Category: terpenoid
Aliases: WA, (20S,22R)-4β,27-dihydroxy-1-oxo-5β,6β-epoxywitha-2,24-dienolide
Steroidal lactone (withanolide) and the dominant cytotoxic / anti-inflammatory constituent of Withania somnifera leaf. Mechanisms: covalent binding to vimentin (intermediate filament disruption — anti-metastatic), NF-κB pathway inhibition (anti-inflammatory), proteasome modulation, heat-shock response. Most-studied bioactive of ashwagandha in cancer + inflammation models. Higher concentrations in leaf extracts (Sensoril, ~3% by weight of leaf-extract product) than root-only (KSM-66, <0.05% of root extract). MW 470.60.
PO: 4h