Withania somnifera Regulates Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Energetics in Rat Cortical Neurons: Role of BDNF and SIRT1.

ABSTRACT: Withania somnifera, a psychoactive plant with putative neuroprotective actions, is used in Indian traditional medicine for the treatment of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. However, the key mechanisms underlying the pleiotropic actions of Withania somnifera on the nervous system remain poorly understood. Given converging evidence suggests a critical role for mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases, we hypothesized that Withania somnifera may exert pleiotropic effects via targeting mitochondria. Treatment with Withania somnifera root extract (RE) or the withanolide-withanoside rich fraction (WLS) enhanced cellular ATP levels in rat cortical neurons in vitro and in the neocortex in vivo. In vivo respirometry perform

SUBMITTER: Fanibunda SE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12289742 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature