43-Title: Study on effect of Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) root powder supplementation on semen quality
Authors: Ashok Kumar, Meenakshi Virmani, Rakesh Kumar Malik, Gyan Singh, Ankit Magotra and Arushi Kanwar
Source: Ruminant Science (2022)-11(1):213-217.
How to cite this manuscript: Kumar Ashok, Virmani Meenakshi, Malik Rakesh Kumar, Singh Gyan, Magotra Ankit and Kanwar Arushi (2022). Study on effect of Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) root powder supplementation on semen quality. Ruminant Science 11(1):213-217.
Abstract
The study was done to monitor the effect of oral supplementation of Withania somnifera on the semen quality of rams of Harnali breed. Twelve apparently healthy rams of Harnali breed were selected for the study and randomly divided into two groups of six rams each. Animals of group 1 (n=6) were kept as control while animals of group 2 (n=6) were supplemented with 3g Withania somnifera root powder orally per animal per day for a period of 90 days. Semen samples were collected at fortnight intervals and were assessed for seminal parameters, lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant capacity. Testicular pixel intensity was measured on day 0, 45 and 90. A significant (P<0.05) increase in the per cent live spermatozoa and per cent spermatozoa with intact acrosome in the supplemented group were recorded during the later phase of supplementation. Total antioxidant capacity significantly (P<0.05) improved in the supplemented group (group 2) during the later stages of feeding. Lipid peroxidation values declined though non-significantly, in the supplemented group. However, mass motility, progressive motility, per cent abnormal sperms and testicular pixel intensity varied non-significantly on all days as well as between the two groups up to 90 days of supplementation. Thus, it can be concluded that daily oral supplementation of Withania somnifera root powder allows the improvement of antioxidant parameters, and reduces oxidative stress thereby improving the semen quality in rams.
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