A high-potency ashwagandha extract standardised to 15% total withanolides, including 6% withaferin A W-ferinMax® is a trademarked extract of Withania somnifera, commonly known as ashwagandha, a botanical traditionally used in Ayurvedic systems for resilience, vitality, and adaptation to stress. Modern scientific research has focused on the plant’s bioactive compounds, collectively known as withanolides, which are steroidal lactones responsible for many of ashwagandha’s studied physiological effects. W-ferinMax® is developed as a high-potency, standardised extract, characterised not only for total withanolide content but also for the presence of withaferin A, a well-defined and extensively studied individual withanolide. This dual standardisation places W-ferinMax® within a modern, analytically robust framework while remaining grounded in the botanical’s long history of traditional use. Botanical raw materials naturally vary due to factors such as growing conditions, harvest timing, and processing. To address this variability, W-ferinMax® is standardised to both total withanolide content and a clearly specified level of withaferin A, ensuring batch-to-batch consistency and a reproducible phytochemical profile. W-ferinMax® is characterised using analytical techniques routinely applied to high-quality botanical extracts intended for food supplement use. Key physical characteristics Active compound profile Withanolides represent a structurally related group of compounds that includes withaferin A, withanolide A, withanolide B, and withanolide IV. Among these, withaferin A is one of the most biologically active and extensively studied constituents, and its defined inclusion distinguishes W-ferinMax® from lower-specification ashwagandha extracts. W-ferinMax® is assessed against defined identity, purity, and quality parameters to confirm suitability for use in high-quality supplement formulations. Botanical identity is confirmed using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). These techniques verify that the characteristic withanolide compounds present correspond to those expected for Withania somnifera. HPLC analysis demonstrates multiple distinct peaks corresponding to individual withanolides, including withaferin A and withanolide IV, with retention times consistent with reference standards. Quantitative analysis confirms that total withanolides meet or exceed 15% and that withaferin A meets or exceeds the specified 6% level. Chromatographic analysis produces a characteristic chemical “fingerprint” for W-ferinMax®. Across repeated analyses, the major withanolide peaks appear at consistent retention times with stable relative intensity, indicating a controlled extraction process and repeatable composition from batch to batch. Together, these measures confirm that W-ferinMax® meets defined quality specifications appropriate for food supplement use. Ashwagandha extracts standardised to withanolides have been widely investigated in human clinical research. Studies have explored outcomes related to stress and perceived wellbeing, sleep quality, physical performance and recovery, hormonal and endocrine markers (including cortisol and testosterone-related parameters), and cognitive and mental performance markers. Withaferin A, in particular, has been the subject of extensive mechanistic and translational research, contributing to interest in extracts that clearly define and quantify this compound. Human clinical studies and long-standing traditional use indicate that ashwagandha extracts are generally well tolerated when consumed by healthy adults at commonly studied intake levels. Reported adverse effects are typically mild and infrequent, most often involving gastrointestinal discomfort. No serious safety concerns have been consistently identified in the published literature when used appropriately. These potential benefits are supported by human research on comparable ashwagandha extracts and are influenced by overall lifestyle, diet, and individual context. W-ferinMax® is formulated as a high-potency ashwagandha extract, delivering a defined withanolide and withaferin A profile at lower serving sizes compared with conventional low-strength extracts. W-ferinMax® is a high-potency, standardised Withania somnifera extract characterised by 15% total withanolides, including a clearly specified 6% withaferin A. Analytical characterisation confirms identity, consistency, purity, and suitability for food supplement use. With its defined withanolide profile and alignment with a substantial body of human research on ashwagandha, W-ferinMax® represents a modern, evidence-based botanical ingredient for applications focused on stress resilience, wellbeing, and performance support. W-ferinMax® is available as a single-ingredient formulation here.W-ferinMax® (Withania somnifera Extract)
Introduction
Botanical identity and standardisation
Composition and analytical quality
Analytical Characterisation & Ingredient Verification
Identity confirmation
Active compound verification
Consistency and repeatability
Purity and safety parameters
Human research context
Safety and tolerability
Potential benefits (evidence-led)
Typical use context
Summary
