Guide
Types of ashwagandha compared
Whole root powder and standardized extracts (KSM-66, Sensoril, Shoden) are different products from the same root, studied in different trials at different doses. Neither is claimed as superior here.
Ashwagandha supplements come in two genuinely different forms: whole root powder (dried root, ground, nothing concentrated) and standardized extract, sold under names like KSM-66, Sensoril and Shoden. They're studied in separate trials, at doses that aren't directly comparable milligram for milligram. Electric Tiger's capsule is organic whole root powder — this page explains that choice and what each form actually is, without claiming one is better.
What "standardized" means
A standardized extract is processed to concentrate the root's naturally occurring compounds (withanolides), then tested and labeled to a stated percentage — commonly somewhere around 1.5–35% depending on the brand and extraction method. Whole root powder skips that processing step entirely: it's the dried root, ground, with the full range of natural compounds intact but no concentration step and no percentage claimed. Neither approach is inherently superior — they're different products, made for different label claims.
The named extracts
| Name | What it is |
|---|---|
| KSM-66 | A patented root-only extract, standardized to a stated withanolide percentage. |
| Sensoril | A patented root-and-leaf extract, standardized to a stated withanolide-glycoside content. |
| Shoden | A patented root-and-leaf extract, standardized to a stated withanolide-glycoside content, typically used at a lower daily dose than the other two. |
These are extract trademarks, not finished-product brands — a supplement label naming one of them is telling you which raw material it used, the same way a label might name a specific form of magnesium. None of the trials in our own research file happen to test KSM-66 by name; the branded extract we do have trial data on is Shoden (below).
What's actually been studied, by form
Dose numbers only mean something once you know the form behind them:
| Form | Trial dose | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Unbranded 8:1 aqueous extract | 750–1,250 mg/day | Healthy adults, 30 days, no placebo arm |
| Shoden (root+leaf extract) | 21 mg/day of withanolide glycosides | Overweight men, 16-week crossover, placebo-controlled |
| NooGandha (root+leaf extract) | 225–400 mg/day | Healthy adults, 30 days, placebo-controlled |
| Whole root powder | 5–6 g/day | Specific diagnosed populations (not general healthy adults), no placebo arm |
Notice the extract doses (21–1,250 mg/day) and the root-powder doses (5,000–6,000 mg/day) don't overlap at all — that gap is the concentration difference, not a sign that one form "works" at a lower amount than the other. See ashwagandha benefits: what the research does and doesn't show for what each of these trials actually found.
Root powder vs. extract: the honest comparison
| Whole root powder (what we sell) | Standardized extract | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Dried root, ground; nothing concentrated or removed | Root (or root-and-leaf) processed and concentrated to a stated withanolide percentage |
| Label transparency | Weight is exact; withanolide content isn't stated (ours isn't) | A percentage is usually stated, though lab testing has found labeled numbers unreliable across brands (see below) |
| Typical daily amount in trials | 5–6 g/day | 21 mg–1,250 mg/day, depending on the specific extract |
| Watch out for | No standardization means batch-to-batch potency isn't verified without independent testing | A printed withanolide percentage isn't automatically accurate — verify against a certificate of analysis |
A 2025 lab analysis using mass spectrometry tested 24 commercial ashwagandha products — extracts and root powders both — and found the labeled withanolide content deviated from what was actually measured by a factor of 2 to as much as 35. That's the reason a printed percentage, on any brand, shouldn't be assumed accurate without a certificate of analysis behind it — and it's also why we don't print a number we can't back with one.
Questions people ask
Is there a difference between ashwagandha and ashwagandha root?
"Ashwagandha" and "ashwagandha root" usually mean the same plant part — the root is what's typically used. The real distinction to look for on a label is whether it's whole root powder or a standardized extract, and, for an extract, whether it's root-only or root-and-leaf.
What is the difference between root and leaf ashwagandha?
Some extracts (Sensoril, Shoden) use a root-and-leaf blend rather than root alone. We found no trial comparing root-only against root-and-leaf head-to-head for any outcome, so there's no evidence-based answer for which is "better" — they're different raw materials with separate, non-overlapping trial data.
How much withanolides is in ashwagandha root?
It varies by plant, growing conditions and processing, and isn't standardized in whole root powder the way it is in a branded extract. Our label doesn't print a withanolide percentage for this reason — see how to choose a good ashwagandha for why a printed number on any brand needs a certificate of analysis behind it.
Why not KSM-66?
Not a quality judgment — it's a different product from whole root powder, concentrated and standardized rather than left as the dried root. We chose organic whole root powder; see the comparison table above for what each form actually offers.
Sources
- Determination of Withanolides and Withanosides in Ashwagandha Based Products Using HPLC-Drift-Tube-Ion-Mobility Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry Lab testing of 24 commercial ashwagandha products found actual withanolide content off from the label by 2x to 35x.
- Exploratory study to evaluate tolerability, safety, and activity of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in healthy volunteers In 18 healthy adults, an 8:1 ashwagandha extract at 750-1,250 mg/day for 4 weeks was mostly well tolerated, with one withdrawal for adverse effects; there was no placebo group to compare against.
- A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study Examining the Hormonal and Vitality Effects of Ashwagandha ( Withania somnifera) in Aging, Overweight Males In 57 overweight men aged 40-70, a low-dose standardized extract (21 mg withanolide glycosides/day) raised DHEA-S and testosterone versus placebo but did not improve fatigue or vigor.
- Efficacy of Withania somnifera supplementation on adult's cognition and mood In 60 healthy adults with perceived stress, a root-and-leaf extract at 225-400 mg/day for 30 days improved some cognitive test scores and lowered cortisol at the lower dose, but self-reported stress and mood improved equally with placebo.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
