Withania somnifera improves semen quality by regulating reproductive hormone levels and oxidative stress in seminal plasma of infertile males.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the impact of Withania somnifera roots on semen profile, oxidative biomarkers, and reproductive hormone levels of infertile men.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Departments of Biochemistry and Urology, Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University, Lucknow, India.


METHODS
Seventy-five normal healthy fertile men (control subjects) and 75 men undergoing infertility screening.


METHODS
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.


METHODS
Before and after the treatment, seminal plasma biochemical parameters, antioxidant vitamins, and serum T, LH, FSH, and PRL levels were measured.


RESULTS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Ahmad
Mohammad Kaleem
MK
Department of Biochemistry, Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University, and Department of Pharmacology, State Government T. T. Hospital, Lucknow, India.
Mahdi
Abbas Ali
AA
Shukla
Kamla Kant
KK
Islam
Najmul
N
Rajender
Singh
S
Madhukar
Dama
D
Shankhwar
Satya Narain
SN
Ahmad
Sohail
S
D000328:Adult; D042341:Gonadal Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D011208:Powders / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011388:Prolactin / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D055101:Semen Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D032341:Withania / Q000737:chemistry
D042341:Gonadal Hormones; D008054:Lipid Peroxides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011208:Powders; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone