cycle is a series of chemical reactions that occur in the mitochondria and involve the breakdown of acetyl-CoA, a molecule produced from the breakdown of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. The TCA cycle produces: 1. NADH and FADH2 2. ATP 3. GTP Expression of TCA cycle enzymes is often downregulated in cancer cells. Since cancer cells often exhibit rewired metabolism, including alterations in the use of the TCA cycle, researchers are exploring potential therapeutic interventions that target metabolic enzymes or pathways. TCA cycle is essential for normal cellular metabolism, its role in cancer is multifaceted. Cancer cells often reprogram their metabolism—including the TCA cycle—to support rapid growth, adapt to hypoxia, and manage oxidative stress. Mutations in key TCA cycle enzymes generate oncometabolites that further contribute to cancer progression by disrupting normal cellular regulation. Rather than saying the TCA cycle is globally over- or underexpressed in cancer, it is more accurate to say that cancer cells reprogram the cycle—with selective upregulation of parts important for biosynthesis and survival and mutations or downregulation of other parts—to best support their growth and survival in a challenging microenvironment. Oncometabolites -Some metabolites in the Krebs cycle, when accumulated to abnormal levels due to genetic mutations or enzyme deficiencies, are termed “oncometabolites” because they can promote tumorigenesis. -Mutations in succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) can lead to accumulation of succinate. -Mutations in fumarate hydratase (FH) result in an accumulation of fumarate. -Mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH1 and IDH2) result in a neomorphic enzyme activity that converts α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) to 2-hydroxyglutarate: |
| 5173- | Ash, | 2DG, | Withaferin A inhibits lysosomal activity to block autophagic flux and induces apoptosis via energetic impairment in breast cancer cells |
| - | in-vitro, | BC, | MCF-7 | - | in-vitro, | BC, | MDA-MB-231 | - | in-vitro, | BC, | MDA-MB-468 | - | in-vitro, | BC, | T47D |
| 3156- | Ash, | Withaferin A: From ayurvedic folk medicine to preclinical anti-cancer drug |
| - | Review, | Var, | NA |
Query results interpretion may depend on "conditions" listed in the research papers. Such Conditions may include : -low or high Dose -format for product, such as nano of lipid formations -different cell line effects -synergies with other products -if effect was for normal or cancerous cells
Filter Conditions: Pro/AntiFlg:% IllCat:% CanType:% Cells:% prod#:36 Target#:818 State#:% Dir#:1
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