Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2019 Sep;98(37):e17186.
doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000017186.

An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Adrian L Lopresti  1   2 , Stephen J Smith  1   2 , Hakeemudin Malvi  3 , Rahul Kodgule  4
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Adrian L Lopresti et al. Medicine (Baltimore). 2019 Sep.

Abstract

Background: Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal) is a herb traditionally used to reduce stress and enhance wellbeing. The aim of this study was to investigate its anxiolytic effects on adults with self-reported high stress and to examine potential mechanisms associated with its therapeutic effects.

Methods: In this 60-day, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study the stress-relieving and pharmacological activity of an ashwagandha extract was investigated in stressed, healthy adults. Sixty adults were randomly allocated to take either a placebo or 240 mg of a standardized ashwagandha extract (Shoden) once daily. Outcomes were measured using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale -21 (DASS-21), and hormonal changes in cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEA-S), and testosterone.

Results: All participants completed the trial with no adverse events reported. In comparison with the placebo, ashwagandha supplementation was associated with a statistically significant reduction in the HAM-A (P = .040) and a near-significant reduction in the DASS-21 (P = .096). Ashwagandha intake was also associated with greater reductions in morning cortisol (P < .001), and DHEA-S (P = .004) compared with the placebo. Testosterone levels increased in males (P = .038) but not females (P = .989) over time, although this change was not statistically significant compared with the placebo (P = .158).

Conclusions: These findings suggest that ashwagandha's stress-relieving effects may occur via its moderating effect on the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. However, further investigation utilizing larger sample sizes, diverse clinical and cultural populations, and varying treatment dosages are needed to substantiate these findings.

Trial registration: Clinical Trials Registry-India (CTRI registration number: CTRI/2017/08/009449; date of registration 22/08/2017).

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

This study was independently managed by the principal investigators, Dr HM and RK, who declare no competing interests. Dr AL has received study funding from Arjuna Natural Extracts Ltd in the past for previously completed unrelated studies and has received compensation for conference presentations.

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Systematic illustration of study design.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mean change in mood scores over time (vertical bars depict standard error bars).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mean change in hormones (vertical bars depict standard error bars).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Ekor M. The growing use of herbal medicines: issues relating to adverse reactions and challenges in monitoring safety. Front Pharmacol 2014;4:177. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ven Murthy MR, Ranjekar PK, Ramassamy C, et al. Scientific basis for the use of Indian ayurvedic medicinal plants in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders: ashwagandha. Cent Nerv Syst Agents Med Chem 2010;10:238–46. - PubMed
    1. Kulkarni SK, Dhir A. Withania somnifera: an Indian ginseng. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2008;32:1093–105. - PubMed
    1. Mirjalili MH, Moyano E, Bonfill M, et al. Steroidal lactones from Withania somnifera, an ancient plant for novel medicine. Molecules 2009;14:2373–93. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bano A, Sharma N, Dhaliwal HS, et al. A Systematic and Comprehensive Review on Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal—An Indian Ginseng. Br J Pharmaceut Res 2015;7:63–75.

Publication types