Editor's Note
Withania somnifera (ashawagandha) is a revered herb in the Ayurvedic system of medicine where it is used for a variety of diseases and symptoms and is considered a nervine tonic and anxiolytic. The herb is considered an adaptogen, is commonly used to combat stress and anxiety and to promote general vitality and well-being; there is a large body of scientific research documenting beneficial activities related to inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune-stimulating effects.
In patients with various cancers, synthetic immunomodulatory agents with significant side effects are often employed. The authors here review studies related to the anti-inflammatory properties of ashwagandha in the context of alternative therapies with lower side effects for mitigating cancer related inflammation. This review found that both W. somnifera extracts and withaferin-A, exhibit anti-inflammatory activities in various preclinical cancer models, and that W. somnifera modulates a number of signaling pathways such as NF-kB, JAK-STAT and AP1. The authors conclude that further clinical trials should proceed for possible applications of this powerful herb in cancer patients.