Super Critical Fluid Extracted Fatty Acids from Withania somnifera Seeds Repair Psoriasis-Like Skin Lesions and Attenuate Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) Release
Authors: Acharya Balkrishna
Anshul Chauhan
Abhishek Gupta
Niti Sharma
Anurag Varshney
Ravikant Ranjan
Pradeep Nain
Journal: Biomolecules (2020)
Discipline: BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
Keywords: GC-FID; IL-6; NFκB; SCFE; TNF-α
Affiliations: Drug Discovery and Development Division, Patanjali Research Institute, Haridwar 249 405, India., Department of Allied and Applied Sciences, University of Patanjali, Patanjali Yogpeeth, Haridwar 249 405, India.

Abstract:  (1) Background: Withania somnifera Dunal (Ashwagandha) is a widely used medicinal herb in traditional medicinal systems with extensive research on various plant parts. Surprisingly, seeds of W. somnifera have never been investigated for their therapeutic potential. (2) Methods: W. somnifera seeds were extracted for fatty acids (WSSO) using super critical fluid extraction, and was analyzed by gas chromatography. Its therapeutic potential in psoriasis-like skin etiologies was investigated using a 12-O tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA)-induced psoriatic mouse model. Psoriatic inflammation along with psoriatic lesions and histopathological scores were recorded. WSSO was also tested on murine macrophage (RAW264.7), human epidermoid (A431), and monocytic (THP-1) cells, stimulated with TPA or lipo poly-saccharide (LPS) to induce pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-6 and TNF-α) release. NFκB promoter activity was also measured by luciferase reporter assay. (3) Results: Topical application of WSSO with concurrent oral doses significantly reduced inflammation-induced edema, and repaired psoriatic lesions and associated histopathological scores. Inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines release was observed in WSSO-treated A431 and THP-1 cells, along with reduced NFκB expression. WSSO also inhibited reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. (4) Conclusion: Here we show that the fatty acids from W. somnifera seeds have strong anti-inflammatory properties, along with remarkable therapeutic potential on psoriasis-like skin etiologies. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 We read, ---------------------------------- **Funding** This presented work has been conducted using research funds from Patanjali Research Foundation Trust, Haridwar, India. **Acknowledgments** We are humbly grateful to Param Shradhey Swami Ramdev ji for his financial and institutional supports to accomplish this research work. ----------------------------------------------- The involvement of Param Shradhey is presumably through his co-ownership of the Patanjali Research Foundation Trust and (through that) of the [Patanjali Research Institute] - the other owner being first author here, [Acharya Balkrishna] . The other authors are all affiliated to Patanjali Research Institute, and optionally to the University of Patanjali. Email addresses at the Patanjali Research Foundation Trust are universal: ![file] Despite the entire authorship being on the staff of the funders, we also read that  The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results. This is not plausible. I can believe that Balkrishna (Patanjali Research Foundation Trustee) had no part in design, analysis, manuscript preparation, etc., but if that is so, did he really warrant the position of first author? ,