Home
Resources
Publications
Effect of Indian Ayurvedic Medicine Ashwagandha on Measurement of Serum Digoxin and 11 Commonly Monitored Drugs Using Immunoassays: Study of Protein Binding and Interaction With Digibind

Effect of Indian Ayurvedic Medicine Ashwagandha on Measurement of Serum Digoxin and 11 Commonly Monitored Drugs Using Immunoassays: Study of Protein Binding and Interaction With Digibind

Amitava Dasgupta, Amanda Peterson, Alice Wells, Jeffrey K Actor

Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2007 Aug;131(8):1298-303.

PMID: 17683192

Abstract:

Context:
Ashwagandha, a popular Ayurvedic medicine, is now available in the United States. Alkaloids found in this herb have structural similarity with digoxin.
Objective:
To study potential interference of Ashwagandha with serum digoxin measurement by immunoassays. Potential interference was also investigated with immunoassays for 11 other commonly monitored drugs. In addition, interaction of components of Ashwagandha with the Fab fragment of antidigoxin antibody (Digibind) was investigated.
Design:
Two different brands of liquid extract and 1 dry powdered form of Ashwagandha were used for this investigation. Aliquots of drug-free serum were supplemented with various concentrations of Ashwagandha and apparent digoxin concentrations were measured by 3 digoxin immunoassays. Mice were fed with Ashwagandha and apparent digoxin concentrations were measured 1 and 3 hours after feeding. Potential interference of Ashwagandha with immunoassays of 11 other drugs was also investigated. Interaction of components of Ashwagandha with Digibind was studied in vitro.
Results:
Significant apparent digoxin concentrations were observed both in vitro and in vivo using the fluorescence polarization immunoassay of digoxin, whereas the Beckman and the microparticle enzyme immunoassay digoxin assay demonstrated minimal interference. Immunoassays of 11 other drugs tested were unaffected. When Ashwagandha extract was added to a serum pool containing digoxin, falsely elevated digoxin value was observed with fluorescence polarization immunoassay, but values were falsely lowered when measured by the microparticle enzyme immunoassay. Digibind neutralized digoxin-like immunoreactive components of Ashwagandha in vitro.
Conclusions:
Components of Ashwagandha interfered with serum digoxin measurements using immunoassays. Digibind neutralized free digoxin-like immunoreactive components of Ashwagandha.

Chemicals Related in the Paper:

Catalog Number	Product Name	Structure	CAS Number	Price
AP90147436	Powdered ashwagandha extract		90147-43-6	Price

As a specialist in analytical chemical Products, Alfa Chemistry offers consumers a wealth of raw materials and a full range of technologies and services.

QUICK LINKS

HEADQUARTERS

Tel:

Fax:

Email: