<i>Withania somnifera</i> Root Extract Enhances Telomerase Activity in the Human HeLa Cell Line
- 1 Center for Preclinical and Translational Medicine Research, Central Research Facility, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, India
- 2 Center for Preclinical and Translational Medicine Research, Central Research Facility, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, India
Abstract
Aging is a decelerating unidirectional process of life. Shortening of telomeric DNA, the (TTAGGG) n hexanucleotide repeats, which form the caps at the chromosome ends, is implicated to determine the aging process, and more importantly the healthy lifespan itself. Telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein having reverse transcriptase activity, arrests telomere loss through addition of the TTAGGG repeats de novo, to the ends of the chromosome. The telomere/telomerase maintenance is an inevitable necessity to delay aging and for a healthy lifespan. Here, we report the potential of full-spectrum, high concentration Ashwagandha ( Withania somnifera ), an Ayurvedic medicinal herb, root extract to increase telomerase activity. HeLa cells, when treated with various concentrations of Ashwagandha root extract, showed an increase in telomerase activity measured with the established Telomerase Rapid Amplification Protocol (TRAP) assay. Ashwagandha root extract increased telomerase activity with highest enhancement of ~45% at 10 - 50 μg concentration. Thus, Ashwagandha root extract has the anti-aging inducing potential.
- Jin, K., Simpkins, J.W., Ji, X., Leis, M. and Stambler, I. (2015) The Critical Need to Promote Research of Aging and Aging-Related Diseases to Improve Health and Longevity of the Elderly Population. Aging and Disease, 6, 1-5. <br/〉http://dx.doi.org/10.14336/AD.2014.1210
- Blackburn, E.H. (2001) Switching and Signaling at the Telomere. Cell, 106, 661-673. <br/〉http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0092-8674(01)00492-5
- Greider, C.W. and Blackburn, E.H. (1985) Identification of a Specific Telomere Terminal Transferase Activity in Tetrahymena Extracts. Cell, 43, 405-413. <br/〉http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0092-8674(85)90170-9
- Jaskelioff, M., Muller, F.L., Paik, J.-H., et al. (2011) Telomerase Reactivation Reverses Tissue Degeneration in Aged Telomerase-Deficient Mice. Nature, 469, 102-126. <br/〉http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature09603
- Flores, I., Benetti, R. and Blasco, M.A. (2006) Telomerase Regulation and Stem Cell Behaviour. Current Opinion in Cell Biology, 18, 254-260. <br/〉http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ceb.2006.03.003
- Harley, C.B., Futcher, A.B. and Greider, C.W. (1990) Telomeres Shorten during Ageing of Human Fibroblasts. Nature, 345, 458-460. <br/〉http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/345458a0
- Mu, J. and Wei, L.X. (2002) Telomere and Telomerase in Oncology. Cell Research, 12, 1-7. <br/〉http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sj.cr.7290104
- de Jesus, B.B., Schneeberger, K., Vera, E., Tejera, A., Harley, C.B. and Blasco, M.A. (2011) The Telomerase Activator TA-65 Elongates Short Telomeres and Increases Health Span of Adult/Old Mice without Increasing Cancer Incidence. Aging Cell, 10, 604-621. <br/〉http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1474-9726.2011.00700.x
- Bhattacharya, S.K. and Muruganandam, A.V. (2003) Adaptogenic Activity of Withania somnifera: An Experimental Study Using a Rat Model of Chronic Stress. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 75, 547-555. <br/〉http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0091-3057(03)00110-2
- Malik, F., Kumar, A., Bhushan, S., et al. (2009) Immune Modulation and Apoptosis Induction: Two Sides of Antitumoural Activity of a Standardised Herbal Formulation of Withania somnifera. European Journal of Cancer, 45, 1494-1509. <br/〉http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2009.01.034
- Kumar, R., Gupta, K., Saharia, K., Pradhan, D. and Subramaniam, J.R. (2013) Withania somnifera Root Extract Extends Lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans. Annals of Neuorscience, 20, 13-16.
- Prabu, P.C., Panchapakesan, S. and Raj, C.D. (2013) Acute and Sub-Acute Oral Toxicity Assessment of the Hydroalcoholic Extract of Withania somnifera Roots in Wistar Rats. Phytotherapy Research, 27, 1169-1178.