What Is Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a small evergreen shrub whose root has been used in Ayurveda for over 3,000 years as a rasayana – a rejuvenating tonic that is traditionally associated with stress resilience. Modern extracts are standardized to withanolides, the steroidal lactones believed to drive its adaptogenic activity. Mechanistically, withanolides interact with the body’s stress-response systems, including cortisol regulation and GABAergic signaling, which is why the botanical is studied for both stress and sleep. Core Nutrix supplies root extract standardized from 2.5% to 10% withanolides, verified by HPLC.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Active content: Withanolides 2.5-10% (HPLC)
• CAS number: 90147-43-6
• Appearance: Brown fine powder
• Typical serving: 300-600 mg extract per day
• Key markers: Withanolide fingerprint per batch; low withaferin A
• Packaging: 25 kg drum (custom formats available)
• Shelf life: 24 months in sealed, cool, dry storage
• Grades: Conventional, water-soluble, oil-soluble

Origin & Sourcing

Extracted from Withania somnifera roots harvested in traditional growing regions of India, the botanical’s native range. Roots are dried, milled and extracted with water/alcohol before standardization to withanolides. Quality control covers the full chain: raw-material identity by microscopy and TLC, HPLC fingerprint and withanolide assay on the finished extract, plus heavy-metal, pesticide and microbiology panels. Conventional, water-soluble and oil-soluble grades are available, all supported by COA and third-party testing on request. Full traceability documentation, including raw-material identity by microscopy and TLC, accompanies every shipment for audit-ready sourcing.

Key Benefits

• Adaptogen studied for cortisol and perceived stress
• Studied for sleep-quality markers and sleep onset in clinical trials
• Supports muscle strength and recovery in resistance training
• Supports cognitive function and memory
• Traditional Ayurvedic rasayana for vitality and resilience
• Water-soluble and oil-soluble grades for flexible formats
• Clinically studied at 300 mg twice daily for perceived stress
• Root-derived grade aligned with most published clinical evidence
• Compatible with capsules, gummies, powders and functional beverages

Applications

Stress-support capsules, sleep gummies and bedtime powders, sports-recovery formulas, cognitive and nootropic stacks, adaptogen blends and functional beverages (water-soluble grade). It also appears in hormone-free men’s vitality formulas, cortisol-management products aimed at shift workers, and pet-calming supplements.

Why 2026 Matters

Stress and sleep are among the largest supplement categories, and ashwagandha has become the category’s best-known botanical. Demand continues to grow from cortisol-management, mood and sports-recovery lines, and brands increasingly differentiate on standardized withanolide content and water-soluble formats rather than commodity powder alone. The ingredient has also crossed over from the herbal aisle to mainstream energy-and-calm and sleep-gummy launches, which keeps order volumes rising year over year.

Science Snapshot

Withanolides are the marker actives of ashwagandha root. An 8-week trial of 300 mg twice daily reported significant reductions in Perceived Stress Scale scores and serum cortisol versus placebo. Sleep studies using 300-600 mg of root extract report improvements in sleep onset latency and sleep efficiency, and 8-week resistance-training trials report greater gains in bench press and squat strength with faster recovery. Most clinical evidence uses root-derived extracts standardized to withanolides rather than leaf material. Systematic reviews of randomized trials generally conclude that root extract standardized to withanolides modestly improves stress-related outcomes, with effects appearing after four to eight weeks of continuous use.

Quality & Specifications

• Actives: Withanolides 2.5-10% (HPLC)
• Grades: Conventional, water-soluble, oil-soluble
• Appearance: Brown fine powder
• Packaging: 25 kg drums (custom formats available)
• Shelf life: 24 months in sealed, cool, dry storage
• Testing: HPLC fingerprint, heavy metals, pesticides, microbiology, ethylene oxide (EtO), aflatoxins, PAH, pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs)
• Compliance: Pesticide residue screened to EU MRLs (EC) 396/2005; Proposition 65 (Prop 65) statement and full contaminant documentation on request
• Note: Business-to-business ingredient information only. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Safety & Regulatory

Generally well tolerated at 300-600 mg extract per day. Avoid in pregnancy, and use with caution with thyroid conditions, sedatives or autoimmune conditions – consult a healthcare professional.

Formulation Notes

Bitter, earthy taste is best masked in capsules or gummies; the water-soluble grade enables beverages and shots. Typical serving sizes of 300-600 mg per day divide easily into one or two capsules, and the powder blends smoothly into bedtime drink mixes. Pairs well with magnesium, L-theanine, rhodiola and reishi in stress-and-sleep stacks, and with creatine and tart cherry in sports-recovery formulas.

How It Compares

• Ashwagandha vs Panax ginseng: both are adaptogens, but ashwagandha is traditionally calming and rejuvenating while ginseng is energizing – many brands separate them by time of day.
• Ashwagandha vs rhodiola: rhodiola is typically positioned for acute fatigue and focus, while ashwagandha is positioned for chronic stress and sleep; the two are frequently blended in adaptogen complexes.
• Root vs leaf extracts: roots carry the withanolide profile used in most clinical research; leaf material has a different withaferin-A profile and is typically reserved for other applications.
• Standardized vs full-spectrum: standardized grades guarantee withanolide content for label claims; full-spectrum retains the natural matrix at lower actives for herbal-tradition positioning.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the withanolide content of this extract?

It is standardized for withanolides at 2.5%-10%, verified by HPLC.

Can you provide a COA and third-party test report?

Yes. Every batch ships with a Certificate of Analysis, and third-party testing is available on request.

What is the MOQ and packaging?

Standard packaging is a 25kg drum. Please contact us for current MOQ and sample availability.

Is KSM-66 or Sensoril available?

Those are third-party branded extracts. Our equivalent is a root extract standardized to withanolides 2.5-10%, and we can match a specification on request.

Which grade should I choose for a beverage?

The water-soluble grade dissolves clear in drinks and shots; for capsules and gummies, the conventional or oil-soluble grades are the common choices.

How is each batch tested?

Every batch is tested by HPLC fingerprint for withanolides plus heavy-metal, pesticide and microbiology panels, and ships with a COA.

Is ashwagandha suitable for athletes?

Yes – resistance-training studies using 300-600 mg per day report greater strength gains and faster recovery; check sport-specific rules before use.

What is the MOQ for a first trial order?

We support trial quantities for formulation work; standard commercial packaging is a 25 kg drum, and we can arrange a free sample first.

How to Get Started

1. Tell us your format and target dose – capsules, powders, tablets, gummies or beverages.
2. We confirm the matching grade, send the specification sheet and a free sample.
3. Approve the sample and run a trial batch; we lock the COA and lead time.
4. Scale to full production with batch-to-batch consistency guaranteed.