Effect of Withania somnifera in the treatment of male infertility: A literature review (original) (raw)
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Role of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) in the management of male infertility
Reproductive Biomedicine Online, 2017
He has a PhD in male reproductive physiology from the University of Calcutta, India and over 24 peer reviewed publications in PubMed. He is a collaborating scientist with the American Center for Reproductive Medicine at Cleveland Clinic. KEY MESSAGE Withania sominifera roots improve semen quality by increasing sperm count and motility, regulating reproductive hormone levels and inhibiting lipid peroxidation. Proposed mechanisms underlying these effects are direct alleviation of oxidative stress and enhancement of hormonal balance via the gamma-aminobutyric acid-like mimetic pathway. Withania sominifera could potentially supplement routine treatment of male infertility. A B S T R A C T To manage male infertility caused by hormonal imbalance, infections and other predicaments, multifarious treatment strategies are emerging worldwide. Contemporary treatments, such as assisted reproductive techniques, are costly with low success rates of only 10–30%; however, herbal remedies are gaining more attention as an alternative or supplementary therapeutic modality for male infertility. The beneficial effects induced by oral intake of the roots of a small evergreen shrub, Withania sominifera (Ashwagandha) on semen quality of infertile men have previously been studied. Oral intake of Ashwagandha roots has been found to inhibit lipid peroxidation, improve sperm count and motility, and regulate reproductive hormone levels. The molecular mechanisms of these effects, however, are yet to be unveiled.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) has been described in traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine as an aphrodisiac that can be used to treat male sexual dysfunction and infertility. This pilot study was conducted to evaluate the spermatogenic activity of Ashwagandha root extract in oligospermic patients. Forty-six male patients with oligospermia (sperm count < 20 million/mL semen) were enrolled and randomized either to treatment ( = 21) with a full-spectrum root extract of Ashwagandha (675 mg/d in three doses for 90 days) or to placebo ( = 25) in the same protocol. Semen parameters and serum hormone levels were estimated at the end of 90-day treatment. There was a 167% increase in sperm count (9.59 ± 4.37 × 10 6 /mL to 25.61 ± 8.6 × 10 6 /mL; < 0.0001), 53% increase in semen volume (1.74 ± 0.58 mL to 2.76 ± 0.60 mL; < 0.0001), and 57% increase in sperm motility (18.62 ± 6.11% to 29.19 ± 6.31%; < 0.0001) on day 90 from baseline. The improvement in these parameters was minimal in the placebo-treated group. Furthermore, a significantly greater improvement and regulation were observed in serum hormone levels with the Ashwagandha treatment as compared to the placebo. The present study adds to the evidence on the therapeutic value of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), as attributed in Ayurveda for the treatment of oligospermia leading to infertility.
Effects of Withania somnifera on Reproductive System: A Systematic Review of the Available Evidence
BioMed Research International
Introduction. Withania somnifera (WS) also known as ashwagandha is a well-known medicinal plant used in traditional medicine in many countries for infertility treatment. The present study was aimed at systemically reviewing therapeutic effects of WS on the reproductive system. Methods. This systematic review study was designed in 2016. Required data were obtained from PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, Web of Knowledge, Web of Science, and manual search of articles, grey literature, reference checking, and expert contact. Results. WS was found to improve reproductive system function by many ways. WS extract decreased infertility among male subjects, due to the enhancement in semen quality which is proposed due to the enhanced enzymatic activity in seminal plasma and decreasing oxidative stress. Also, WS extract improved luteinizing hormone and follicular stimulating hormone balance leading to folliculogenesis and increased gonadal weight, although some...
Fertility and Sterility, 2010
Objective: To investigate the impact of Withania somnifera roots on semen profile, oxidative biomarkers, and reproductive hormone levels of infertile men. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Patient(s): Seventy-five normal healthy fertile men (control subjects) and 75 men undergoing infertility screening. Intervention(s): High-performance liquid chromatography assay procedure for quantization of vitamin A and E in seminal plasma. Biochemical parameters in seminal plasma were estimated by standard spectrophotometric procedures. Estimation of T, LH, FSH, and PRL in blood serum by RIA methods. Main Outcome Measures(s): Before and after the treatment, seminal plasma biochemical parameters, antioxidant vitamins, and serum T, LH, FSH, and PRL levels were measured. Result(s): Withania somnifera inhibited lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl content and improved sperm count and motility. Treatment of infertile men recovered the seminal plasma levels of antioxidant enzymes and vitamins A, C, and E and corrected fructose. Moreover, treatment also significantly increased serum T and LH and reduced the levels of FSH and PRL. Conclusion(s): The treatment with W. somnifera effectively reduced oxidative stress, as assessed by decreased levels of various oxidants and improved level of diverse antioxidants. Moreover, the levels of T, LH, FSH and PRL, good indicators of semen quality, were also reversed in infertile subjects after treatment with the herbal preparation. (Fertil Steril Ò 2009;-:---.
ASHWAGANDHA (WITHANIA SOMNIFERA): BOOST TESTOSTERONE AND INCREASE FERTILITY IN MEN
Raju K. Dhavale*, H.V. Kamble, Ashvini Andhale, Santosh Waghmare
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) has been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine and it's well known for its rejuvenating and adaptogenic properties. It is a suppliment may have powerful effect on testosterone levels and reproductive health, regulating the immune system, relieving stress, increasing energy levels and improving concentration. It has gained a solid reputation for boosting testosterone. In studies have shown that supplimentation with Ashwagandha in men led to a significant increase in testosterone levels, improve sperm quality and higher anti-oxidant levels. Infertility affects 15% of all couples, and approximately 50% of these have an abnormality detectable in the male partner as the couse of infertility. W. somnifera hase been shown to inhibit lipid peroxidation in stress-induced animals. Earlier studies have shown that aqueous extract of this plant elicits changes in pituitary gonadotropins. W. somnifera induced testicular development and spermatogenesis in immature Wistar rats by directly affecting the somniferous tubules. Ashwagandha has been found to inhibit lipid peroxidation, improve sperm count and motility and regulate reproductive hormone levels. Keywords: Withania somnifera, Testosterone hormone, Male infertility, Semen quality.
Withania somnifera Improves Semen Quality in Stress-Related Male Fertility
2009
Stress has been reported to be a causative factor for male infertility. Withania somnifera has been documented in Ayurveda and Unani medicine system for its stress-combating properties. However, limited scientific literature is available on this aspect of W. somnifera. We undertook the present study to understand the role of stress in male infertility, and to test the ability of W. somnifera to combat stress and treat male infertility. We selected normozoospermic but infertile individuals (N = 60), further categorized in three groups: normozoospermic heavy smokers (N = 20), normozoospermics under psychological stress (N = 20) and normozoospermics with infertility of unknown etiology (N = 20). Normozoospermic fertile men (N = 60) were recruited as controls. The subjects were given root powder of W. somnifera at a rate of 5 g/day for 3 months. Measuring various biochemical and stress parameters before and after treatment, suggested a definite role of stress in male infertility and the ability of W. somnifera to treat stress-related infertility. Treatment resulted in a decrease in stress, improved the level of anti-oxidants and improved overall semen quality in a significant number of individuals. The treatment resulted in pregnancy in the partners of 14% of the patients.
Annals of Biological Research, 2012
In recent years, population is facing many health problems like chronic non-communicable diseases like Cancer, Stroke, Diabetes, Cardiovascular disorders and Reproductive disorders fro very early age. Urbanization and mechanization have changed the life style of the whole population which has resulted in greater exposure to pollution, high consumption of salt and fat containing food, low physical activity and stress. Withania may be having antioxidant property; protecting male reproductive organs from ROS and can avoid infertility. The overall findings may be helpful to the population not only to treat infertility but also to maintain normal sexual life.
Medicinal plants as potential male anti-infertility agents: a review
Andrologie, 2009
For millions of couples, the inability to have a child is a personal tragedy and a large proportion of childless people are confronted with social stigmatization (blame) and personal frustration. Formerly assigned to women, infertility of a couple is nowadays equitably distributed between the two sexes. Among the methods used to treat male infertility problems, medicinal plants have been used empirically as extracts, decoctions, fractions or semi-purified compounds. These herbal products are used in the treatment of a dysfunctioning of the libido, sexual asthenia, erection, and sperm disorders. Pharmacological activities of many of these plants have been shown in vitro using cells, in vivo (on laboratory animals) and human studies. For instance, extracts of Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolius and Lepidium meyenii have shown positive effects on sexual desire; while extracts of Astragalus membranaceus, Asparagus racemous, Withania somnifera, Andrographis paniculata and Acanthopanax senticosus improved sperm parameters. Plants provide a treatment option that is affordable and available for infertile couples, and phytotherapy is an essential form of treatment in our health system. However, herbal products are still anarchically used in many regions and countries, and a great proportion of medicinal plants used traditionally to solve male reproductive disorders have not yet been scientifically evaluated. Therefore in this review, we have summarized most of the data dealing with the effects of plant extracts on mammalian reproductive functions.