Ashwagandha extracts compared, KSM-66, Sensoril, Shoden and root powder

A deadline week, a new job, a phone that won't stop buzzing. Whatever sent you looking at ashwagandha, the tubs have probably thrown some names at you, KSM-66, Sensoril or Shoden, with percentages that don't seem to match. Here's what each one actually is, and how to tell them apart on a label.

What is ashwagandha root extract?

It's the root of the ashwagandha plant, Withania somnifera, steeped in water or alcohol to draw out its compounds. The liquid is then dried to a powder. The root is the part traditionally used [1][2].

Ashwagandha's best-known compounds are withanolides. Makers measure them to show how strong an extract is. A standardised extract is adjusted to a set level of them [2][3].

Here's the surprise. The leaves hold the most withanolides, even though the root is the traditional part [2]. That's why the plant part on the label matters.

KSM-66, Sensoril and Shoden compared

Most ashwagandha research uses a named extract, made by one company in the same way every time. These three have the most studies behind them.

In our evidence library of 106 studies of ashwagandha on its own, 34 used KSM-66, 8 used Sensoril and 6 used Shoden. Another 36 didn't name their extract. Our ashwagandha studies page lists the extract behind each one.

KSM-66

KSM-66 comes from Ixoreal Biomed in India. It's made from the root only, using water rather than alcohol or other solvents. It's standardised to at least 5% withanolides [4][9]. Trial papers call it "full-spectrum" [4].

On a label, look for "KSM-66" with "5% withanolides". In the US government's label database, 103 of the 110 KSM-66 labels that gave a percentage said 5% [10].

Sensoril

Sensoril was developed by Natreon, which is now part of Kerry Group. It's a water extract of the root and leaf. It's standardised to at least 10% withanolide glycosides and 32% oligosaccharides, a type of plant sugar, with no more than 0.5% withaferin A [5][6].

Labels word it in a few ways. In the same database, the most common were "10% withanolides", "32% oligosaccharides", "10% withanolide glycoside conjugates" and "8% withanolides" [10].

Shoden

Shoden is made by Arjuna Natural in India, using a mix of ethanol and water, and standardised to 35% withanolide glycosides [7]. Trial papers describe it as a root and leaf extract, although one called it a root extract [7][8].

All 13 Shoden labels in the database that gave a percentage said 35% [10]. Shoden is more concentrated, so its trials used smaller amounts, as our ashwagandha dosage guide explains.

Root powder

Root powder is the dried root, ground up, rather than an extract [1]. It's taken in grams rather than milligrams, and our guide to ashwagandha powder vs capsules compares the two.

Why don't the percentages match?

Because they don't measure the same thing. KSM-66 counts withanolides. Sensoril and Shoden count withanolide glycosides, which are withanolides with a sugar stuck on [5][7][10].

So you can't compare 35% Shoden with 5% KSM-66 directly. It's a bit like comparing a price in pounds with one in euros. The numbers only line up once you know the units.

The test matters too. In one lab study, two official methods gave different results for the same products. Lab studies have also found many products that didn't match their labels [11][12].

Our nootropic label calculator does the sums for each named extract.

Root only or root and leaf?

Standardised root extracts are the form most often tested in controlled trials [9]. Root and leaf aren't interchangeable, though. A 2026 review noted that their chemistry and lab effects differ a lot, so a result found with one doesn't carry over to the other [9].

A US lab study raised quality and safety questions about leaf and other above-ground parts in ashwagandha products. It found them in most of the 25 products it tested, whether the label mentioned them or not [12].

Sensoril and Shoden use leaf by design, say so, and have trials of their own [5][8]. So check the label for the plant part, then match it to the research.

In the UK, the Food Standards Agency has gathered evidence on ashwagandha supplements. An independent committee of experts will review it, and a risk assessment will follow [13]. Our ashwagandha guide has the latest.

How to spot each extract on a label

Here's a quick check for any ashwagandha tub.

• The name. Look for the extract's name, such as "KSM-66". With no name, you can't tell which extract it is.
• The plant part. Look for "root", "root and leaf" or "leaf".
• The percentage, and what it counts. A glycoside figure and a plain withanolide figure aren't the same thing.
• The amount per daily dose. Multiply it by the percentage to get the milligrams.

A tub that just says "ashwagandha extract" is a bit like a playlist with no song titles, so there's no way to check what's on it. Our ashwagandha guide has a worked example of the sum.

Where Nooroots fits

Nooroots Ashwagandha + Lion's Mane uses 120 mg of KSM-66, the root-only extract at 5% withanolides. That's 6 mg of withanolides a day. The KSM-66 is certified organic. Each two-capsule daily dose also has 500 mg of lion's mane fruiting body extract, caffeine-free, for calm focus and calm resilience on demanding days.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best ashwagandha extract?

There isn't one best extract for everyone. KSM-66 has the most studies behind it, while Sensoril and Shoden have smaller sets of trials, so the best match is the extract tested for what you want [9].

Is KSM-66 better than Sensoril?

They're different extracts rather than stronger and weaker versions of one. KSM-66 is a root-only extract standardised to withanolides, and Sensoril is a root and leaf extract standardised to withanolide glycosides [4][5]. We found no trial comparing them head to head.

What does 5% withanolides mean?

It means withanolides make up 5% of the extract's weight. So 100 mg of a 5% extract holds 5 mg of withanolides.

What are withanolide glycosides?

They're withanolides with a sugar attached. Sensoril and Shoden are standardised to them, while KSM-66 is standardised to withanolides, so their percentages can't be compared directly [10].

Is root extract better than root powder?

Standardised root extracts are the form most trials have tested [9]. Powder is the whole dried root, ground [1], so it's less concentrated and you need more of it.

Read more about what the trials found in our ashwagandha guide.

References

Every study here is listed so you can read it yourself. This guide is for general information and doesn't replace advice from your GP or pharmacist. We check it again at least every six months.

1. World Health Organization (2009). Radix Withaniae. WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants, volume 4: 373–391. iris.who.int
2. Speers AB, Lozano-Ortiz A, Soumyanath A (2024). Quantifying withanolides in plasma: pharmacokinetic studies and analytical methods. Nutrients 16(22): 3836. PMID 39599622
3. European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (2010). Guideline on declaration of herbal substances and herbal preparations in herbal medicinal products/traditional herbal medicinal products. EMA/HMPC/CHMP/CVMP/287539/2005 Rev.1. ema.europa.eu
4. Chandrasekhar K, Kapoor J, Anishetty S (2012). 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 Journal of Psychological Medicine 34(3): 255–262. PMID 23439798
5. Pingali U, Pilli R, Fatima N (2014). Effect of standardized aqueous extract of Withania somnifera on tests of cognitive and psychomotor performance in healthy human participants. Pharmacognosy Research 6(1): 12–18. PMID 24497737
6. Pingali U, Nutalapati C, Wang Y (2025). Ashwagandha and shatavari extracts dose-dependently reduce menopause symptoms, vascular dysfunction, and bone resorption in postmenopausal women: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Journal of Menopausal Medicine 31(1): 21–34. PMID 40347163
7. Lopresti AL, Smith SJ, 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. PMID 31517876
8. Lopresti AL, Drummond PD, Smith SJ (2019). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study examining the hormonal and vitality effects of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in aging, overweight males. American Journal of Men's Health 13(2): 1557988319835985. PMID 30854916
9. Coope OC et al. (2026). Back to the roots: safety and tolerability of standardised ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root extract in healthy adults. A systematic review of biomarkers and adverse events. Pharmaceuticals 19(5): 725. PMID 42198398
10. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD), on-market US labels; ashwagandha label counts run by Nooroots on 24 October 2026 (110 KSM-66, 100 Sensoril and 13 Shoden labels giving a withanolide percentage). dsld.od.nih.gov
11. Zellner L et al. (2025). Determination of withanolides and withanosides in ashwagandha based products using HPLC-drift-tube-ion-mobility quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Electrophoresis 46(5–6): 340–346. PMID 39965076
12. Avula B et al. (2026). A comparison of British and US Pharmacopoeia standards for quality of ashwagandha dietary supplements in commerce. Phytotherapy Research 40(8): 4833–4844. PMID 41386716
13. Food Standards Agency (25 June 2026). Summary of responses to call for evidence on ashwagandha. gov.uk