Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Root Extract in Improving Sexual Function in Women: A Pilot Study
Dongre S, Langade D, Bhattacharyya S
BioMed research international · 48 citations
How it was studied
- Design
- Randomized controlled trial (indexed by PubMed)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
Based on full-text disclosure statement.
Publication
- Published
- 2015-01-01 · Biomed Res Int · vol. 2015 · pp. 1–9
- Publisher
- Hindawi Publishing Corporation
- Cited
- 84 citations · more than 84% of similar papers · 1.9× the field average
- References
- 25 works
- Access
- Open access (hybrid journal) · CC-BY
- Research areas
- Sexual function and dysfunction studies · Phytochemicals and Medicinal Plants · Menopause: Health Impacts and Treatments
- Keywords
- Orgasm, Algorithm, Placebo, Sexual function, Medicine, Sexual dysfunction, Mathematics, Internal medicine
- MeSH
- humans, withania, plants, medicinal, plant extracts, treatment outcome, phytotherapy, pilot projects, double-blind method, sexual behavior, sexual dysfunctions, psychological, orgasm, adult, middle aged, female, young adult
3 authors
From IN
- Swati Dongre
- Deepak Langade · correspondingMahatma Gandhi Mission's Dental College and Hospital
- Sauvik Bhattacharyya
Abstract
Background
Many women experience sexual dysfunction where there are orgasm disorders and sexual difficulties. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a herb known to improve the body's physical and psychological condition.
Objective
The purpose of the study was to determine the efficacy and safety of a high-concentration ashwagandha root extract (HCARE) supplementation for improving sexual function in healthy females.
Methods
In this pilot study, 50 study subjects were randomized to either (i) HCARE-treated group or (ii) placebo- (starch-) treated group. The subjects consumed either HCARE or placebo capsules of 300mg twice daily for 8 weeks. Sexual function was assessed using two psychometric scales, the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) Questionnaire and the Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS), and by the number of total and successful sexual encounters.
Results
The analysis indicates that treatment with HCARE leads to significantly higher improvement, relative to placebo, in the FSFI Total score (p < 0.001), FSFI domain score for "arousal" (p < 0.001), "lubrication" (p < 0.001), "orgasm" (p = 0.004), and "satisfaction" (p < 0.001), and also FSDS score (p < 0.001) and the number of successful sexual encounters (p < 0.001) at the end of the treatment.
Conclusions
This study demonstrated that oral administration of HCARE may improve sexual function in healthy women. The present study is registered in the Clinical Trial Registry, Government of India, with a number CTRI/2015/07/006045.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher (CC BY).
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