Ashwagandha

Category: adaptogen

Aliases: withania somnifera, ksm-66

Pharmacological Mechanism

GABA-mimetic withanolides; modulates HPA axis cortisol output.

Half-Life (t½)

PO: 8h

Dosing Guidelines

• PO: Typical 600 (Range: 300–600)

Target Organ Systems

• endocrine

Interactions

• Cortisol (caution): Ashwagandha modulates HPA — can lower diurnal cortisol in healthy adults. Not a reason to co-dose; adrenal-insufficient patients should avoid.

Pathways It Modulates

• Adaptogen HPA / cortisol stress modulation (inhibitor) — HPA cortisol output (down)
• BDNF / TrkB neurotrophic signaling (activator) — BDNF (withanolides; HPA axis + direct)

Chemical Identifiers

• PubChem CID: 161671
• Formula: C28H38O6
• Molecular weight: 971.16 g/mol
• InChIKey: SASUFNRGCZMRFD-JCUIILOWSA-N
• SMILES: CC1=C(C(=O)O[C@H](C1)[C@@](C)([C@H]2CC[C@@H]3[C@@]2(CC[C@H]4[C@H]3C[C@@H]5[C@]6([C@@]4(C(=O)C=C[C@@H]6O)C)O5)C)O)C

References

• PMID 31728244
• PMID 38122911