Protective role of Withania somnifera root extract on lipid peroxidation of Erythrocytes

Withania Somnifera (Ashwagandha) is an important medicinal plant that has been used in Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine. It is also known as Indian ginseng. It exerts antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immune modulatory activities. In the present study, we studied the free radical scavenging activity of Withania Somnifera root extract. The radical scavenging effect of the extract was studied by its effect on hydroxy radicals generated by Fe-ascorbate-H2O2 system. Our results showed that Withania Somnifera root extract (1-10,000 µg/ ml) resulted in a significant dose dependent increase in percent inhibition of hydroxylation. Further, we studied the in vitro effect of Withania Somnifera root extract on Lipid peroxidation in terms of MDA level of human erythrocytes. Our results showed a significant dose dependent decrease in lipid peroxidation at a concentration of (1-1000 µg/ ml) as evident by decrease in level of MDA. Maximum effect was observed at 100-1000 µg/ ml. Withania Somnifera root extract thus can act as a potential antioxidant containing compound and protects erythrocytes from oxidative damage by either directly scavenging the free radical, sparing it or activating other enzymatic processes. At higher concentration (10,000 µg/ ml), Withania Somnifera extract increased the oxidative stress as evident from erythrocyte MDA level which became significantly more than the maximum effect shown at 1000 µg/ ml of extract.