Quantifying Withanolides in Plasma: Pharmacokinetic Studies and Analytical Methods – PubMed Black Hawk Supplements

BLACK HAWK: Best lions mane supplement for libido

Published article

Withania somnifera (common name: ashwagandha; WS) is an Ayurvedic botanical that has become popular for its reputed effects on stress and insomnia. Research into the bioactive compounds responsible for the biological effects of WS has largely focused on withanolides, a group of steroidal lactones commonly found in the Solanaceae family. Until recently, however, it was unclear which, if any, withanolides were present in the plasma after the ingestion of WS products. The aim of this review is to…
Black Hawk Supplements, best supplements in the UK

Quantifying Withanolides in Plasma: Pharmacokinetic Studies and Analytical Methods - PubMed

Review

Quantifying Withanolides in Plasma: Pharmacokinetic Studies and Analytical Methods

Alex B Speers et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Withania somnifera (common name: ashwagandha; WS) is an Ayurvedic botanical that has become popular for its reputed effects on stress and insomnia. Research into the bioactive compounds responsible for the biological effects of WS has largely focused on withanolides, a group of steroidal lactones commonly found in the Solanaceae family. Until recently, however, it was unclear which, if any, withanolides were present in the plasma after the ingestion of WS products. The aim of this review is to summarize current knowledge regarding the plasma pharmacokinetics of withanolides found in WS and the analytical methods developed to detect them in plasma. Twenty studies (sixteen animal, four human) were identified in which isolated withanolides or withanolide-containing products were administered to animals or humans and quantified in plasma. Withanolides were commonly analyzed using reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Plasma concentrations of withanolides varied significantly depending on the substance administered, withanolide dose, and route of administration. Plasma pharmacokinetics of withaferin A, withanolide A, withanolide B, withanoside IV, 12-deoxywithastramonolide, and withanone have been reported in rodents (Cmax range: 5.6-8410 ng/mL), while withaferin A, withanolide A, 12-deoxywithastramonolide, and withanoside IV pharmacokinetic parameters have been described in humans (Cmax range: 0.1-49.5 ng/mL).

Keywords: Withania somnifera; ashwagandha; liquid chromatography; mass spectrometry; pharmacokinetics; withaferin A; withanolides.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1

Chemical structures for withanolides analyzed in mammalian plasma samples.

References

    1. Singh N., Bhalla M., de Jager P., Gilca M. An overview on Ashwagandha: A Rasayana (Rejuvenator) of Ayurveda. Afr. J. Tradit. Complement. Altern. Med. 2011;8:208–213. doi: 10.4314/ajtcam.v8i5S.9. – DOI – PMC – PubMed
    1. Panossian A.G., Efferth T., Shikov A.N., Pozharitskaya O.N., Kuchta K., Mukherjee P.K., Banerjee S., Heinrich M., Wu W., Guo D.A., et al. Evolution of the adaptogenic concept from traditional use to medical systems: Pharmacology of stress- and aging-related diseases. Med. Res. Rev. 2021;41:630–703. doi: 10.1002/med.21743. – DOI – PMC – PubMed
    1. Speers A.B., Cabey K.A., Soumyanath A., Wright K.M. Effects of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) on Stress and the Stress- Related Neuropsychiatric Disorders Anxiety, Depression, and Insomnia. Curr. Neuropharmacol. 2021;19:1468–1495. doi: 10.2174/1570159X19666210712151556. – DOI – PMC – PubMed
    1. Wilson J. Here’s What Experts Say About Using Ashwagandha as a Stress Treatment. [(accessed on 28 February 2023)]. Available online: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ashwagandha-stress-insomnia-anxiety_l_646….
    1. Blum D. All About Ashwagandha, the Stress Relief Supplement of the Moment. [(accessed on 28 February 2023)]. Available online: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/05/well/mind/ashwagandha-supplement-bene….

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding

LinkOut – more resources

BLACK HAWK: Best shilajit supplement for teens

Read the original publication:

Quantifying Withanolides in Plasma: Pharmacokinetic Studies and Analytical Methods – PubMed