Abstract
We previously reported that the methanol extract of Ashwagandha (roots of Dunal) induced dendrite extension in a human neuroblastoma cell line. In this study, we found that six of the 18 compounds isolated from the methanol extract enhanced neurite outgrowth in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Double immunostaining was performed in rat cortical neurons using antibodies to phosphorylated NF-H as an axonal marker, and to MAP2 as a dendritic marker. In withanolide A-treated cells, the length of NF-H-positive processes was significantly increased compared with vehicle-treated cells, whereas, the length of MAP2-positive processes was increased by withanosides IV and VI. These results suggest that axons are predominantly extended by withanolide A, and dendrites by withanosides IV and VI.
Copyright 2002 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Axons / drug effects*
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Axons / ultrastructure
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Cell Differentiation / drug effects*
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Cell Differentiation / physiology
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Cells, Cultured
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Cerebral Cortex / cytology
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Cerebral Cortex / drug effects*
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Cerebral Cortex / embryology*
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Dendrites / drug effects*
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Dendrites / ultrastructure
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Female
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Fetus
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Growth Substances / chemistry
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Growth Substances / pharmacology*
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Humans
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Immunohistochemistry
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Microtubule-Associated Proteins / drug effects
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Microtubule-Associated Proteins / metabolism
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Molecular Structure
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Neurites / drug effects
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Neurites / ultrastructure
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Neurofilament Proteins / drug effects
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Neurofilament Proteins / metabolism
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Plant Extracts / chemistry
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Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
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Pregnancy
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Rats
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Tumor Cells, Cultured
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Withania / chemistry*
Substances
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Growth Substances
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Microtubule-Associated Proteins
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Neurofilament Proteins
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Plant Extracts
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neurofilament protein H
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Ashwagandha