Adaptogenic and Anxiolytic Effects of Ashwagandha Root Extract in Healthy Adults: A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Clinical Study
Open accessAbstract
Background Stress, anxiety and impeded sleep are a frequent feature of life in modern societies. Across socio-economic strata, stress, anxiety and ineffective sleep detract from healthful living and serve as precursors of various ailments. The use of herbs to offset these antecedents and outcomes has greatly increased in recent years. Ashwagandha, an adaptogenic Ayurvedic herb, has been often used to combat and reduce stress and thereby enhance general wellbeing. While there have been other studies documenting the use of Ashwagandha for stress resistance, this is the first study to use a high-concentration root extract while also varying the dosage substantially. Therefore, this is the first study to offer insight into dose-response of a high concentration root extract. Material and methods In this eight-week, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, the stress-relieving effect of Ashwagandha root extract was investigated in stressed healthy adults. Sixty male and female participants with a baseline perceived stress scale (PSS) score >20 were randomized to receive capsules of Ashwagandha extract 125 mg, Ashwagandha extract 300 mg or identical placebo twice daily for eight weeks in a 1:1:1 ratio. Stress was assessed using PSS at baseline, four weeks and eight weeks. Anxiety was assessed using the Hamilton-Anxiety (HAM-A) scale and serum cortisol was measured at baseline and at eight weeks. Sleep quality was assessed using a seven-point sleep scale. A repeat measures ANOVA (general linear model) was used for assessment of treatment effect at different time periods. Post-hoc Dunnett's test was used for comparison of two treatments with placebo. Results Two participants (one each in 250 mg/day Ashwagandha and placebo) were lost to follow-up and 58 participants completed the study. A significant reduction in PSS scores was observed with Ashwagandha 250 mg/day (P < 0.05) and 600 mg/day (P < 0.001). Serum cortisol levels reduced with both Ashwagandha 250 mg/day (P < 0.05) and Ashwagandha 600 mg/day (P < 0.0001). Compared to the placebo group participants, the participants receiving Ashwagandha had significant improvement in sleep quality. Conclusion Ashwagandha root aqueous extract was beneficial in reducing stress and anxiety.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Ashwagandha is a potential strategy to optimize recovery and promote exercise-induced adaptations.
“turns this herbal extract into a potential strategy to optimize recovery and promote exercise-induced adaptations.”
From The 4R’s Framework of Nutritional Strategies for Post-Exercise Recovery: A Review with Emphasis on New Generation of Carbohydrates (2020) · cites this paper as [125]
Ashwagandha has adaptogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.
“Moreover, the adaptogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties of ashwagandha [124,125,126] turns this herbal extract into a potential strategy to optimize recovery and promote”
From The 4R’s Framework of Nutritional Strategies for Post-Exercise Recovery: A Review with Emphasis on New Generation of Carbohydrates (2020) · cites this paper as [125]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
A Global Measure of Perceived Stress
Cohen, S., Kamarck, T., & Mermelstein, R. (1983) · Journal of Health and Social Behavior · doi:10.2307/2136404 · Cited by 32,807 · see citing works
Cook, R. J., Dickens, B. M., & Fathalla, M. F. (2003) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199241323.003.0025 · Cited by 10,813 · see citing works
Selye, H. (1956) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 5,224 · see citing works
Chronic stress, drug use, and vulnerability to addiction
Sinha, R. (2008) · Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1196/annals.1441.030 · Cited by 1,904 · see citing works
An Overview on Ashwagandha: A Rasayana (Rejuvenator) of Ayurveda
Singh, N., Bhalla, M., De Jager, P., & Gilca, M. (2011) · African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines · doi:10.4314/ajtcam.v8i5s.9 · Cited by 544 · see citing works
(2004) · Journal international de bioéthique et d éthique des sciences · doi:10.3917/jib.151.0124 · Cited by 497 · see citing works
Chandrasekhar, K., Kapoor, J., & Anishetty, S. (2012) · Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine · doi:10.4103/0253-7176.106022 · Cited by 393 · see citing works
Bhattacharya, S. K., & Muruganandam, A. V. (2003) · Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior · doi:10.1016/s0091-3057(03)00110-2 · Cited by 344 · see citing works
Pathophysiology: Concepts of altered health states
Hinchliff, S. M. (1982) · International Journal of Nursing Studies · doi:10.1016/0020-7489(82)90037-2 · Cited by 295 · see citing works
Pathophysiology : Concepts of Altered Health States
Porth, C. (1982) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 261 · see citing works
Choudhary, D., Bhattacharyya, S., & Bose, S. (2017) · Journal of Dietary Supplements · doi:10.1080/19390211.2017.1284970 · Cited by 215 · see citing works
Panossian, A. G., & Wikman, G. (2009) · Current Clinical Pharmacology · doi:10.2174/157488409789375311 · Cited by 204 · see citing works
Stress, habits, and drug addiction: A psychoneuroendocrinological perspective.
Schwabe, L., Dickinson, A., & Wolf, O. T. (2011) · Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1037/a0022212 · Cited by 191 · see citing works
Vr, A., Langade, D., Dongre, S., et al. (2013) · Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine · doi:10.1155/2013/571420 · Cited by 150 · see citing works
Self-citationKuboyama, T., Tohda, C., & Komatsu, K. (2014) · Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin · doi:10.1248/bpb.b14-00022 · Cited by 127 · see citing works
Choudhary, D., Bhattacharyya, S., & Joshi, K. S. (2016) · Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine · doi:10.1177/2156587216641830 · Cited by 116 · see citing works
Udayakumar, R., Kasthurirengan, S., Ayyappan, V., et al. (2010) · Plant Foods for Human Nutrition · doi:10.1007/s11130-009-0146-8 · Cited by 93 · see citing works
Singh, N., Nath, R., Lata, A., Singh, S. P., Kohli, R. P., & Kp, B. (1982) · International Journal of Crude Drug Research · doi:10.3109/13880208209083282 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Langade, D., Choudhary, B., & Shetty, A. (2015) · AYU (An International Quarterly Journal of Research in Ayurveda) · doi:10.4103/0974-8520.169002 · Cited by 79 · see citing works
Self-citationChronic stress, visceral obesity and gonadal dysfunction
Kyrou, I., & Tsigos, C. (2008) · HORMONES · doi:10.14310/horm.2002.1209 · Cited by 75 · see citing works
Senthil, K., Thirugnanasambantham, P., Taek, J. O., et al. (2015) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0123360 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Physiology of Stress and its Management
Sharma, D. K. (2018) · Journal of Medicine Study & Research · doi:10.24966/msr-5657/100001 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
The Role of Adaptogens in Stress Management
Provino, R. (2010) · Australian journal of medical herbalism · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Fortifier, Tonic, and Rejuvenating Plants and the Adaptogen Concept
de Oliveira, D. R., & Leitão, S. G. (2016) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-28155-1_23 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- [8]Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief Rochester: Inner Traditions/Bear & Co Winston D Maimes S 53 Rochester Inner Traditions/Bear & Co 48 2007 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/200457671_Adaptogens_Herbs_for_Strength_Stamina_and_Stress_Relief
- [26]Adaptogenic and anti-stress activity of Withania somnifera in stress induced mice Res J Pharm Biol Chem Sci Anju Anju 676 684 2 2011 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/286407721_Adaptogenic_and_anti-stress_activity_of_Withania_somnifera_in_stress_induced_mice
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Bonilla, D. A., Pérez-Idárraga, A., Odriozola-Martínez, A., & Kreider, R. B. (2020) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph18010103 · Cited by 77 · see citing works
Kamat, D., Al-Ajlouni, Y. A., & Hall, R. C. W. (2023) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph20065171 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
- Authors
- Salve, J., Pate, S., Debnath, K., & Langade, D.
- Affiliations
- Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IN)
- DY Patil Deemed to be University (IN)
- Corresponding author
- Langade, Deepak
- Venue
- Cureus
- Published
- 2019-12-25
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- e6466-e6466
- ISSN
- 2168-8184 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC6979308
- OpenAlex
- W2997644173
- Cited by
- 150
- References
- 25
- Citations by year
- 2026: 27 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 30 · 2023: 29 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 10
- FWCI
- 11.60
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- Cureus (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Phytochemicals and Medicinal Plants
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Medicinal Plant Extracts Effects
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Medicinal Plants and Bioactive Compounds
- Keywords
- Withania somnifera, adaptogenic herbs, Ayurveda, stress reduction, anxiety, sleep quality, serum cortisol, dose-response relationship, aqueous root extract, healthy adults, perceived stress, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, herbal supplementation, healthy lifestyle intervention
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
