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Ashwagandha: The right ingredient for European success

Consumers are increasingly searching out natural ingredients with functional properties that are backed by peer-reviewed scientific studies. They want reassurance that the money they spend on herbal extracts will deliver health benefits to their busy lives. KSM-66 Ashwagandha delivers on this by combining clinically-proven benefits with a narrative of traditional healing.

Now, a new downloadable report has been published that provides product developers with the knowledge and practical guidance they need to successfully develop KSM-66 Ashwagandha products.

Bursting with potential

Ashwagandha itself boasts a wealth of phytochemicals. Besides flavonoids, choline, fatty acids, amino acids and a number of different sugars, ashwagandha root also contains withanolides, a group of at least 300 naturally occurring steroids that have been shown to have medicinally interesting properties. So far, more than 140 withanolide compounds specific to ashwagandha root have been isolated, and there may well be more.

Each batch of KSM-66 contains at least 5% withanolides. Only the roots of the plant are used, with no adulteration by leaves. This provides for maximum clinical effectiveness, as confirmed in a large number of peer-reviewed studies and in accordance with traditional Ayurvedic practices.

KSM-66 is also the ashwagandha extract with the most extensive set of research studies. Priority is placed on publication of results in peer-reviewed journals that are indexed in PubMed, a database maintained by the US National Library of Medicine. Studies have shown that KSM-66 Ashwagandha can decrease cortisol levels in people under chronic stress, restore healthy adrenal function and normalise the nervous system.


No-hassle processing

Combined with its ease of use, KSM-66 is a highly adaptable and interesting ingredient for manufacturers. KSM-66’s water-based extraction process presents manufacturers with a key advantage: no bitter aftertaste, which means no flavour masking additives are required. It also means the ingredient is easy to use and can be introduced in a blend of other functional ingredients or as a standalone ingredient. The recommended efficient daily dosage and the ingredient’s organic status make it an ideal candidate for tablets, capsules and any other application.

The report also offers practical advice on the challenges facing product formulators, and provides valuable insights from experts and industry insiders. Dr. Ciska Wyns, Head of R&D at KeyPharm, discusses technical challenges from a manufacturing point of view. She argues that ashwagandha resonates with consumers looking for natural supplements that not only have scientific backing, but a traditional narrative of healing as well.