New Delhi, September 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A multicentre clinical trial involving 1,200 adults has found that daily use of a standardised Ashwagandha root extract for 24 weeks was well tolerated, with no evidence of treatment-related liver or kidney injury, according to the Ministry of Ayush.
The study, published in Frontiers in Medicine on August 20, examined the safety and tolerability of prolonged use of Ashwagandha following COVISHIELD vaccination. It was conducted as a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial across seven sites in India.
According to the Ministry of Ayush, liver and kidney function parameters remained within the reported reference ranges during the study. Assessments of liver enzymes, bilirubin, creatinine and blood urea showed no evidence of treatment-related hepatic or renal injury.
The ministry said no serious adverse events were considered attributable to the study intervention, and no participants withdrew from the trial because of an adverse event.
The research was conducted by a multidisciplinary team of 45 researchers from nine institutions and involved 1,200 apparently healthy adults aged between 18 and 70 years who had received a first, second or booster dose of the COVISHIELD vaccine. Nearly 86 per cent of the enrolled participants completed the study.
Participants were randomly assigned to receive either 500 mg of standardised aqueous Ashwagandha root extract daily, equivalent to four grams of raw root powder, or a matching placebo. The intervention continued for 24 weeks, with participants followed up until week 28. The study included clinical, laboratory and immunological assessments.
The trial also examined the extract’s effect on the immune response following COVISHIELD vaccination. Virus-neutralising activity exceeded 85 per cent in both the Ashwagandha and placebo groups, with no statistically significant difference between them.
Dr. Arvind Chopra, Ayush Distinguished Scientist Chair and Director and Chief Rheumatologist at the Centre for Rheumatic Diseases in Pune, who led the study, said the findings indicated that Ashwagandha did not interfere with vaccine-induced immunity, with high levels of neutralising activity maintained in both groups.
Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary of the Ministry of Ayush, said the findings added to the scientific evidence on the safety and appropriate use of standardised Ayurveda interventions.
“High-quality clinical research strengthens the scientific evidence-base of Ayurveda and contributes to a deeper understanding of its potential within contemporary healthcare. The growing body of evidence from rigorous clinical studies is also supporting the responsible global utilisation of Ayurveda and its interventions across health and wellness settings,” he said.
The study involved experts from Ayurveda, clinical medicine, rheumatology, complementary and integrative health, and related disciplines.
The ministry said the findings contribute to the evidence on the tolerability of the specific standardised Ashwagandha extract over the 24-week study period.
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