At a daily dose of 125 mg, a root-only ashwagandha extract has entered the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) Ingredient Verification Program for Dietary Ingredients, a step its supplier ties to rising quality and transparency expectations in the category.
OmniActive Health Technologies announced on August 10, 2026 that Zenroot, a standardized ashwagandha extract made from the root only, is now part of the USP Ingredient Verification Program for Dietary Ingredients. The company states that Zenroot is the only USP Verified root-only ashwagandha extract with a low daily dose of 125 mg.
USP states that recognizing Zenroot as a USP Verified Dietary Ingredient reflects a commitment to quality, and that it enables dietary supplement manufacturers to identify the ingredient as a trusted quality ingredient. USP also states that evaluation of clinical research data is not part of its verification process. The recognition therefore does not speak to the clinical evidence behind the ingredient.
Withanolides and root-only sourcing
The company states that Zenroot is standardized to 1.5% withanolides and that it is a root-only material. It also states that ensuring a quantifiable amount of withanolides reaches systemic circulation is important to how an ashwagandha extract performs.
Ashwagandha extracts are commonly standardized to their withanolide content, and reporting from Vitafoods Europe 2026 indicates that withanolide composition, rather than total percentage alone, can drive large differences in systemic exposure between commercial extracts.
Alongside the verification, the company says it continues to invest in Zenroot’s science, citing two recently published clinical studies that it says demonstrated superior bioavailability compared to two leading ashwagandha extracts, as well as clinically studied benefits at just 125 mg daily. Across those studies, according to the company, Zenroot was shown to help reduce occasional stress and feelings of occasional anxiety, and support mood and sleep, compared with a placebo.
The release does not name the studies, the comparator extracts, or the journals in which they appeared. In the wider literature, ashwagandha has been studied for effects on stress, sleep quality, and recovery.
The company frames the verification against a category that continues to expand, and in which brands face greater expectations around sourcing, safety, testing, and transparency. Adulteration is part of that pressure, according to the company.
“Ashwagandha continues to gain attention as consumers seek natural solutions to support overall well-being, but category growth and adulterations are also raising the bar for quality and transparency. Brands are looking for botanical ingredients backed by independent quality assurance. With Zenroot, we are proud to offer a differentiated ashwagandha solution that delivers science, quality, and formulation flexibility.”
Access to the test methods is the second point the company emphasizes. It states that Zenroot is tested using USP methods, that those methods are accessible to laboratories worldwide that want to test and verify the withanolide content, and that method transparency is increasingly important for building trust across the supply chain.
“Brands need greater confidence in the quality and consistency of the ingredients they choose, as the ashwagandha category continues its growth. Zenroot is standardized to 1.5% withanolides and tested using USP methods. These methods are accessible to laboratories worldwide that want to test and verify the withanolide content. Method transparency is increasingly important for building trust across the supply chain.”
OmniActive said in its statement that the extract’s low-dose profile, organoleptic properties, and application flexibility help brands overcome common ashwagandha formulation challenges and enable use of consumer-friendly formats, including capsules, tablets, gummies, ready-to-mix products, effervescent tablets, and beverages.
The firm added that the category is expanding beyond capsules into gummies, chews, beverages, powders, and functional foods. For formulators, that shift places dose size and sensory performance next to documented quality when ashwagandha materials are compared.
Sources
- OmniActive Health Technologies, OmniActive’s Zenroot, Root-Only Ashwagandha Extract Is Now USP Verified, PR Newswire, August 10, 2026.
https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/omniactives-zenroot-root-only-ashwagandha-extract-is-now-usp-verified-302846474.html.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is provided for dietary supplement industry professionals and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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