Impact of Ashwagandha Treatment on Cytokine Production and Macrophage Differentiation into THP-1 Cells

Authors

• Betsi Diaz Chavarin, St. Mary's University
• Aditi Kumar, St. Mary's University

Files

Contributor

Segovia, Jesus (Faculty Mentor); St. Mary's University Department of Biological Sciences

Digital Publisher

Digital Commons at St. Mary's University

Publication Date

Spring 2026

Keywords

Ashwagandha, Inflammation, Immune responses, THP-1 Cells

Description

Inflammation is a critical biological response that enables the immune system to react to infections, injuries, or stressful situations. However, chronic or excessive inflammation can lead to tissue damage and contribute to a wide range of diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders, metabolic syndromes, and immune dysregulation. 3,4 Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) is a key pro-inflammatory cytokine that plays a central role in initiating and amplifying the immune response. 1,2 It is primarily produced by activated monocytes and macrophages in response to stimuli such as pathogens or stress signals. In addition, IL-1β acts on the hypothalamus to induce fever, which creates an environment less favorable to pathogen survival. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) has been used as a homeopathic remedy to reduce stress for over 3000 years as a common staple of Ayurvedic medicine. It is reported to exert many pharmacological effects, including antioxidation, neuroprotection, anti-cancer properties, immunomodulation, anti-inflammatory properties, and more. 2 Studies have identified some phytochemicals and carbohydrates that play a role in the root's therapeutic properties. 3 However, its direct influence on immune cell differentiation and cytokine production is currently unknown. The hypothesis being tested is that Ashwagandha exposure of THP-1 monocytes will decrease their secretion of IL-1β and their stimulation of the inflammasome. To test this hypothesis, THP-1 monocytes were treated with Ashwagandha for 4 days and 2 days, respectively. Differentiation with PMA occurred in both pre-treatment lengths, as well as in the simulation of newly formed macrophages with LPS and ATP. Inflammasome production was measured with ACS Immunofluorescence, and IL-1β was measured with an ELISA assay.

Format

pdf

Size

1 poster

City

San Antonio, Texas

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.