Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
Of 2,228 on-market ashwagandha (withania somnifera) products in the January 2026 DSLD dump, the median declared dose is 250 mg, and 77.9% list Root powder (whole, unstandardized) as the primary form.
Form share
Of 2,159 products with an identifiable primary form, here is the share held by each form of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) on the market today.
| Form | Quality tier | n | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root powder (whole, unstandardized) | Tier 3 | 1,681 | 77.9% |
| Root extract (unstandardized or low-ratio) | Tier 2 | 270 | 12.5% |
| Standardized root extract, >=5% withanolides (KSM-66-type) | Tier 1 | 208 | 9.6% |
Form share over time
Entry-year breakdown of the top forms, 2012–2025.
Dose distribution
Deciles of declared dose per serving (mg), among 1,156 products with a disclosed amount.
- 3.3% of products fall below the fairy-dust threshold (24 mg, 20% of the studied low dose).
- 44.5% of products don't disclose an amount because Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is declared inside a proprietary blend.
By dosage form
By target group
Top brands
Forms explained
Typical standardization: None declared
No declared/guaranteed withanolide content; highly variable actives depending on plant source, harvest and processing -- least-evidenced form for reproducible dosing.
Source: NIH ODS Ashwagandha fact sheet (general characterization); no dedicated RCT for raw root powder specifically
Typical standardization: Not guaranteed
Concentrated relative to raw powder but without a guaranteed withanolide %, so potency is less reproducible than standardized extracts used in RCTs.
Source: uncertain -- needs review
Typical standardization: >=5% withanolides, root-only, aqueous extraction
This is the specific material used in the largest and most-cited RCT and multiple subsequent trials -- the strongest direct clinical evidence base of any commercial ashwagandha form.
Source: Chandrasekhar K et al. 2012, Indian J Psychol Med 34(3):255-262, PMID 23439798
Typical standardization: >=10% withanolide glycosides, root+leaf, ~32% oligosaccharides
Higher declared withanolide content than KSM-66 with supporting RCTs, but a comparatively smaller/less consistent RCT base than the KSM-66-type material; root+leaf material carries a different (higher withaferin-A) phytochemical profile.
Source: Witholytin RCT, PMC10647917 -- provisional, needs a dedicated literature pass
Reference values
- RDA (adult): not established — Not established -- confirmed via NIH ODS Ashwagandha fact sheet; not an essential nutrient.
- Tolerable Upper Intake Level (adult): not established — Not established. NIH ODS notes clinical trial doses ranged 240-1250mg/day extract (or up to 12,000mg/day whole-root granules) without establishing a UL. Case reports describe liver injury at doses up to ~1350mg/day over 30 hours-6 months -- a safety signal from isolated case reports, not a quantified upper limit.
- Studied clinical dose range: 120–1250 mg
- Chandrasekhar K et al. 2012, Indian J Psychol Med 34(3):255-262, PMID 23439798 -- RCT (n=64), 600mg/day (300mg BID) standardized root extract (>=5% withanolides) x60 days; significantly reduced Perceived Stress Scale scores (P<0.0001) and serum cortisol (~27% reduction, P=0.0006) vs placebo. Corroborated by Akhgarjand C et al. meta-analysis, 12 RCTs/1,002 participants; significant anxiety/stress reduction, greatest benefit at doses <=500mg/day over >8 weeks.
- Note: Standardization: most common label claim is >=5% withanolides (KSM-66-type, root-only) or >=10% withanolide glycosides (Sensoril-type, root+leaf). The 5% figure has a direct evidentiary tie to trial material (Chandrasekhar 2012); the 10% figure's independent RCT depth is thinner.