NutriScience and Arjuna Natural launch high potency ashwagandha extract

02 Aug 2019 --- US-based specialty ingredients supplier NutriScience Innovations and Arjuna Natural have jointly launched what they tout as “the highest potency ashwagandha extract on the market.” Shoden is available as a powder, standardized with 35 percent Withanolide Glycosides – the highest percentage in the market so far – with a recommended dose of 120 mg. Shoden is developed and manufactured by Arjuna and is now available in North America exclusively from NutriScience.

Boosted by growing consumer demand for natural remedies to fight the daily stresses of modern life, ashwagandha in particular is seeing an impressive uptake in usage. Innova Market Insights data has shown a comparative increase of 48 percent in the number of food and beverage launches globally when comparing 2015 and 2018.

New product launches featuring adaptogens, such as ashwagandha, have included various innovative delivery forms that include chocolates, chewing gums, nutritional bars, burgers, soft chews, gummy bears, juices, ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages, coffee, tea and granola. Teas appear to be especially popular for the use of adaptogens. In fact, Innova Market Insights has noted that in 2017, 24 percent of all new product launches tracked with adaptogens were teas.

The market for ashwagandha is exploding and Shoden is being introduced at an ideal time to meet strong consumer demand for this Ayurvedic herb. Shoden combines Indian Ayurvedic tradition with modern science, the companies note.

Shoden has been studied in three completed clinical trials and two more are in progress. Significant increases in testosterone in men, reductions in cortisol levels and improvements in non-restorative sleep have been demonstrated in the trials. Ongoing trials are related to endurance and immune support. Shoden has a full spectrum of known and newly identified withanolide glycoside bioflavonoids as analyzed by HPLC (High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography) and other methods, not seen in other ashwagandha extracts. Bioavailability studies show that Shoden withanolides remain in the blood even after 24 hours, for full-day effects.

“Arjuna has used its product development, manufacturing and scientific expertise to develop this new standardized extract. Arjuna is working on multiple aspects of Shoden – the clinical and scientific studies, new analytical developments, and GMP manufacturing,” says Benny Antony, Ph.D., Jt. Managing Director at Arjuna. 

“Shoden is low dose and has demonstrated potency, full-spectrum analysis, high manufacturing quality, no safety or regulatory concerns, patented and is also clean label. Moreover, it is easy for formulating in a stand-alone product or in combination with other ingredients for a wide spectrum of product claims,” says Michael Lelah, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer at NutriScience.

Ashwagandha’s growth is also strong in the sports industry. According to Innova Market Insights, one in three product launches of the ingredient has been under the nutritional sports category globally between 2015 and 2018. A further two in five launches featured an energy or alertness claim.

Edited by Kristiana Lalou