Study of Drug Target Identification and Associated Molecular Mechanisms for the Therapeutic Activity and Hair Follicle Induction of Two Ashwagandha Extracts Having Differential Withanolide Constitutions
September 2023
in “
Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism
”
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Studysummary This study found that the ashwagandha extracts ASH-Ext1 and ASH-Ext2 show different pharmacological activities in cell models due to their distinct withanolide proportions, highlighting the need for standardized extraction protocols to ensure consistent therapeutic efficacy.
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The research paper studied two Ashwagandha extracts, ASH-Ext1 and ASH-Ext2, with different withanolide proportions. ASH-Ext1 was found to support antioxidant activity and Nrf2 signaling modulation in various cell models, demonstrating higher antioxidant activity and cytoprotection efficacy compared to a commercial Ashwagandha extract. ASH-Ext2 increased β-catenin and telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) protein expression levels in human hair follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPCs), crucial for hair formation and cycling. The study concluded that Ashwagandha extracts have potential therapeutic benefits, including hair growth promotion, but emphasized the need for standardization in the extraction process for consistent pharmacological outcomes.
