An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera) extract: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Lopresti et al. (2019) investigated the anxiolytic effect of ashwagandha (withania somnifera) on adults with self-reported high stress and examined potential mechanisms associated with its therapeutic effects in this randomized, double-blind study. Sixty adults were randomly assigned to take either a placebo or 240mg of a standardized ashwagandha once a day. Outcomes were measured using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A); Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale -21 (DASS-21); and hormonal changes in cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEA-S), and testosterone. All 60 participants took part for the 60 days and completed the trial. Relative to the placebo, the ashwagandha was associated with statistically significant reductions in anxiety (indicated by HAM-A scores) and morning cortisol levels, and also a drop in depression (shown by the DASS-21). Higher testosterone levels were observed in males (P = 0.038) but not in females over time, although this change was not statistically significant compared with the placebo. Although the consensus following this study was that ashwagandha’s stress-relieving effects may occur via its moderating effect on the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, more research with larger sample sizes, diverse populations, and greater variations in dosages is warranted.[NPID: ashwagandha, herbs, stress, cortisol, anxiety, depression, HPA axis]

Year: 2019

Reference: Lopresti, A. L., Smith, S. J., Malvi, H., & Kodgule, R. (2019). An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Medicine, 98(37), e17186. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000017186

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