The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) has provided feedback to the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA), supporting the safety, applications and scientific evidence behind the popular Asian herbal supplement, Ashwagandha.

Global interest in the Ayurvedic herb Withania somnifera (known better as Ashwagandha) has been increasing, although several European countries have expressed concerns, despite its long history of safe use.

The FSA launched a consultation on July 8, inviting input from food business operators (FBOs) involved in the production, processing, distribution, sale or import of products containing Ashwagandha, along with contributions from experts and researchers in the field. The purpose of this consultation is to collect data on Ashwagandha to support the FSA’s risk assessment and shape future risk management recommendations.

In its submission, AHPA highlighted key points from the Botanical Safety Handbook (Second Edition) regarding Ashwagandha’s safety, scientific research and traditional and cultural usage. The comments were endorsed by AHPA’s Chief Officer, Holly Johnson, PhD, and Director of Program Development, Jane Wilson.

Key points

Responding to the FSA’s request for “available information/data on the safety assessment of food supplements containing Ashwagandha,” including toxicological testing, AHPA’s comments cover several key areas:

● Botanical safety: according to the most recent entry in the Botanical Safety Handbook, Ashwagandha is classified as a Class 1 Herb - considered safe for consumption when used appropriately - having Class A Interactions - clinically significant interactions not expected.

● Abortifacient claims: a claim that Ashwagandha may act as an abortifacient stems from a misinterpretation of historical and ethnobotanical sources. Both traditional use and recent studies do not support these claims.

● Global usage and safety: as Ashwagandha’s global market presence has expanded, there have been reports of adverse effects. AHPA suggests that these are likely idiosyncratic and not indicative of widespread safety concerns.

● Hepatotoxicity claims: AHPA reviewed 14 reported cases of liver toxicity potentially linked to Ashwagandha. However, the cases lacked consistent botanical identification, dosage details and standardized assessment methods, making it difficult to establish a clear causal connection.

● Scientific research: recent studies, including a 90-day toxicity assessment, challenge earlier toxicity concerns. Ashwagandha is one of the most extensively researched botanicals, with a long history in Ayurvedic medicine and modern use in food supplements.

In a statement, AHPA reaffirmed its commitment to providing science-based guidance and supporting regulatory frameworks that prioritize consumer safety while ensuring continued access to widely used herbs like Ashwagandha.

“As global interest in the botanical continues to grow, AHPA encourages regulators to consider the full scope of scientific evidence and the herb’s long-standing history of safe use.”

Record of safe consumption

Ashwagandha has been a fundamental part of Ayurvedic medicine for over 4,000 years, with its origins linked to the teachings of the esteemed scholar Punarvasu Atreya and later Ayurvedic texts, as documented in a monograph by the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP). The herb's name is derived from the Sanskrit term ashvagandha, meaning "smells like a horse," which refers to the distinctive scent of its root, said to resemble the odor of horse sweat or urine. Renowned for its adaptogenic properties, Ashwagandha is believed to help the body better cope with stress and support overall health and vitality.