KSM-66 vs Sensoril vs Shoden: what the ashwagandha extract name on a label tells you
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Two ashwagandha gummies can both say 300 mg on the label and contain quite different things. One reason is the extract. Ashwagandha supplements are made from extracts of the plant, and the three most widely used branded extracts are KSM-66, Sensoril and Shoden. They differ in which part of the plant is used, how concentrated they are and what dose was studied.
This article explains those differences and shows how to use the extract name to check a label. It does not rank the three. No trial has compared them directly, so nobody can honestly say which is best.
Why the extract matters
An extract concentrates certain compounds from a plant. For ashwagandha, the compounds manufacturers measure are called withanolides. The amount of withanolides depends on the plant part, the solvent and the process. A milligram of one extract is not equivalent to a milligram of another.
That has a practical consequence. The dose that was studied for one extract cannot be applied to a different one. To judge a label you need to know which extract it is and what dose that extract was studied at.
The three at a glance
| KSM-66 | Sensoril | Shoden | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maker | Ixoreal Biomed | Natreon | Arjuna Natural |
| Plant part | Root only | Root and leaf | Root and leaf |
| Withanolide content stated by the maker | More than 5% withanolides | At least 10% withanolide glycosides | 35% withanolide glycosides |
| Daily amount in published trials | 250 mg to 600 mg | 125 mg to 500 mg | 120 mg to 240 mg |
| Usual schedule in trials | Twice daily | Once or twice daily | Once daily |
| Outcomes studied | Stress, sleep, strength training | Stress | Stress, sleep quality |
The withanolide figures are the manufacturers’ own specifications. We have not tested any of these extracts.
KSM-66
KSM-66 is made from ashwagandha root only. Its maker describes it as a full-spectrum extract, meaning it aims to keep the balance of compounds found in the root and does not concentrate one group heavily. Of the three, it has the lowest stated withanolide percentage and the highest studied dose by weight.
Several of the best-known ashwagandha trials used it:
- Stress, 2012. 64 adults with chronic stress took 300 mg twice daily or a placebo for 60 days. Stress scores and blood cortisol were lower in the ashwagandha group.
- Stress, 2019. 60 stressed adults took 125 mg twice daily, 300 mg twice daily or a placebo for eight weeks. Both doses lowered stress scores and cortisol compared with placebo, the higher dose more so.
- Insomnia, 2019. 60 adults with insomnia took 300 mg twice daily or a placebo for ten weeks. The ashwagandha group fell asleep somewhat faster than the placebo group by the end.
- Strength training, 2015. 57 men new to lifting took 300 mg twice daily or a placebo during an eight-week program. The ashwagandha group gained more strength.
The studied daily amount is therefore 250 mg to 600 mg, with most trials at 600 mg split into two doses.
Sensoril
Sensoril is made from both root and leaf. Leaves contain a different mix of withanolides from roots, and including them allows a more concentrated extract. Its maker states at least 10 percent withanolide glycosides.
The main trial behind it was published in 2008 in the Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association. Adults with chronic stress took 125 mg once daily, 125 mg twice daily, 250 mg twice daily or a placebo for 60 days. The researchers reported lower stress and anxiety scores and lower cortisol in the ashwagandha groups, with larger changes at higher doses. That journal is not indexed in PubMed, so we cannot link to an abstract, and we have relied on the published paper’s summary.
The studied daily amount is 125 mg to 500 mg. Labels using Sensoril usually show 125 mg or 250 mg per serving.
Shoden
Shoden is also made from root and leaf and is the most concentrated of the three, at a stated 35 percent withanolide glycosides. Its studied doses are correspondingly small.
- Stress, 2019. 60 stressed adults took 240 mg once daily or a placebo for 60 days. The ashwagandha group had a larger fall in an anxiety rating scale and in morning cortisol. A second stress questionnaire showed a difference that fell short of statistical significance.
- Sleep quality, 2020. 150 adults who reported unrefreshing sleep took 120 mg once daily or a placebo for six weeks. Self-rated sleep quality improved by 72 percent with ashwagandha and 29 percent with placebo.
The studied daily amount is 120 mg to 240 mg, taken once a day.
Root only, or root and leaf?
This is the main point of disagreement between the manufacturers. The root is the part used in traditional Ayurvedic practice, and makers of root-only extract present that as a reason to prefer it. Makers of root and leaf extracts point to their higher withanolide content and smaller dose.
There is no trial that settles it. Both types have placebo-controlled trials showing lower stress scores. Neither has been shown to be safer than the other. What you can say is that a label should tell you which part of the plant was used. If it says only “ashwagandha” with no plant part and no extract name, you cannot match it to any research.
Why you cannot compare the percentages
It is tempting to multiply the dose by the percentage and compare the totals.
| Extract and daily amount | Stated withanolide content | Arithmetic total |
|---|---|---|
| KSM-66, 600 mg | More than 5% | About 30 mg |
| Sensoril, 250 mg | At least 10% | About 25 mg |
| Shoden, 240 mg | 35% | About 84 mg |
Treat these totals with caution, for three reasons.
- The test methods differ. Withanolide content can be measured by more than one laboratory method, and the methods give different numbers for the same material. A percentage from one method is not comparable with a percentage from another.
- The compounds counted differ. “Withanolides” and “withanolide glycosides” are not the same set of compounds.
- Nobody has shown that withanolide content predicts the effect. Each extract was tested as a whole. The trials tell you that a given extract at a given dose was associated with a result. They do not tell you which compound was responsible.
The reliable comparison is simpler: does the label give you the dose at which that named extract was studied?
How to check a label in four steps
- Find the extract name. It appears in the Supplement Facts panel next to the amount, for example “KSM-66 ashwagandha root extract”.
- Find the amount per gummy and the serving size. Multiply to get the daily amount at the suggested use. Our guide to per gummy versus per serving covers this.
- Compare with the studied range for that extract in the table above.
- Check that it is not hidden in a blend. If ashwagandha is listed inside a proprietary blend, you cannot tell how much you are getting. See what a proprietary blend is.
| If the label says | A daily amount in the studied range would be |
|---|---|
| KSM-66 | 250 mg to 600 mg |
| Sensoril | 125 mg to 500 mg |
| Shoden | 120 mg to 240 mg |
| “Ashwagandha root powder” | Not comparable. Powder is not an extract, and the trials above did not use it |
| “Ashwagandha extract”, unnamed | Unknown. Look for the plant part and a withanolide percentage, and treat it with caution |
Does a branded extract guarantee quality?
No. A branded ingredient tells you what the manufacturer bought. It does not tell you that the finished gummy contains the stated amount, or that it is free of contaminants. That is what independent testing of the finished product is for. Our article on what third-party tested means explains which seals to look for.
It is also worth knowing that most trials of branded extracts were funded or supplied by the company that makes the extract. That is common in supplement research and does not make the results wrong. It is a reason to prefer findings that have been repeated, and to read the 2022 meta-analysis conclusion carefully: 12 trials pointed to lower stress and anxiety scores, and the authors rated the certainty of the evidence as low.
Safety is the same question for all three
The cautions around ashwagandha apply to every extract. It should be avoided in pregnancy and while breastfeeding, and people with thyroid or autoimmune conditions, or taking certain medications, should get medical advice first. Rare cases of liver injury have been reported with ashwagandha supplements. A more concentrated extract is not a safer one. The full list is in who should not take ashwagandha.
An example from a gummy label
Goli Ashwagandha Gummies list 150 mg of KSM-66 ashwagandha root extract per gummy, with a suggested use of two gummies twice daily. Following the four steps: the extract is named, the daily amount is 600 mg, that is the top of the studied range for KSM-66, and it is not inside a blend. The schedule also matches the twice-daily dosing in the trials.
The same label shows 2 g of sugars per gummy, so 8 g a day at that serving. Our Goli Ashwagandha Gummies review reads the whole panel.
For more on timing and expectations, see how long ashwagandha takes to work. The research is summarized in the ashwagandha ingredient guide, and other options are on the stress gummies page.
The short version
- KSM-66 is root only. Studied at 250 mg to 600 mg a day, usually split in two.
- Sensoril is root and leaf. Studied at 125 mg to 500 mg a day.
- Shoden is root and leaf and the most concentrated. Studied at 120 mg to 240 mg once a day.
- No trial compares them head to head.
- Withanolide percentages are not comparable across brands.
- Match the named extract to its own studied dose. An unnamed extract cannot be matched to anything.
Common questions
Is KSM-66 better than Sensoril?
No trial has compared them. Each has placebo-controlled research at its own dose. Choose a product that gives the studied dose of whichever extract it names.
What is the difference between KSM-66 and Shoden?
KSM-66 is a root-only extract studied at up to 600 mg a day. Shoden is a more concentrated root and leaf extract studied at 120 mg to 240 mg a day.
How much KSM-66 should a gummy have?
Trials used 250 mg to 600 mg a day. Multiply the amount per gummy by the number of gummies in the suggested daily use.
Do more withanolides mean a stronger effect?
That has not been shown. Percentages are measured by different methods and count different compounds, so they cannot be compared across brands.
Is root extract safer than root and leaf extract?
Neither has been shown to be safer. The same cautions apply to all ashwagandha extracts.
What if the label does not name the extract?
Then you cannot match it to a studied dose. Look for the plant part and the withanolide percentage, and be cautious.
Sources
- Chandrasekhar K, et al. 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 J Psychol Med. 2012.
- Salve J, et al. Adaptogenic and anxiolytic effects of ashwagandha root extract in healthy adults: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study. Cureus. 2019.
- Langade D, et al. Efficacy and safety of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root extract in insomnia and anxiety: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Cureus. 2019.
- Wankhede S, et al. Examining the effect of Withania somnifera supplementation on muscle strength and recovery: a randomized controlled trial. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015.
- Lopresti AL, et al. An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Medicine (Baltimore). 2019.
- Deshpande A, et al. A randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study to evaluate the effects of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract on sleep quality in healthy adults. Sleep Med. 2020.
- Akhgarjand C, et al. Does ashwagandha supplementation have a beneficial effect on the management of anxiety and stress? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Phytother Res. 2022.
- Björnsson HK, et al. Ashwagandha-induced liver injury: a case series from Iceland and the US Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network. Liver Int. 2020.
- NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Ashwagandha: usefulness and safety.
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Ashwagandha: is it helpful for stress, anxiety, or sleep? Fact sheet for health professionals.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products discussed here are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This page is not medical advice. It is written for adults 18 and over.