About the Product
HSN's EssentialSeries Ashwagandha Extract (10:1) 400 mg is a food supplement in vegetable capsules based on dry extract of Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) root, with a 10:1 extraction ratio and standardized to 8.5% withanolides. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a central adaptogenic plant in Indian Ayurvedic medicine, used for over 3000 years as a general tonic, adaptogen, and revitalizer. Each 400 mg capsule of extract is equivalent to 4000 mg of native root, and the daily dose of 3 capsules (1200 mg total extract) is equivalent to 12,000 mg of ashwagandha root, providing 102 mg of total withanolides per day (calculated based on 8.5% standardization). The formula is clean label: the only excipients are rice flour and the vegetable capsule (HPMC), with no aesthetic additives, no colorings, no preservatives. Vegan, gluten-free, GMO-free, allergen-free. Available in 30, 120, and 240 capsules.
Benefits
8.5% withanolides: the highest standardization available in unpatented ashwagandha extracts: Withanolides are the family of phytosteroid compounds characteristic of Withania somnifera (steroidal lactones with an ergostane skeleton), identified as the main bioactive compounds responsible for the plant's adaptogenic, anti-stress, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. The 8.5% withanolide standardization in HSN's 10:1 extract is one of the highest available on the market for unpatented ashwagandha extracts: most ashwagandha extracts on the market are standardized to 2.5% or 5% withanolides, and HSN guarantees 8.5%, ensuring a significantly higher concentration of bioactive compounds. For comparison: KSM-66® (Ixoreal Biomed's patented raw material) is standardized to 5% withanolides with a 12:1 ratio; HSN's 10:1 extract at 8.5% has a higher concentration of withanolides per unit weight of extract than KSM-66®, although KSM-66® uses proprietary extraction techniques that ensure a complete and reproducible phytochemical profile.
100% Withania somnifera root: the part of the plant with the highest concentration of withanolides: HSN specifies that its extract is produced exclusively from the root of Withania somnifera, without leaves, stems, or other aerial parts of the plant. This choice is relevant because the concentration of withanolides is significantly higher in the root (the most studied part of the plant in clinical trials) than in the leaves or stems. Many producers on the market use mixed root+leaf extracts (or even exclusively leaf, which has a lower raw material cost) without specifying the origin on the label, which can result in a lower actual withanolide content than declared. HSN guarantees exclusive root and verifiable analytical standardization.
Documented adaptogenic properties: improved stress resistance and mental balance: Ashwagandha is classified as an adaptogen, meaning a compound that non-specifically increases the body's resistance to physical, chemical, and biological stressors, without interfering with normal physiological functions. The adaptogenic mechanism of action of ashwagandha mainly involves modulation of the HPA axis (Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal), with a reduction in cortisol secretion mediated by withanolides, and modulation of the central nervous system via partial agonism of GABA-A receptors (producing an anxiolytic effect) and modulation of intracellular stress signaling pathways (NF-κB, Hsp70, Hsp90). The study by Chandrasekhar et al. (2012), published in the Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, with 64 adults with chronic stress, documented that ashwagandha extract (300 mg/day, 8 weeks) significantly reduced stress and anxiety scores (PSS scale), serum cortisol levels, and improved sleep quality and general well-being versus placebo.
Support for physical performance, strength, and muscle recovery: Ashwagandha has a growing clinical evidence base for benefits in physical performance, especially in the context of resistance training. The study by Wankhede et al. (2015), published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, with 57 young men in resistance training for 8 weeks, documented that ashwagandha supplementation (300 mg 2x/day) significantly increased muscle strength (1RM bench press and leg press), body composition (greater muscle mass gain and greater body fat reduction) and muscle recovery (lower markers of muscle damage), compared to placebo. With the HSN 10:1 extract dose of 1200 mg/day (equivalent to 12,000 mg of native root), the withanolide dose (102 mg/day) is substantially higher than those used in the studies, which theoretically translates into a more comprehensive coverage of the documented effects.
Support for sleep, male libido, and thyroid function: In addition to adaptogenic effects and physical performance, ashwagandha has specific clinical evidence bases in additional contexts: support for sleep quality (effect documented in studies with adults with subclinical insomnia), support for male sexual function and testosterone levels (via modulation of cortisol levels, which has a suppressive effect on testosterone production; and potential stimulation of androgen production via modulation of the HPG axis), and support for thyroid function (studies document increases in T3 and T4 levels in contexts of subclinical hypothyroidism). The daily dose of 3 capsules (1200 mg of extract) covers a broader temporal spectrum throughout the day, with 1 capsule in the morning, 1 at lunch, and 1 at dinner.
10:1 extraction ratio: 10 times more concentrated than the native root: The 10:1 extraction ratio means that 10 parts of native Withania somnifera root were needed to produce 1 part of the concentrated extract. This implies that each 400 mg capsule of extract is equivalent, in terms of volume of raw material used, to 4000 mg of native root, and that the daily dose of 3 capsules is equivalent to 12,000 mg (12 g) of root. This high concentration allows the doses of withanolides documented as effective in clinical studies to be obtained in a much smaller number of capsules than would be necessary with lower concentration extracts or native root powder.
Uses
Recommended dose: Take 1 capsule 3 times a day with meals (total: 3 capsules/day = 1200 mg extract/day = 12,000 mg native root equivalent/day = 102 mg withanolides/day). Taking with meals improves gastrointestinal tolerance. Adaptogenic effects are cumulative and typically noticeable after 2 to 4 weeks of continued use, with maximum benefits documented after 6 to 8 weeks of regular supplementation.
