Shoden®
ashwagandha extract (Withania somnifera)
AshwagandhaLast reviewed: July 11, 2026
Medical & Industry Advisor: Dr. James Pendleton, ND
Answer
Availability
We have not verified a current supply status for this ingredient. Unknown is our default: we publish a status only with dated evidence. If you have first-hand sourcing information, use the correction link below.
Owner and access
- Owner
- Arjuna Natural (site)
- Access model
- Licensed program
What it is
- Purified ashwagandha extract described by Arjuna Natural as a proprietary formula within its branded-ingredient portfolio. [arjunanatural.com]
Spec parameters buyers should demand
What to ask for on the certificate of analysis and spec sheet. Identity, quality, and regulatory parameters only. This is not advice about efficacy.
| Parameter | What to ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Withanolide-glycoside content (standardization) | Arjuna Natural publishes Shoden standardized to 35% withanolide glycosides measured by HPLC. Request the certificate of analysis stating the withanolide-glycoside content and the method. Note that the USP Ashwagandha Root Dry Extract monograph measures total withanolides (not less than 2.5%), a different marker, so confirm the basis rather than comparing the two numbers.[arjunanatural.com — Shoden][USP Ashwagandha Root Dry Extract monograph] | Shoden's marker is withanolide glycosides, distinct from the total-withanolide figure other brands cite, so the marker set is what makes the standardization number meaningful. |
| Identity and species verification | Confirm the manufacturer runs at least one validated identity test on each incoming lot and documents the botanical species (Withania somnifera), as 21 CFR 111.75(a)(1) requires for every dietary ingredient.[21 CFR 111.75(a)(1) — identity test required for each dietary ingredient] | Identity testing is a federal manufacturing requirement, and a named species and method are what your quality file needs. |
| Plant-part basis | Ask the CoA which plant-part basis applies (Arjuna offers a root-and-leaf Shoden and a root-only variant) and how undeclared leaf or stem is documented, given the recognized ashwagandha adulteration profile.[ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program — Ashwagandha Bulletin] | The plant-part basis changes the withanolide profile and the label description, so it is a defining specification for the material. |
| Heavy metals | Request lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury results with the test method and the limits applied.[21 CFR Part 111 — cGMP for dietary supplements] | Heavy-metal control is a baseline quality attribute for any botanical extract and part of a complete certificate of analysis under 21 CFR Part 111. |
QC and testing considerations
- Every dietary ingredient must pass at least one validated identity test before use (21 CFR 111.75(a)(1)). Confirm your manufacturer runs identity testing on each incoming lot. [21 CFR 111.75(a)(1)]
- The Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program documents undeclared ashwagandha leaf and stem material in root products; ask the supplier how the plant-part basis is verified for the Shoden variant you are buying. [ABC-AHP-NCNPR BAPP — Ashwagandha Bulletin]
- Shoden's 35% withanolide-glycoside standard is not the same measurement as a total-withanolide figure; keep the two markers distinct when comparing suppliers or writing a spec. [arjunanatural.com — Shoden]
Further reading: How to read a certificate of analysis and third-party supplement testing.
Reference list
- USP Ashwagandha Root Dry Extract monograph (total withanolides, NLT 2.5%) Pharmacopeia
- 21 CFR Part 111 — Current Good Manufacturing Practice for dietary supplements (identity testing at 111.75) Regulatory
- Shoden (Arjuna Natural) — ashwagandha extract standardized to withanolide glycosides, owner site Owner technical
A reference list is not claim substantiation. Under the FTC's Health Products Compliance Guidance (December 2022), marketing claims about a finished product require competent and reliable scientific evidence, typically randomized, controlled human clinical testing. Responsibility for substantiating product claims rests with the brand.
Manufacturers with stated capability
No manufacturer has a listed capability for this ingredient yet. Listings are positive-only: an entry states a manufacturer can run the ingredient, never that one cannot.
Run this ingredient? Request inclusion.
Further reading
The decision framework behind this reference: five checkable criteria for choosing between a branded ingredient and its generic form.
What this page does not tell you
- Whether the owner will license your specific product or accept a new account.
- Pricing, minimum order volumes, or contract terms.
- Anything about efficacy. This is an identity and sourcing reference.
Prefills the ingredient into the RFQ Spec Builder. You enter your own formula; the tool formats it into a spec sheet.
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