Adoptogenic and anti-stress activity of Withania somnifera in stress-induced mice
Adoptogenic and anti-stress activity of Withania somnifera in stress-induced mice
Anju and Ashis Kumar Ghosh
Department of Biochemistry
Patna University, Patna, Bihar, India
ABSTRACT The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of ethanolic extract of roots of Withania somnifera (23 mg/kg, p.o) on acute stress-induced biochemical and immunological perturbations in mice. The standard group was administered water soluble root powder of Panax ginseng (100 mg/kg, p.o) while the stress control group was administered distilled water orally. After 7 days of pretreatment with the extract, the animals were concomitantly exposed to swim endurance test and cold restraint stress (4oC for 1 hour). Cold restraint stress resulted in significant increase in adrenal gland weight with concomitant decrease in spleen weight in stress control group which was significantly reverted by pretreatment with extract of Withania somnifera. The activation of HPA system results in secretion of corticotropin hormone, adrenocorticotropic HORMONE(ACTH), BENDRROPHIN and glucocorticoids into the circulation. Pretreatment of animals with Withania somnifera extract (23 mg/kg, p.o) improved the swim duration in mice and significantly restored back the stress-induced alterations in plasma cortisol, blood glucose and triglyceride levels.