About Shoden® Ashwagandha Capsules

Shoden® Ashwagandha is a clinically-tested extract standardized to 35% withanolide glycosides, the highest concentration available in the market. Unlike standard ashwagandha extracts, Shoden® combines roots and leaves to deliver a full spectrum of bioactive compounds with superior bioavailability at lower doses. This premium extract supports healthy Stress levels, restful sleep, and cognitive function while promoting energy and vitality throughout your day.

Our Shoden® Ashwagandha Story

Evaluating the ashwagandha market revealed a fundamental problem: most testing methods only measured 8-10 withanolides, while the ashwagandha plant produces over 40 different types. Customers were getting incomplete information about what they were actually buying. We needed a way to measure the full spectrum of active compounds that make ashwagandha effective.

We partnered with Arjuna Natural, the makers of Shoden®, to develop the most advanced analytical methods for ashwagandha testing in the world. Through structural elucidation via NMR and validation with ISO accredited labs, we created testing protocols that capture the complete withanolide profile. This breakthrough allowed us to identify Shoden® as the most potent ashwagandha extract available, delivering 35% withanolide glycosides with exceptional bioavailability that maintains active levels in your bloodstream for hours after taking it.

Benefits

• Lowers Stress: Shoden® supports healthy cortisol levels and helps your body maintain a balanced response to daily stressors, promoting overall feelings of calm and relaxation.
• Supports Restful Sleep: The unique withanolide profile in Shoden® helps improve sleep quality by reducing non-restorative sleep patterns and supporting natural sleep cycles.
• Supports Immune System Function: Shoden® helps maintain healthy immune system activity through its adaptogenic properties that support the body's natural defense mechanisms.
• Promotes Cognitive Function: The high bioavailability of Shoden® supports mental clarity, concentration, and overall cognitive performance while providing neuroprotective benefits.

Shoden® demonstrates remarkable staying power in the system, with significant levels of withanolide glycosides remaining active in the bloodstream for up to six hours after consumption. This extended bioavailability provides consistent support throughout your day, perfect for sustained adaptogenic benefits without frequent dosing.

Quality and Standardization

• 35% Withanolide Glycosides by HPLC/UPLC: We standardize Shoden® to the highest withanolide glycoside content available in the market, verified through advanced HPLC and UPLC analytical methods that measure the full spectrum of bioactive compounds.
• Advanced Analytical Testing Methods: We partnered with Arjuna to develop proprietary assay methods that detect over 40 different withanolides, compared to standard USP methods that only measure 8-10, providing the most comprehensive adaptogen testing in the industry.
• Structural Validation via NMR: Our testing protocol includes NMR structural elucidation of withanolides during validation, ensuring accurate identification and quantification of all bioactive compounds in each batch.
• Dual ISO Accredited Lab Verification: Both Omnient Labs and Intertek can perform our proprietary testing methods, giving us redundant quality assurance and the ability to verify results across multiple accredited facilities.
• Full Spectrum Root and Leaf Extract: Unlike single-source extracts, Shoden® combines carefully selected ashwagandha roots and leaves to deliver the complete profile of withanolide glycosides with enhanced vitality support.

Mechanism of Action

• HPA Axis Modulation: Shoden® works by regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, helping normalize cortisol release patterns and supporting the body's natural stress response mechanisms without causing excessive stimulation or sedation.
• GABA Receptor Enhancement: The unique withanolide glycoside profile in Shoden® supports GABA neurotransmitter activity in the brain, promoting feelings of calm and helping maintain balanced mood states throughout the day.
• Mitochondrial Support: Withanolides help protect cellular mitochondria from oxidative stress while supporting efficient energy production, contributing to sustained vitality without the crashes associated with stimulants.
• Neuroprotective Pathways: Shoden® activates cellular defense mechanisms that help protect neurons from damage while supporting the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which promotes healthy brain function and cognition.

Overview of the Science

Multiple clinical studies have demonstrated Shoden® Ashwagandha's ability to support healthy stress response mechanisms. Research indicates that participants taking Shoden® experienced significant reductions in perceived stress levels and improvements in stress-related quality of life measures [1]. Additional clinical trials have shown that ashwagandha supplementation may help support balanced cortisol patterns throughout the day, contributing to improved stress resilience [2]. The unique withanolide profile in Shoden® appears to modulate key pathways involved in the body's adaptive response to daily stressors.

Research has also explored ashwagandha's potential to support healthy inflammatory response pathways. Studies suggest that withanolides may help regulate inflammatory markers by modulating NF-κB and MAPK signaling cascades [3]. Clinical investigations have demonstrated that ashwagandha supplementation may support balanced inflammatory biomarkers in healthy adults, contributing to overall wellness and recovery [4]. These pain and inflammation support mechanisms may contribute to improved physical comfort and general well-being.

Cognitive function studies have shown promising results for ashwagandha's neuroprotective properties. Clinical trials indicate that regular ashwagandha supplementation may support attention, information processing speed, and executive function in healthy adults [5]. Research has demonstrated improvements in both immediate and general memory performance following ashwagandha supplementation [6]. Sleep quality research has revealed that ashwagandha may help support healthy sleep onset and sleep efficiency, with participants reporting improved sleep quality scores and reduced sleep disturbances [7]. These combined effects on cognitive performance and memory make Shoden® particularly valuable for those seeking comprehensive brain health support [8].

[1] Chandrasekhar K, Kapoor J, Anishetty S. A prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety in adults. Indian J Psychol Med. 2012;34(3):255-62.

[2] Salve J, Pate S, Debnath K, Langade D. Adaptogenic and Anxiolytic Effects of Ashwagandha Root Extract in Healthy Adults: A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Clinical Study. Cureus. 2019;11(12):e6466.

[3] Ishii S, Tanaka T, Akishita M, et al. Ashwagandha root extract exerts anti-inflammatory effects in HaCaT cells by inhibiting the MAPK/NF-κB pathways and by regulating cytokines. Int J Mol Med. 2018;41(6):3487-99.

[4] Raut A, Tripathi R, Marathe PA, et al. Evaluation of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (Ashwagandha) on Physical Performance, Biomarkers of Inflammation, and Muscle Status in Healthy Volunteers: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Cureus. 2024;16(9):e68940.

[5] Choudhary D, Bhattacharyya S, Bose S. Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal) Root Extract in Improving Memory and Cognitive Functions. J Diet Suppl. 2017;14(6):599-612.

[6] Thanawala S, Kadam VJ, Ghosh R. Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha Root Extract on Cognitive Functions in Healthy, Stressed Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Cureus. 2021;13(11):e19755.

[7] Deshpande A, Irani N, Balkrishnan R, Benny IR. A randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study to evaluate the effects of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract on sleep quality in healthy adults. Sleep Med. 2020;72:28-36.

[8] Langade D, Kanchi S, Salve J, et al. Efficacy and safety of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root extract in insomnia and anxiety: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Cureus. 2019;11(9):e5797.

Ingredients

Shoden® Ashwagandha Extract:

• Withania somnifera (Root and Leaf Extract)
• 35% Withanolide Glycosides by HPLC/UPLC
• 120mg per serving

The 35% withanolide glycoside standardization represents the most concentrated ashwagandha extract available commercially. This precise standardization level ensures consistent bioactivity across every capsule, delivering the full therapeutic potential that makes Shoden® effective at low doses. The combination of roots and leaves provides a complete spectrum of withanolides that single-part extracts cannot match, while our advanced HPLC/UPLC testing methods guarantee accuracy far beyond industry standard USP protocols that miss the majority of bioactive compounds.