EFFECT OF ASHWAGANDHA (WITHANIA SOMNIFERA) ROOT POWDER SUPPLEMENTATION ON AGILITY LEVEL OF PLAYERS: A CASE STUDY OF HOCKEY PLAYERS

Abstract

Withania Somnifera (WS) is having significant effects on anti-inflammatory, nervine tonic, nerve soothing, antioxidant, immunomodulator, free radical scavenger,adaptogen, antiarthritic, antispasmodic, anti -stress and anti-cancer. But ergogenic value of WS as nutritional supplement is yet to be established. Objectives: Present study was designed to investigate the effect of supplementation of WS on the agility level in Hockey Players. Method: Thirty two male hockey players, with a mean age of 17.3 ± 1.8 years and BMI 20.7 ± 2.8 kg/m2 volunteered for the study. Subjects were randomly assigned into two groups Group I (n= 24): Withania somnifera group (experimental group) and Group II (n=24): Placebo ( control) group. The experimental group received 500 mg capsules of aqueous roots of Ashwagandha twice daily for eight weeks, whereas the placebo group received starch capsusules. Agility level was assessed with Illinois Agility Run Test Getchell (1979) Test in both experimental and control groups before and after the administration of Withania somnifera and placebo respectively. Results: A significant improvement in the agility level after 4 weeks (t = 1.83, p< 0.10, on tail rest) and 8 weeks (t = 2.45, p < 0.02, one tail test) in experimental group was found. Whereas, no significant improvement in the control group for agility level after 8 weeks of placebo supplementation was found. Conclusion: Supplementation of Withania Somnifera improves agility level in young hockey players. KEY WORDS: Withania Somnifera, agility and Placebo.