Document Type
Oral Presentation
Location
Oxford Conference Center
Event Website
https://oxfordicsb.org/
Start Date
23-4-2026 10:30 AM
End Date
23-4-2026 10:50 AM
Description
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an adaptogenic shrub valued for its roots, which support systemic health. Increasing use has raised safety concerns about adulteration and hepatotoxicity. The roots of ashwagandha are primarily preferred for systemic health, while the leaves were traditionally reserved for topical applications to treat joint inflammation and promote wound healing. Although generally considered safe, ashwagandha supplements have been linked to drug-induced liver injury, including cholestasis, jaundice, and pruritus. Reports from various organizations like LARB in the Netherlands indicate a rise in liver toxicity cases, possibly due to cytotoxic withafrin A and DNA-damaging withanone. A major concern is widespread mislabeling and adulteration of commercial ashwagandha supplements. Many commercial products substitute root materials with stem and leaf material, violating standards that recognize only root material as acceptable. Despite USP regulations limiting non-root content to 2%, up to 60% of products fail to comply, mainly due to excess leaf content. Ashwagandha roots and leaves differ significantly in their phytochemical profiles. Leaves contain higher potential hepatotoxic withaferin A, unlike roots. Current quality control, focused on total withanolides, masks adulteration by failing to distinguish between root and leaf profiles. Flavonoid glycosides, unique to aerial parts, are unreliable adulteration markers. USP limits foreign organic matter to 2%, but many products exceed this due to leaf content. No safe upper limit or toxicity data exist for these compounds. Urgent development of robust analytical authentication, stricter regulations, and long-term toxicological studies are needed to ensure consumer safety and assess safe exposure levels for withanolides such withaferin A.
Recommended Citation
Mir, Tahir Maqbool, "Unmasking Ashwagandha Controversy: Safety, Toxicity, and Adulteration" (2026). Oxford ICSB. 35.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/icsb/2026_ICSB/Schedule/35
Publication Date
April 2026
Accessibility Status
Searchable text
Included in
Unmasking Ashwagandha Controversy: Safety, Toxicity, and Adulteration
Oxford Conference Center
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an adaptogenic shrub valued for its roots, which support systemic health. Increasing use has raised safety concerns about adulteration and hepatotoxicity. The roots of ashwagandha are primarily preferred for systemic health, while the leaves were traditionally reserved for topical applications to treat joint inflammation and promote wound healing. Although generally considered safe, ashwagandha supplements have been linked to drug-induced liver injury, including cholestasis, jaundice, and pruritus. Reports from various organizations like LARB in the Netherlands indicate a rise in liver toxicity cases, possibly due to cytotoxic withafrin A and DNA-damaging withanone. A major concern is widespread mislabeling and adulteration of commercial ashwagandha supplements. Many commercial products substitute root materials with stem and leaf material, violating standards that recognize only root material as acceptable. Despite USP regulations limiting non-root content to 2%, up to 60% of products fail to comply, mainly due to excess leaf content. Ashwagandha roots and leaves differ significantly in their phytochemical profiles. Leaves contain higher potential hepatotoxic withaferin A, unlike roots. Current quality control, focused on total withanolides, masks adulteration by failing to distinguish between root and leaf profiles. Flavonoid glycosides, unique to aerial parts, are unreliable adulteration markers. USP limits foreign organic matter to 2%, but many products exceed this due to leaf content. No safe upper limit or toxicity data exist for these compounds. Urgent development of robust analytical authentication, stricter regulations, and long-term toxicological studies are needed to ensure consumer safety and assess safe exposure levels for withanolides such withaferin A.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/icsb/2026_ICSB/Schedule/35
Comments
Tahir Maqbool Mir, PhD, is an accomplished Toxicologist with over a decade of research and industry experience in toxicology, pharmacology, and cancer chemoprevention. At NOW Health Group Inc., Dr. Mir evaluates ingredient safety, conducts comprehensive research, establishes safe upper limits, and assesses potential effects of new and existing products. He formulates risk mitigation strategies, authors critical technical reports (AERs, SAERs), and collaborates internationally on safety concerns and documentation. Before his industry role, Dr. Mir spent nearly a decade at the National Center for Natural Products Research at the University of Mississippi. As a Senior Research and Development Biologist (2019-2023), Dr. Mir developed innovative H1N1 influenza A animal models, integrated into the Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, using in-vitro cell culture, viral titrations, and preclinical pharmacology. As a Postdoctoral Research Associate (2014–2019), Dr. Mir developed in-vivo animal models for diabetes, obesity, MRSA, and dermatitis. His research identified novel molecules for the treatment of poison ivy-induced dermatitis from preclinical to clinical stages. His foundational research at Hamdard University, India, focused on cancer chemoprevention and chemically induced toxicities. He holds a PhD in Toxicology and an MSc in Toxicology from Hamdard University, and a Bachelors in Biochemistry from the University of Kashmir. A prolific scholar with over 60 international publications, Dr. Mir’s research has been recognized with a meritorious research fellowship and a Gold Medal from the Society of Toxicology, India. He is a reviewer for over 20 scientific journals and mentors PhD and Master’s students. Dr. Mir’s comprehensive skill set positions him as a leading figure in toxicology and natural product research.