Evaluation of in-vitro Cultured Cells of Withania somnifera for Antioxidant Activity

Withania somnifera (Solanaceae), commonly known as ashwagandha, is known to have antiinflammatory, antitumor, anticonvulsive and immunosuppressive properties. In the present study, antioxidant potential of in vitro cultured cells and roots of W. somnifera was evaluated within the concentration range of 5–100 μg/ml using in vitro studies viz. free radical scavenging capacity on 1, 1-diphenyl,- 2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, 2, 2-azinobis-(3ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS) radical cation decolourization assay, scavenging of nitric oxide radical and total antioxidant capacity. Ascorbic acid was used as standard compound. Among antioxidant screening models tested, ethanolic extracts of W. somnifera cells fromtransformed callus cultures had shown better antioxidant potential in comparison to that of roots and ascorbic acid. Therefore the results justify the therapeutic application of W. somnifera as an antioxidant in the indigenous system of medicine.