@article {739, title = {Withaferin A attenuates Alcohol Abstinence Signs in Rats}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {10}, year = {2018}, month = {August 2018}, pages = {1190-1195}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {1190}, abstract = {

Background: Withania somnifera (WS) have been reported to inhibit acquisition and expression conditioned place preference, self-administration and withdrawal anxiety of psychostimulants. In the present work, we have assessed the effect of withaferin A on somatic and affective symptoms of ethanol withdrawal syndrome in rats. Methods: Animals had given free access to ethanol uninterrupted for 21 days through liquid diet. Withaferin A (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg) was injected (ip) either during the development of ethanol dependence phase (days 15 \– 21 or 30 min before ethanol withdrawal assessment. Withdrawal signs characterized by changes in somatic signs were measured in the open field followed by evaluation of anxiety parameters, locomotion, and depressive behavior. Results: Withaferin A treatment 30 min before 24 h postethanol withdrawal assessment did not alter the scores of somatic behavioral signs in ethanol abstinence animals. However, withaferin A (10 and 20 mg/kg, ip) from day 15-21 prevented the ethanol withdrawal-induced elevated scores of somatic behaviors, hyperlocomotion, depressive behavior, and anxiety. Withaferin A treatment did not influence the blood ethanol levels in dependent and withdrawn animals. However, withaferin A administration attenuated the elevated plasma corticosterone and ACTH levels in ethanol-withdrawn rats, suggesting withaferin A induced anti-stress effect and stabilization of HPA axis activity could have facilitated the inhibitory effect of withaferin A on ethanol withdrawal syndrome. Conclusion: The finding supports further investigation of withaferin A and other bioactive components of WS in alcohol addiction.

}, keywords = {Anxiety, Corticosterone, Ethanol withdrawal, HPA axis, Withaferin A.}, doi = {xx10.5530/pj.2018.6.204}, author = {Nandkishor Ramdas Kotagale and Ankit Kedia and Rupali Gite and Shubham Nilkanth Rahmatkar and Dinesh Yugraj Gawande and Milind Janraoji Umekar and Brijesh Gulabrao Taksande} }