Therapeutic efficacy of Withania somnifera along with paclitaxel with reference to lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in experimental lung cancer

The antioxidant and anticarcinogenic activity of Withania somnifera (Solanaceae) popularly known as Ashwagandha in India, along with Paclitaxel was evaluated in Benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) induced small cell lung cancer in Swiss albino mice. B(a)P is administered orally to the experimental mice. Control and experimental animals were treated with potent anticancer agent Paclitaxel, Withania somnifera and combination of both. The animals were sacrificed and the lung, liver and kidney tissues were taken for the enzyme assays. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) and activities of Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT) and Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx) were determined by using the standard procedures. Paclitaxel treated animals showed a significant variation in the enzyme levels when compared to the control and cancer induced animals, Where as animals treated with Paclitaxel and Withania sominifera showed significant increase in the antioxidative status than the animals treated with Paclitaxel alone. The present study shows that Withania sominifera along with Paclitaxel is a novel approach to treat small cell lung cancer.