ReviewPhytotherapy research : PTR2026
Potential Adverse Effects of Ashwagandha: A Critical Review of Preclinical and Clinical Evidence.
Review in Phytotherapy research : PTR, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Effects of music-based interventions on test anxiety in students: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Pooled it
- Plant Part-Specific Differences in Ashwagandha (Food science & nutrition · 2026Review
- Article
- Back to the Roots: Safety and Tolerability of Standardised Ashwagandha (Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Oral Administration of Withaferin A Increases Infiltration of CD4Journal of cancer prevention · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Ashwagandha ( Withania somnifera ) is a herbal adaptogen which has been extensively studied for its wide-ranging medicinal properties, ranging from stress relief to neuroprotection and immune modulation. Recent studies have evoked concerns over the toxicity of the bioactive compounds, including withanolides, alkaloids, and sitoindosides. Gastrointestinal side effects, immune hypersensitivity, liver toxicity, and endocrine disruption have been reported, particularly with prolonged or excessive usage. Metabolic transformation via cytochrome P450 enzymes can form reactive intermediates, leading to oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity. The endocrine-modulating activity of Ashwagandha has been implicated in thyrotoxicosis and adrenal suppression. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the pharmacological profiles, incorporating preclinical and clinical data to illustrate the fine balance between the therapeutic and toxic effects of Ashwagandha, identifying populations that may be at increased risk of adverse reactions and interactions with prescribed drugs for specific conditions. The necessity for standardizing dosing regimens, rigorous clinical trials, improving pharmacovigilance, carrying out long-term safety assessments, and revising regulatory guidelines is emphasized to maximize clinical application of Ashwagandha while minimizing concomitant risks.
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Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.