NOW Foods Ashwagandha 450mg 30 Veg Capsules

What it is

NOW Foods Ashwagandha 450 mg is a standardized botanical extract supplied as 30 vegetarian capsules in a white bottle with a purple cap. Each capsule contains 450 mg of ashwagandha extract drawn from the root and the leaf of Withania somnifera, standardized to a minimum of 2.4% total withanolides. The front of the bottle carries a Non-GMO mark and the words "Vegetarian/Vegan," and NOW files the product under its Botanicals/Herbs band. The company has been family owned since 1968.

What's inside

This package declares its materials end to end — the plant, the capsule shell and the container — and each one is printed somewhere on the label. Start with the plant. Withania somnifera is a short, woody shrub in the nightshade family, grown widely across India and parts of North Africa and the Middle East, with a long documented history of use in Ayurveda, the traditional herbal system of the Indian subcontinent. NCCIH publishes a plain-language overview of ashwagandha as general background on the species.

The panel is more specific than the plant name alone. It names the plant part — (Root and Leaf) — so the extract is built from aerial material as well as the underground root, a detail that varies between ashwagandha products and is spelled out here. It also prints a standardization figure, min. 2.4% Total Withanolides. Withanolides are the group of naturally occurring steroidal lactones used as the compositional marker for this species, and a standardized extract is one manufactured to meet a stated floor for that marker in every lot rather than varying with whatever the raw herb happened to assay. The panel gives the percentage floor and no milligram figure alongside it, so none is stated here.

Next, the shell and the fillers. Three other ingredients are declared, and the panel assigns no role to any of them, so neither do we: Hypromellose (cellulose capsule), Stearic Acid (vegetable source) and Rice Flour. Hypromellose is a cellulose derivative, which is what makes the shell plant-based rather than gelatin — the reason the front of the bottle can read Vegetarian/Vegan. The chain ends at the container itself, which the label also specifies: this bottle is made from 100% PCR, or post-consumer recycled, resin. For wider context on how botanical supplements are made and labeled, NIH ODS maintains a consumer background sheet on botanical dietary supplements, and NCCIH keeps a general herbs-at-a-glance reference. Neither source refers to this product.

Supplement Facts

How to use it

The bottle's Suggested Usage reads: take 1 capsule 2 to 3 times daily. That is the manufacturer's own wording and the only dosing direction printed on the package — the label gives no instruction about food, time of day, or a maximum period of use. Store in a cool, dry place after opening. The panel also notes that natural color variation may occur in this product, which is ordinary for a plant extract capsuled from different harvests.

Who it's for

This is a dietary supplement for adults 18 and over who want a single named botanical in capsule form, with the species, the plant part and the standardization floor all printed on the panel. The plant-based hypromellose shell makes it suitable for vegetarian and vegan routines. It sits alongside the rest of our Herbs & Botanicals range, and the broader Supplements category covers other formats and forms. It is not suitable for children, and the label specifically says it is not recommended for pregnant or nursing women.

Good to know

The bottle prints a full caution block, and it is worth reading before you buy. For adults only. Not recommended for pregnant or nursing women. Consult a physician if you are taking medication — especially thyroid hormones — or have a medical condition, especially thyroid, liver and gastrointestinal conditions, including ulcers. The label states that the product may cause digestive upset in some sensitive individuals, and that you should discontinue use if you experience gastrointestinal discomfort after using it, or if rash or itching occurs. Keep out of reach of children. NCCIH publishes general guidance on using dietary and herbal supplements.

Allergen statement, as printed: not manufactured with yeast, wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nut or sesame ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens.

The product is manufactured for NOW Foods of Bloomingdale, Illinois, and the panel states that it is made and quality tested in the USA with globally sourced ingredients.

Frequently asked questions

Are these capsules vegetarian and vegan?

Yes. The capsule shell is hypromellose, a cellulose derivative rather than gelatin, and the front of the bottle is printed "Vegetarian/Vegan." The two remaining other ingredients are rice flour and stearic acid from a vegetable source.

Which part of the ashwagandha plant does this use?

Both the root and the leaf. The Supplement Facts panel declares the extract as "Ashwagandha Extract (Withania somnifera) (Root and Leaf)," so aerial material is included rather than root alone — a detail that differs between ashwagandha products and is printed on this panel.

What does "standardized to min. 2.4% total withanolides" mean?

It means each lot of the extract is manufactured to contain at least 2.4% withanolides by weight. Withanolides are the marker compounds measured in this species, and a standardized extract is made to a stated floor for that marker rather than varying between harvests. The panel prints the percentage only, with no milligram figure beside it.

How many capsules are in the bottle, and how often does the label say to take one?

There are 30 vegetarian capsules in this bottle, and the serving size is 1 capsule. The printed Suggested Usage is to take 1 capsule 2 to 3 times daily.

How is this order packaged for delivery?

It ships in plain outer packaging with no product imagery and no brand marks on the outside. It will not show the Gear Isle name. Nothing on the exterior of the parcel describes the contents.

Product information compiled and reviewed by the Gear Isle product team. We transcribe supplement facts directly from manufacturer packaging. Found an error? Tell us.

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. Dietary supplement for adults 18 and over. Consult a licensed healthcare professional before use, especially if you have a medical condition, heart concerns, or take prescription medication (including nitrates). Keep out of reach of children.