Rat hypothalamic GnV-3 cells & Wistar adult male rats (); 2 groups: control () and WS ()
In vitro: 0.05–1.5% ASH-WEX In vivo: 4 ml/kg ASH-WEX/oral route
Aqueous extract of leaves
24 h & 21 days
In vitro: significant changes in morphology and physiological in GnV-3 as cell body size and neurite process, ↓ LDH levels at higher concentrations of WS, ↑ release of GnRH extra cellularly in the GnV-3 cells after treatment with WS, no elevated cytotoxicity, viable of 61.2% of cell after WS In vivo: no marked difference in GnRH level in WS-treated as compared to control group but upregulation of GnRH expression after treatment with WS
Rat semen & proven fertility, male albino rat (); 3 groups: control (), WS 25 mg (), WS 50 mg ()
2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 25 & 50 mg/kg/day/orally
Ethanolic extract of stems
20 s & 60 days
In vitro: minimum effective concentration of WS to kill 1 million sperm in 20 s was around 10 ± 0.066 In vivo: ↓ sperm density of cauda epididymal sperms, ↓ weight of testes, ↓ epididymis and seminal vesicle, ↓ spermatogenesis, ↓ sperm motility of cauda epididymal sperms, ↓ seminiferous tubules size, ↓ leydig cell nuclei diameter, ↓ seminiferous tubular diameter, ↓ rate of fertility in high dose WS and no considerable changes in T, FSH, sperms morphology, serum biochemistry, hematological parameters, body weight compared to control group
Healthy male rats () & adult male mice (); 8 groups: control (), abutilon indicum with various doses (), WS with various doses (), sildenafil ()
1 mg/ml & 100, 200, 400 mg/kg/PO
Aqueous extract of roots
28 d
↑ sperm count in all groups (), ↑ mounting frequency () with WS 200, 400, ↑ frequency of penile erection episodes (), ↑ number of female licking behaviors with WS 400 (), ↑ mating behavior with WS 400 (), ↑ body weight with WS 400 (), ↑ testes weight, ↑ weight of prostate with WS 400, 200 () compared to control
Male Wistar albino rats (); 5 groups: cadmium-induced oxidative injury in testis (), control (), cadmium + WS (), cadmium and vitamin E (), control and WS ()
300 mg/kg dissolved in 2% gum acacia /gavage
Root power
30 days
↑ SOD (), ↑ CAT (), ↑ GPX (), ↑ GSH (), ↑ levels of Vit C (ascorbic acid) (), Vit E (αtocopherol) (), ↓ ROS, ↓ LPO, ↓ caspase-3 in Cd + WS testis compared to Cd testis, ↓ GST () in Cd + WS compared to normal level, ↓ apoptotic cells (), ↑ weight and volume of testes, ↑ leydig cell number (), ↓ necrotic or pathological change of testes in Cd + WS compared to control, no toxic side effect, stress, changes in behavior
Prepubertal male rats (); 3 groups: streptozotocin-induced testicular oxidative impairments (), control (), STZ + WS ()
500 μg & 500 mg/kg/day/oral gavage
Aqueous root extract
15 days
In vitro: considerable inhibition of deoxyribose and stable free radical DPPH In vivo: ↓ LPO, ↓ ROS in testis cytosol 38%, mitochondria 24% of STZ + WS groups but no marked change, ↑ total Thiol (TSH, GSH), ↑ nonprotein thiol (NPSH) in testis cytosol and mitochondria, ↑ weights of testis, ↓ blood glucose of STZ + WS group compared to STZ group ()
India
ND, not determined; WS, Withania somnifera; FSH, follicular stimulating hormone; LH, luteinizing hormone; ALP, alkaline phosphatase; Cd, cadmium; GSH, glutathione peroxidase; SOD, superoxide dismutase; CAT, catalase; MDA, malondialdehyde; STD, seminiferous tubules diameter; T, testosterone; PRL, prolactin; LPO, lipid peroxidation; GABAA g-amino butyric acid; TG, triglyceride; EDSI, erectile dysfunction severity index; FSFI, female sexual function index; FSDS, female sexual distress scale; IMHQOL, Internet mental health quality of life scale; QEQ, quality of erection questionnaire; NZ, normozoospermic; OZ, oligozoospermic; AZ, asthenozoospermic; IDH, isocitrate dehydrogenase; LDH, lactate dehydrogenase; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; GPC, glycerophosphocholine; ↑, increase; ↓, decrease.