RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Withaferin A in the treatment of liver diseases: progress and pharmacokinetic insights JF Drug Metabolism and Disposition JO Drug Metab Dispos FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics SP DMD-MR-2021-000455 DO 10.1124/dmd.121.000455 A1 Yangliu Xia A1 Mingrui Yan A1 Ping Wang A1 Keisuke Hamada A1 Nana Yan A1 Haiping Hao A1 Frank J. Gonzalez A1 Tingting Yan YR 2021 UL http://dmd.aspetjournals.org/content/early/2021/12/13/dmd.121.000455.abstract AB Withaferin A (WA) is a natural steroidal compound used in Ayurvedic medicine in India and elsewhere. While WA was used as an anti-cancer reagent for decades, its role in the treatment of liver diseases has only recently been experimentally explored. Here, the effects of WA in the treatment of liver injury, systematic inflammation, and liver cancer are reviewed, and the toxicity and metabolism of WA as well as pharmacological potentials of other extracts from W. somnifera discussed. The pharmacokinetic behaviors of WA are summarized and pharmacokinetic insights into current progress and future opportunities are highlighted. Significance Statement This review outlines the current experimental progress of WA hepatoprotective activities and highlights gaps in the field. This work also discusses the pharmacokinetics of WA that can be used to guide future studies for the possible treatment of liver diseases with this compound.