Biological Activity of Withanolides

Abstract

A large number of wit hano lides are isolated fr om solanaceous pl ant s and some derivat ives are al so prepared. So me of the withano lides, mainl y Withaferin A(WA), Withanoli de D(WD), Withanoli de E(WE), 3 13- hydroxy-2,3-dihydrowithanolide F, and sit oindosides are assessed for bi ological ac ti vi ti es. These compounds and so me o th er withano lid es are found to have useful biological e ffects such as ant icancer, radiosensitizi ng, antibac te ri al, adaptogeni c, immunomodul ati ng, antioxid ant , hepatoprotecti ve, anti stress, antiinfl ammatory anti arthrit ic, and in sect anti feedan t activiti es. However, none o f th e wi th anolide has so fa r been evaluated for pharmacokin eti c and ph armacodynami c pro perties .. The bi ological activities of th e withanolides vary wit h th e su bstitut io n pattern of the co mpou nds. Fu rt her,several withanolides are present in each pl ant. Thus th e detail ed pharmacological studi es of the wi th ano lides are warranted before any of these compound can be clinicall y assessed and used.