Ashwagandha | Thorne

About Ashwagandha

A beloved botanical with a broad range of therapeutic benefits

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is one of the most treasured botanicals in the ancient medical system of India. In fact, this adaptogenic botanical, often referred to as the Prince of Herbs, is considered a flagship botanical in Ayurveda, which is an ancient system of medicine, boasting a broad range of therapeutic benefits.

This botanical has been used for thousands of years to calm and normalize the body and reduce the effects of stress, as was shown in a study of chronically stressed individuals given ashwagandha root extract.* Numerous studies support its use for cognitive function, stress, muscle strength, endurance and recovery, glucose metabolism, hormone balance, sexual function, and thyroid health.*

The Thorne Difference

Highest concentration of unadulterated root extract

As cultivators struggle to meet the demand for ashwagandha root, the problem of economic adulteration has become a serious concern. Much of the adulteration comes in the form of non-root parts (stems, leaves, and flowering parts) being added to the roots. Because the root contains the highest concentration and the most complex array of ashwagandha bioactives, adulteration with other non-root parts inhibits the ingredient’s efficacy.

The ashwagandha used in Thorne products is a full-spectrum ashwagandha root extract – KSM-66® – developed by Ixoreal Biomed. KSM-66 ashwagandha root extract not only contains a wide array of synergistic compounds, but, according to Ixoreal Biomed, KSM-66 contains the highest concentration of withanolides (a series of steroidal saponins) of all major “root only” extracts available on the market today. Whereas other extracts range from 1.5-5.0% withanolides, KSM-66 contains more than a 5% concentration of withanolides as measured by HPLC.

Although ashwagandha extracts are often sought for their withanolide content, the plant contains a complex array of phytochemical components beyond withanolides, with the highest phytochemical concentration being found in the plant’s roots. It is the synergistic effect attributable to this diverse set of active compounds that is believed to contribute to the multiple therapeutic properties of ashwagandha.

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The Science

Stress

A prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress … in adults.. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine 2012;34(3):255-262.. Chandrasekhar K, Kapoor J, Anishetty S

Adaptogenic and … effects of ashwagandha root extract in healthy adults: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study. . Cureus Journal Of Medical Science 2019 Dec 25;11(12):e6466.. Salve J, Pate S, Debnath Ki, Langade D

Body weight management in adults under chronic stress through treatment with ashwagandha root extract: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2012;34(3):255-262. . Choudhary D, Bhattacharyya S, Joshi K

Endurance and Muscle

Efficacy of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera [L.] Dunal) in improving cardio-respiratory endurance in healthy athletic adults.. Journal of Research in Ayurveda 2015;36(1):63-68. . Choudhary B, Shetty A, Langade D

Examining the effect of Withania somnifera supplementation on muscle strength and recovery: a randomized controlled trial.. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 2015;12:43.. Wankhede S, Langade D, Joshi K, Sinha SR, Bhattacharyya S

Healthy Aging

Withania somnifera root extract extends lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans.. Annals of Neurosciences 2013;20(1):13-16.. Kumar R, Gupta K, Saharia K, Deepak Pradhan D, Subramaniam JR

Sexual Function

Efficacy and safety of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root extract in … sexual function in women: a pilot study.. BioMed Research International 2015;2015:284154.. Swati Dongre, Deepak G. Langade, Bhattacharyya S

Clinical evaluation of the spermatogenic activity of the root extract of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in … males: a pilot study.. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2013;2013:571420.. Ambiye VR, Langade D, Dongre S, Aptikar P, Kulkami M, Dongre A

Memory and Cognition

Efficacy and safety of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (L.) dunal) root extract in improving memory and cognitive functions.. Journal of Dietary Supplements 2017;14(6):599-612.. Choudhary D, Bhattacharyya S, Bose S

The Science

Stress

Endurance and Muscle

Healthy Aging

Withania somnifera root extract extends lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans.. Annals of Neurosciences 2013;20(1):13-16.. Kumar R, Gupta K, Saharia K, Deepak Pradhan D, Subramaniam JR

Sexual Function

Memory and Cognition

Our Ingredients

Thorne cares deeply about where our ingredients come from. Our research and development team is tasked with sourcing exceptional ingredients, maintaining oversight of an ingredient's origin, and providing complete supply chain transparency.

We partner only with suppliers whose practices emphasize quality, science, and environmental responsibility. We believe that better ingredients mean better potency, absorption, and digestibility - and ultimately better health.