Ashwagandha Root Extract – Latest Studies 05.2026

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Ashwagandha, botanically known as Withania somnifera, is a plant whose root has long been used in Ayurvedic tradition. Modern supplements usually use standardized root extracts. Important compounds in ashwagandha include withanolides. Ashwagandha is often discussed in relation to stress, sleep, calmness, resilience and hormone-related topics. The word adaptogen means that a plant is traditionally used to help the body deal with stress. In research, the exact extract, dose and target group matter a lot. New data show:

• Menopausal symptoms: A 56-day randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with 60 women aged 45–55 years with diagnosed menopause investigated 300 mg ashwagandha root extract twice daily. At the end of eight weeks, the total Menopause Rating Scale score decreased highly significantly in the ashwagandha group compared with placebo. Psychological, somatic, and urogenital symptoms improved significantly. At the same time, serum estradiol and progesterone levels increased, quality-of-life scores improved, and FSH, LH, hot flash frequency, and perceived stress scores decreased.

Conclusion: Ashwagandha root extract shows strong potential in this current study for improving menopausal symptoms, hormonal parameters, perceived stress, and quality of life. The results make ashwagandha one of the more interesting plant extracts in current human research on stress, hormonal transition phases, and women’s health.

05.05.2026

Author: Alireza Mohtashami

Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/reproductive-health/articles/10.3389/frph.2025.1647721/full