East Windsor, NJ--Sabinsa's ashwagandha product, Shagandha, has been confirmed to comply with the U.S. Pharmacopoeia-National Formulary (USP-NF) monograph, according to a press release.

The press release states that Alkemist Labs performed two tests on Shagandha. The first is an identity test using High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC), which shows that their product material is consistent with Withania somnifera root. The second test is quantitative, using HPLC to check that the quantity of withanolides is consistent with their product marketing. According to Alkemist Labs CEO Élan Sudberg, these tests ultimately prove that Sabinsa’s Shagandha is authentic ashwagandha with 2.5% USP withanolide material.

The founder of Sabinsa, Dr. Muhammed Majeed, says that the authenticity behind Shagandha is extremely important because the herb is in such high demand that adulteration could be profitable--the press release references a bulletin published by the American Botanical Council showing that adulteration of ashwagandha is on the rise. “Ensuring identity of the material and that it will meet our specification claims fits with our commitment to combating adulteration in the supply chain while assuring customers we provide quality ingredients,” Dr. Majeed said in the press release.