Withania somnifera root extract reduces susceptibility of the model worm Caenorhabditis elegans to different types of stressors.

INTRODUCTION: Withania somnifera, commonly known as Ashwagandha, is one of the most widely prescribed plants in the Indian system of traditional medicine. Its roots are believed to impart comprehensive health benefits supporting lifespan and healthspan through their anti-stress, immunomodulatory, and neuroprotective activity. Scientific validation of its claimed biological effects is warranted.
METHODS: The nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans was challenged with heat or certain neurotoxic/mitotoxic chemical stressors, and worm activity (healthspan) was compared between W. somnifera root extract (WSRE)-exposed and control worm populations through an automated worm tracker.
RESULTS: Previous exposure of worms to WSRE conferred prophylactic benefit on them in the face of subsequent challenge with rotenone, MnCl2, or levamisole. Worms pre-exposed to either of these toxins were able to recover faster in the presence of WSRE. This extract was also able to reduce the susceptibility of wild-type worms to heat-induced paralysis and that of transgenic worms to beta-amyloid-mediated paralysis.
CONCLUSIONS: W. somnifera root extract improved the ability of C. elegans to withstand and recover from multiple stressors, consistent with its adaptogenic-like effects mentioned in traditional medicine. WSRE conferred protection on this worm against multiple stressors acting through different toxicological mechanisms. Our results support the candidature of W. somnifera roots as a potent nutraceutical. However, the underlying molecular targets and pathways remain to be elucidated.