Ingredients Overview
Common Name: Ashwagandha
Nature: Shrub that grows in Asia and Africa
Scientific Name: Withania somnifera
Source: Natural
Part Used: Whole plant
% Active Ingredient: Withanolides 2.71% w/w
Country of Origin: India
COA Attachment: View PDF
History
Withania somnifera, known commonly as ashwagandha is an evergreen shrubthat grows in India, Nepal, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. The plant, particularly its root powder, has been used for centuries in traditional Indian medicine. The history of ashwagandha is linked with the history of Ayurveda. It is traced back to around 6,000 BC. Ashwagandha has been part of Ayurveda since ancient times. It is a super herb that has been used in India.
Ashwagandha supplements, typically containing root or leaf powder or extracts, are commonly sold. Its use in herbal medicine and dietary supplements. The name ashwagandha is a combination of the Sanskrit words ashva, meaning "horse", and gandha, meaning "smell", reflecting that the root has a strong, horse-like odor.
Benefits of Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha belongs to the adaptogen category. Hence, it is beneficial for mental and physical stress. It is not a stimulant but a herb with a nerve tonic effect and is recognized for its high efficacy.
- Ashwagandha has adaptogenic properties
- Supports in periods of mental and nervous tension and of anxiousness
- Helps to support relaxation, mental and physical wellbeing
- Contributes to emotional balance and general wellbeing
- Beneficially affects the heart and cardiovascular system.
- Protect tissue from injuries
- Protect the general health by antioxidant activity
How does it work?
Alkaloids, steroidal lactones, saponins, and withanolides are considered the biologically active components of ashwagandha. Anti-arthritic effects are attributed to cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition.
Oxidative stress and inflammation [ 1 ]
Research conducted on glioblastoma and neuroblastoma cells shows that Ashwagandha extract protects those cells from damage induced by oxidative stress. Withanone, one of withanolides which are considered the main active constituents of Ashwagandha extract, emerged as a compound profoundly responsible for this effect
Ashwagandha extract, emerged as a compound profoundly responsible for this effect. Similarly, systematic review and meta-analysis that included 28 rodent studies concluded that Ashwagandha prevents the decrease or augments the restoration of the key cellular antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in brains of rats subjected to oxidative stress-induced interventions
Sleep and GABAergic activity [ 1 ]
Rodent study suggested that Ashwagandha can improve sleep duration. The effects seem to be associated with the increase in expression of sleep-related gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and its receptors - GABAA, GABAB, 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor also known as serotonin receptor (5HT1A) and increase in brain GABA content. Ashwagandha’s active compounds are directly binding to GABAA receptor, because GABAA receptor antagonists attenuated Ashwagandha’s sleep-promoting effects
Scientific Research and Studies
We use nutrients backed by a significant body of research that is growing every day.