• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.127-134
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• 2011

The biotransformation potential of cell suspension cultures generated from Withania somnifera leaf was investigated, using withanolides, i.e. withanolide A, withaferin A, and withanone as precursor substrates. Interestingly, the cell suspension cultures showed inter-conversion of withanolides, as well converted to some unknown compounds, released to the culture media. The bio-catalyzed withanolide was detected and quantified by TLC and HPLC, respectively. There is noticeable conversion of withanolide A to withanone, and vice versa though at a lower level. The type of reaction of this biotransformation appears to be substitution of 20-OH group to 17-OH in withanolide A. In this paper, we present for the first time the possibility of biotransformation by inter-conversion of withanolides of pharmacological importance through cell suspension culture of W. somnifera. The possible role of putative cytochrome $P_{450}$ hydroxylases is implicated in the conversion.

• Mycobiology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.96-99
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• 2001

Withametelin, a steroidal compound isolated from leaves of Datura metel L.(Solanaceae), showed antifungal activity against some plant pathogenic as well as saprophytic fungi tested in vitro. Except Curvularia maculans and Colletotrichum sp., spore germination of all the other 23 fungi was inhibited significantly at 125 to 1000 ppm. Out of the 25 fungi tested, Curvularia sp., Cercospora abelmoschi, Heterosporium sp., Erysiphe cichoracearum and Ustilago cynodontis were most sensitive as there was complete inhibition of germination at 1000 ppm. Similarly, spores of Alternaria brassicae, Curvularia lunata and Helminthosporium pennisetti showed less than 3% germination at the same concentration. Rest of the fungi showed more than 15% spore germination at the same concentration.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2006

It is of utmost importance to feed the current world population by improving agricultural production with newer varieties of food crops, but what is still more important is to add nutrition into the food. Some of the plants, which are currently growing in the wastelands, contain certain phytochemicals which add to their neutraceutical and health value. These plants contain secondary metabolites which enhance the over all metabolic functions of the body. Withasteroids are one of such phytochemicals. These chemicals are almost exclusively found in plants of the Solanaceae family; one of which, Physalis minima, contains several with asteroids. The aerial parts and roots of P. minima have been found to contain several steroids, identification of which is been discussed in this paper. These with asteroids contribute to the functional value since incorporation of withanolides in the diet may prevent or decrease the growth of tumors in humans.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2006

There is great demand of nutraceutical secondary metabolites in the world so as to feed the population by improving agricultural production with new varieties of food crops but what is still more important is to add nutrition into the food. Physalis minima, plant of Solanaceae family, contain certain secondary metabolites which enhance the over all metabolic functions of the body. Withasteroids are one of such phytochemicals that are generally regarded as safe. These chemicals are almost monopoly of the plants of Solanaceae. The leaves, stem and roots of P. minima have been examined to yield several steroids, identification of which has been discussed in this paper. These withasteroids contribute to the potential nutraceutical and health function value since incorporation of withanolides in the diet may prevent or decrease the growth of tumors in humans.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.584-591
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• 2009

Adventitious root culture was established in the Jawahar variety of Withania somnifera using MS basal medium supplemented with 0.5 (mg/l) IAA and 2.0 (mg/l) IBA. Root tips from germinated seedlings, MS0 maintained plants and adventitious roots were maintained in suspension medium (1/2 MS basal medium supplemented with 3% sucrose) for a period of 1 to 6 months. The weight gain in roots was noted and the withanolides were extracted from the dry roots using solvents petroleum ether, 50% ethanol and chloroform. The withanolides in the chloroform fractions of all root samples analyzed were compared using thin layer chromatographic analysis. Withanolide content in adventitious root sample was found to be superior compared to other roots at any given point of time during the 6month growth period.HPLC analysis of in vitro adventitious roots showed the presence of a new compound.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.7.1-7.13
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• 2021

Levodopa (L-DOPA) therapy is normally practised to treat motor pattern associated with Parkinson disease (PD). Additionally, several inhibitory drugs such as Entacapone and Opicapone are also cosupplemented to protect peripheral inactivation of exogenous L-DOPA (~80%) that occurs due to metabolic activity of the enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT). Although, both Entacapone and Opicapone have U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval but regular use of these drugs is associated with high risk of side effects. Thus, authors have focused on in silico discovery of phytochemicals and evaluation of their effectiveness against human soluble COMT using virtual screening, molecular docking, drug-like property prediction, generation of pharmacophoric property, and molecular dynamics simulation. Overall, study proposed, nine phytochemicals (withaphysalin D, withaphysalin N, withaferin A, withacnistin, withaphysalin C, withaphysalin O, withanolide B, withasomnine, and withaphysalin F) of plant Withania somnifera have strong binding efficiency against human COMT in comparison to both of the drugs i.e., Opicapone and Entacapone, thus may be used as putative bioenhancer in L-DOPA therapy. The present study needs further experimental validation to be used as an adjuvant in PD treatment.