Hindawi Publishing Corporation Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine Volume 2013, Article ID 571420, 6 pages http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/571420 Research Article Clinical Evaluation of the Spermatogenic Activity of the Root Extract of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in Oligospermic Males: A Pilot Study Vijay R. Ambiye, 1 Deepak Langade, 2 Swati Dongre, 3 Pradnya Aptikar, 4 Madhura Kulkarni, 5 and Atul Dongre 3 1 Mahalaxmi Clinic, Nanaddham, Sulochana Shetty Marg, Sion (E), Mumbai, Maharashtra 400022, India 2 Department of Pharmacology, B.V.D.U. Dental College & Hospital, Sector-7, C.B.D., Belpada, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra 400614, India 3 Trupti Hospital & Santati Fertility Center, ane, Maharashtra 400607, India 4 Arya Clinic, ane, Maharashtra 400601, India 5 Arogyadham, Manpada, ane, Maharashtra 400607, India Correspondence should be addressed to Deepak Langade; drdgl@hotmail.com Received 26 August 2013; Revised 28 October 2013; Accepted 1 November 2013 Academic Editor: Angelo Antonio Izzo Copyright © 2013 Vijay R. Ambiye et al. is is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. 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. is 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. ere 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. e 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. e 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. 1. Introduction Male infertility accounts for about 50% of human infertility. In 40% to 50% of infertile males, the etiology is unknown [1– 7]. e pathophysiology of male infertility could be explained by a number of cellular abnormalities manifesting at the molecular and biochemical levels that result in decreased quality and quantity of sperm in the semen [3–5] and an imbalance in the reproductive hormones. Moreover, it has been widely observed that oligospermia is the single most prevalent cause of reduced male fertility [2, 4]. Ayurveda, the traditional system of medicine practiced in India, can be traced back to 6000 Bc [8–11]. For most of this history, Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), also known as “Indian ginseng” due to its rejuvenating effects, has been described in folk medicine as an aphrodisiac and geriatric tonic [12]. It is classified as an “adaptogen,” meaning that this herb assists in combating stress and disease, improving physical strength and metabolism without adverse effects [13– 16]. Ashwagandha has been used as a “rasayana” in Ayurvedic medicine. In particular, the root of Ashwagandha is regarded as a tonic and aphrodisiac. Ashwagandha in the Sanskrit language means “horse’s smell” (ashwa-horse, gandha-smell), probably originating from the odor of its root. e species name somnifera means “sleep-inducing” in Latin [17]. Ashwagandha is rich in a wide variety of chemical compounds, such as alkaloids, ergostane steroids, amino acids, and neurotransmitters, which explains its numerous