Root-only extract meets USP-NF monograph standards, verified by independent botanical testing expert
Sabinsa Corporation, a science-driven global leader in botanical ingredient innovation, announces that its Shagandha® ashwagandha root extract has earned the Alkemist Assured™ seal from Alkemist Labs, the industry-recognized botanical testing authority. This designation reflects Sabinsa’s ongoing commitment to ingredient quality, supply chain integrity, and consumer transparency in the fast-growing ashwagandha category.
Setting the Standard for Correctly Standardized Ashwagandha
Shagandha® is derived exclusively from the dried roots of Withania somnifera, standardized to a minimum of 2.5% withanolides and 0.25% withaferin A, and is analyzed using the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) method via HPLC. The extract is 100% free from aerial plant parts, a distinction of significance given that ashwagandha root powder can be adulterated with undisclosed plant parts, additives, or diluents.
Shagandha®’s root-only formulation reflects the USP-NF monograph standard and Sabinsa’s commitment to transparency in standardization, rather than a position that ashwagandha leaves are inherently unsafe. Studies show that leaf and aerial parts within specifications in a controlled manner are also safe. Sabinsa believes the more pressing issue facing the category is undisclosed adulteration. The practice of adding lower-cost leaf or aerial plant material to products labeled as root-only ingredients cannot be detected through withanolide-based testing alone. Alkemist Labs conducted two independent tests on Shagandha®: an HPTLC identity test confirming consistency with Withania somnifera root, and an HPLC quantitative test validating the 2.5% withanolide specification. Both tests used USP methods, and both confirmed Shagandha® as authentic, unadulterated ashwagandha.
“Sabinsa’s participation in the Alkemist Assured™ program with Shagandha® reflects exactly why this program exists: to help quality-focused brands demonstrate, not merely claim, their commitment to verified ingredients. At a time when ashwagandha quality is receiving well-deserved scrutiny, rigorous third-party testing and transparency are what allow responsible suppliers to stand apart. We’re proud to support Sabinsa in bringing that standard forward,” said Elan Sudberg, CEO of Alkemist Labs.
About the Alkemist Assured™ Program
Launched in 2022, the Alkemist Assured™ program is the highest tier of Alkemist’s two-level transparency initiative, focused exclusively on botanical and fungal products. Level One (Next Generation Transparency™) requires participating companies to publish consumer-friendly test results refreshed every six months. Level Two, the Alkemist Assured™ seal, requires identity, potency, and contaminant testing by Alkemist for raw material and blended ingredient quality, with a minimum one-year commitment per product.
“Transparency is the vehicle by which trust is communicated. Accurate testing by a proficient lab is a tried-and-true demonstration of label accuracy and quality, so it has always made sense to me that testing reports be shared with consumers,” said Sudberg. “It’s gratifying to see the industry embrace this vision, and it is the right thing to do for the people who take our industry’s products.”
Clinically Validated, Science-Backed
Two published, peer-reviewed clinical trials support Shagandha®’s efficacy at a 500 mg once-daily dose. In a 60-day randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (Medicine, Baltimore), participants experienced a 45.8% improvement in stress scores and 33.9% improvement in anxiety scores, along with reduced cortisol and increased serotonin. In a 90-day randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine), anxiety scores improved 52.9%, sleep quality improved 68.4%, and serum serotonin increased significantly. Shagandha® was shown to be safe and well-tolerated in both trials.
“With ashwagandha sales growing in the double digits in recent years, extra caution in sourcing becomes crucial to guard against the adulteration that often follows rapid growth in demand for an herb,” said Shaheen Majeed, Global CEO and Managing Director of Sabinsa. “Earning the Alkemist Assured™ seal reinforces what Shagandha® has always stood for: a correctly standardized, root-only extract that our customers and their consumers can trust completely.”
Certifications and Availability
Shagandha® is Halal and Kosher certified and Non-GMO Project Verified. It is suitable for use in tablets, capsules, powder premixes, and suspensions, with a recommended dose of 500 mg once daily. Manufacturing sites hold FSSC 22000, NSF GMP, USP GMP, and FDA-inspected qualifications. For more information, visit shagandha.com or sabinsa.com.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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