Proprietary ashwagandha from Arjuna Natural was shown to reduce stress and anxiety levels in recent study

Photo courtesy of Arjuna Natural

In a December 4, 2024, press release, Arjuna Natural announced results from a study on its proprietary ashwagandha root and leaf extract, Shoden. The study, “Shoden promotes Relief from stress and anxiety: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study on healthy subjects with high stress levels,” was published in Heliyon in September 2024.

The primary phytochemical family in ashwagandha, withanolides, which research has shown may exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and stress-calming properties by lowering cortisol levels and counteracting its negative effects. According to Arjuna Natural, Shoden is standardized to 35% withanolide glycosides.

In the study, 60 adult participants with higher-than-normal stress and anxiety levels received a daily dose of 60 mg, 120 mg, or placebo supplementation for 60 days.

As explained in the press release, results included:

• Shoden groups showed significant reductions in anxiety levels (59%) compared to the placebo group, as measured by the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA)
• Morning blood cortisol levels were lowered by 66% and 67% in both Shoden groups compared to the placebo group only exhibited a 2.2% change in cortisol
• Testosterone levels also increased significantly in men using Shoden

“Prolonged exposure to high levels of cortisol is known to exert detrimental effects on mental and physical wellbeing,” stated Benny Antony, PhD, joint managing director of Arjuna Natural, in the press release. “It leads to increased feelings of anxiety which over long periods of time will decrease the quality of life. Withanolides can increase the activity of certain neurotransmitters, or ‘happy’ hormones, such as serotonin, acetylcholine, and GABA all of which can help regulate the HPA axis, keeping cortisol in check and reducing stress.”

The study tested Shoden at a quarter of the dose tested in a previous clinical trial, which had shown promising results. “This study represents a significant advancement in our understanding of the profound effects that low-dose Shoden Ashwagandha can have in managing stress and anxiety,” Antony also stated. “That these benefits were achieved at such a low dose underscores the exceptional work done by our research team in offering an optimal solution for formulators seeking science-backed stress-relief products.”

According to Arjuna Natural, Shoden is backed by 11 studies and 23 patents, and more studies are being conducted. “We have conducted extensive safety studies on Shoden,” explained Anthony. “This includes acute and subchronic toxicity studies on animals, which have demonstrated excellent safety profiles. We are currently conducting human clinical trials to further establish the long-term safety of Shoden, which continues to demonstrate an efficacy without compromising safety.”

Reference

1. Mishra, DN.; Kumar, M. Shoden promotes Relief from stress and anxiety: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study on healthy subjects with high stress levels. Heliyon. 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e36885