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. 2025 Jul-Aug;16(4):101155.
doi: 10.1016/j.jaim.2025.101155. Epub 2025 Jun 28.

Efficacy and safety of eight-week therapy with Ashwagandha root extract in improvement of sexual health in healthy men: Findings of a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Amit Shrenikraj Mutha  1 , Sonali Amit Mutha  2 , Anupama Hem Tejuja  2 , Amit Shashikant Beldar  3 , Alok Mahendra Mulay  4 , Deepak Langade  5
Affiliations

Efficacy and safety of eight-week therapy with Ashwagandha root extract in improvement of sexual health in healthy men: Findings of a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Amit Shrenikraj Mutha et al. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2025 Jul-Aug.

Abstract

Background: Ashwagandha, a traditional Indian Ayurvedic remedy, an adaptogen, may improve sexual dysfunction in men and women.

Objective: This 8-week prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study evaluated the efficacy and safety of Ashwagandha Root Extract (ARE) on improving sexual health in healthy adult men.

Method: A total of 100 healthy men aged 30-50 years were randomly assigned to receive ARE 300 mg twice daily (n = 50), or identical placebo (n = 50) in a 1:1 ratio for 8 weeks. Study assessments such as Satisfying Sexual Events (SSEs), the Sexual Desire Inventory (SDI-2), the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) score, semen parameters and the Quality of Life (QOL) were done using the SF-12 tool at baseline, week 2, week 4, and week 8. Three participants from ARE and four participants from the placebo group were excluded due to follow-up loss. The efficacy analyses were done on Per-Protocol (PP) dataset of 93, whereas safety analyses were done on all 100 participants.

Results: Significant improvements were observed with ARE for semen volume (p = 0.005), sperm number (p = 0.006), sperm concentration (p = 0.007), and sperm morphology (p = 0.007). The improvement in scores was better with ARE for SDI-2 (p < 0.05), orgasm and sexual desire domains of IIEF (p < 0.05), and SF-12 (p < 0.0001). No adverse events were reported in the study.

Conclusion: Ashwagandha improved the orgasmic function, sexual desire and overall sexual satisfaction with the 8-week of oral administration. It was well tolerated as it showed no significant changes in hepatic and renal parameters in blood.

Keywords: Ashwagandha; IIEF; Male sexual dysfunction; SF-12; Semen parameters.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
CONSORT flow chart The CONSORT flow chart represents the participant flow throughout the study.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Sexual activity at baseline and follow-up period Graphical representation of various domains of the satisfying sexual events.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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