Written by Aanya Joshi · Reviewed by: pending (BAMS practitioner review, decision D10) · Last updated 13 August 2026 · 7-min read · Cites 6 sources
Quick answer. Classical Ayurveda describes ashwagandha by its root, the major human trials used root extract, and since April 2026 India's regulators permit only root and root extract in Ayush products and food supplements. So a trustworthy label says "Withania somnifera (root)", not just "ashwagandha extract". Here is what changed, why it matters, and the 30-second label check to run before you buy.
In this article
- The short answer: supplements use the root
- Root vs leaf: what is actually different
- What India's regulators said in 2026
- What the human trials used
- How to read an ashwagandha label: the 30-second checklist
- When NOT to take ashwagandha
- Our take: root-only on our own label
- Frequently asked questions
Two packs of ashwagandha on the same shelf, same price, same tablet count. One ingredient line reads "Withania somnifera (root) extract". The other just says "ashwagandha extract".
Most buyers shrug at that difference. In 2026, it is the whole difference: the plant part decides whether the pack matches the research behind the herb, and whether it matches India's current rules at all.
This guide covers what separates root from leaf, what changed in April 2026, and which part the well-known trials actually used. You will leave able to audit any ashwagandha label in about 30 seconds, ours included.
The short answer: supplements use the ashwagandha root
Supplements use the ashwagandha root. Classical Ayurvedic practice centres on the root, the major human trials used root extract, and since April 2026 India's rules permit only roots and root extracts in Ayush products and food supplements. A clear label says "Withania somnifera (root)".
If a pack will not tell you the plant part, that is the first thing worth checking. The rest of this post shows you what to look for after it.
Root vs leaf: what is actually different
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera, Sanskrit Ashvagandha) is described in Ayurveda by its root. The traditional rasayana (rejuvenative) use is root-based, and even the Sanskrit name is traditionally explained by the horse-like smell of the fresh root. That is the classical record, a traditional framework rather than a clinical finding.
The two parts are also chemically different material. Research on leaf extracts reports that leaves carry more of the withanolides withaferin-A and withanone than roots do [4]. Withanolides are the family of marker compounds ashwagandha products are standardised against, and the profile differs by plant part.
None of this makes the leaf a poison. It means results from root-extract trials belong to the root, and a leaf or "whole plant" product cannot borrow them.
| Property | Root | Leaf |
|---|---|---|
| Classical Ayurvedic description | The described, *rasayana*-use part | Not the part classical texts centre on |
| Landmark human trials | Root extract throughout [1][2][3] | No comparable trial record |
| Withanolide profile | Root-typical profile | More withaferin-A and withanone reported [4] |
| Status in India, 2026 | Permitted: roots and root extracts | Not permitted in Ayush products or food supplements |
| What a clear label says | "Withania somnifera (root)" | "Aerial parts" / "whole plant" is your cue to pause |
Our ashwagandha deep-dive covers benefits, studied doses and side effects in full; this post stays on the label question.
What India's regulators said in 2026
Two documents landed a day apart in April 2026.
On 15 April 2026, the Ministry of Ayush directed that ashwagandha leaf, in crude, extract or any other form, "is strictly prohibited" in Ayush drugs and products [5]. The directive followed an expert-committee review that found the root, not the leaf, is the part with the classical record for internal use.
On 16 April 2026, FSSAI issued an advisory reminding food businesses that Schedule IV of the 2016 Health Supplements and Nutraceuticals regulations had always listed only ashwagandha roots and root extracts, and that deviations invite action under the FSS Act 2006 [6].
One nuance worth knowing: a group of ingredient companies obtained an interim stay from the Karnataka High Court on 12 May 2026, but it covers only the petitioner companies in that case. For everyone else making or selling in India, root-only is the working rule.
This is education, not legal advice, and the litigation means the position may still evolve. The practical takeaway is stable, though: an Indian pack should declare the root, and the plant part is a required declaration under India's Ayurvedic labelling rules (Rule 161).
What the human trials used: root extract
The trials that carry ashwagandha's modern reputation were run on root extract. Three anchors:
- The landmark stress trial used root. A double-blind randomised trial in 64 adults with chronic stress gave 300 mg of root extract twice daily for 60 days. Stress-scale scores fell significantly versus placebo, and serum cortisol dropped substantially [1].
- The second stress trial used root. A 2019 double-blind study in stressed but healthy adults (58 completers) used a root aqueous extract at 250 mg or 600 mg per day for eight weeks. Perceived-stress scores and cortisol fell at both doses, and sleep quality improved [2]. Those are the doses studied, not a recommendation.
- The sleep meta-analysis pooled root trials. A 2021 analysis of five randomised trials in 400 people found a "small but significant" overall improvement in sleep (SMD −0.59), clearer at 600 mg or more per day, after eight weeks or longer, and in people with diagnosed insomnia [3]. Our guide to ashwagandha for sleep unpacks what that realistically feels like.
Those findings support a calm, balanced response to everyday stress and a modest, gradual hand with restful sleep. Nothing more, and nothing about the leaf. A pack that says "root extract" uses the plant part those studies used; a pack that says nothing leaves you guessing.
How to read an ashwagandha label: the 30-second checklist
Pick up the pack, turn to the ingredient panel, and run five checks. This works on any brand, in a chemist or on a product page. (The same method, applied to every herb, is in our guide to reading an Ayurvedic supplement label.)
- Find the plant part. The ingredient line should say "Withania somnifera (root)" or "ashwagandha root extract". A bare "ashwagandha extract" tells you nothing; "aerial parts", "whole plant" or "leaf" tells you to put it back.
- Extract or powder? Both exist legitimately, but they are different strengths of material. The label should say which it is.
- Check the amount. Milligrams per tablet or per serving should be printed, not implied.
- Standardisation, if stated. "Standardised to X% withanolides" means the maker measures a marker compound. Read it as a transparency signal, not a potency promise.
- The basics of a legal pack. Batch number, manufacturing and expiry dates, net quantity, MRP, the maker's name and licence numbers. Missing basics are a bigger warning than any wording.
Thirty seconds, and you know more about the pack than most of its buyers ever will.
When NOT to take ashwagandha
A correct plant part does not make a herb right for everyone. Skip it, or take advice first, in these situations:
- Pregnancy and lactation: avoid. Safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding is not established; do not use unless your doctor specifically advises it.
- Thyroid, blood-pressure or diabetes medication: talk to your doctor first. Ashwagandha may interact with these medicines or add to their effects.
- Sedatives and sleep medicines: it may add to their effect; do not combine without medical advice.
- Planned surgery: stop taking it ahead of the procedure and tell your surgical team what you were using.
If you are managing a chronic condition or taking prescription medication, please consult your doctor before starting any new supplement.
Our take: what root-only looks like on our own label
We built this post because it is the exact check we apply to ourselves. The plant part is not fine print to us; it is in the product's name.
KayaSuddhi's Ashwagandha Tablets, Root Extract use a standardised root extract, with the plant part named on the pack, made to support a calm, balanced response to everyday stress. Run the 30-second checklist on it, the same way you would on anyone else's label. That is what the checklist is for.
And if the pack in your hand fails check one, whoever makes it, our advice is the same: choose one that names the root.
Frequently asked questions
Which part of ashwagandha is used in supplements?
The root. Classical Ayurvedic practice describes ashwagandha by its root, the major human trials used root extract [1][2][3], and since April 2026 India's regulators permit only roots and root extracts in Ayush products and food supplements [5][6]. A clear label declares it, for example "Withania somnifera (root)".
Is ashwagandha leaf banned in India?
In practice, yes for products. A Ministry of Ayush directive (15 April 2026) prohibits ashwagandha leaf in any form in Ayush products, and an FSSAI advisory (16 April 2026) notes the 2016 supplement regulations always listed only roots and root extracts [5][6]. An interim court stay covers only the petitioner companies in that case, so root-only remains the working rule on shelves.
Which is better, ashwagandha root or leaf?
For a buyer in India, the record settles it. The human trials behind ashwagandha's reputation used root extract [1][2][3], and only the root is accepted under current Indian rules [5][6]. The leaf has its own research literature [4], but not that trial record or regulatory standing. Root is the part to buy.
Are the famous ashwagandha studies on root or leaf?
Root. The 2012 chronic-stress trial used 300 mg of root extract twice daily [1], the 2019 stress study used a root aqueous extract at 250 or 600 mg per day [2], and the trials pooled in the 2021 sleep meta-analysis used root extract [3]. A root declaration on the label ties the pack to the studied part.
What are withanolides?
Withanolides are naturally occurring compounds in Withania somnifera, used as the marker family for standardising ashwagandha extracts. Their profile differs by plant part: published work reports leaves carry more withaferin-A and withanone than roots [4]. A "standardised to X% withanolides" line on a label is a transparency signal about measurement, not a potency promise.
How do I check if my ashwagandha is root-only?
Read the ingredient line. Look for "Withania somnifera (root)", "root extract" or "root powder", plus the milligrams per tablet. If you see "aerial parts", "whole plant" or "leaf", or no plant part at all, choose another pack. Then confirm the basics: batch number, manufacturing and expiry dates, and licence numbers. The full 30-second checklist is above.
Is root-only ashwagandha safe for everyone?
No. Root-only tells you the plant part matches the research and the rules; it does not make the herb suitable for everyone. Avoid it in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Ask your doctor first if you take thyroid, blood-pressure, diabetes or sedative medication, and stop it ahead of planned surgery. When in doubt, a qualified practitioner beats a label.
Related reading
- Ashwagandha for Sleep: When It Actually Helps
- How to Read an Ayurvedic Supplement Label
- Ashwagandha: Benefits, Dosage & Side Effects
- Ayurvedic Sleep & Stress Management: The Complete India Guide — the full guide
Sources
- 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):255–262. PMID 23439798. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23439798/
- 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. PMID 32021735. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32021735/
- Cheah KL, Norhayati MN, Husniati Yaacob L, Abdul Rahman R. Effect of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract on sleep: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE. 2021;16(9):e0257843. PMID 34559859. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0257843
- Kaul SC, et al. Novel methods to generate active ingredients-enriched ashwagandha leaves and extracts. PLOS ONE. 2016;11(12):e0166945. PMID 27936030. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27936030/
- Ministry of Ayush, Government of India. Directive on the use of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) leaf in Ayush drugs and products, 15 April 2026. https://ayush.gov.in/
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. Advisory to food business operators on the use of ashwagandha in health supplements and nutraceuticals, 16 April 2026. https://fssai.gov.in/
About the author. Aanya Joshi writes KayaSuddhi's guides to herbs, labels and the rules behind them. She works from the primary record: the studies, the pharmacopoeial descriptions and the regulators' own circulars, and pins every claim to a checkable source.
Reviewed by: pending. This article is awaiting review by a BAMS practitioner (decision D10). It gives no usage directions; the doses mentioned appear only as facts about the cited trials.
Article details — Status: draft · Last updated: 13 August 2026 · Sources: 6 cited.
About this content. This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. The statements have not been evaluated by AYUSH or FSSAI as treatment claims. KayaSuddhi products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider or BAMS-certified Ayurvedic practitioner before starting any new supplement, especially if you are pregnant, lactating, on prescription medication, or managing a chronic condition.
Results may vary. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Consult your physician.
Written & researched by
The KayaSuddhi Team
We are a small team of Ayurveda writers, researchers and reviewers in Delhi NCR. We track the health questions real people are asking, read the latest studies, and turn them into honest, practical guides — so you can make informed choices, not follow hype.
