Ashwagandha Extract (also known as Withania somnifera extract, Indian ginseng, or winter cherry) is a premium adaptogenic botanical ingredient derived from the roots (and sometimes leaves) of the Withania somnifera plant, a member of the Solanaceae family native to India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa.

The nutritional activity of Ashwagandha is attributed to its bioactive compounds-a group of steroidal lactones known as withanolides, with over 40 identified members in the plant. Root-only extracts (e.g., KSM-66) contain approximately 5% withanolides, while root-and-leaf blends (e.g., Sensoril) can contain up to 10%.