Confirm the plant part first. Then compare the assay definition, method, composition and matching documents before comparing price.
View ashwagandha extract specifications ↗Start with the plant-part declaration
Root-only extract and an extract made from root and leaf have different starting-material descriptions. Do not treat the botanical name Withania somnifera as a complete plant-part declaration. Ask the supplier to state the plant part in the specification, sample description and quotation.
Our published references distinguish root from whole herb. A whole-herb label does not establish a particular root-to-leaf ratio. If you are comparing a root-and-leaf offer, request its exact definition rather than assuming it is the same as our whole-herb reference.
Compare complete specifications, not just “5%”
A percentage is only one part of the comparison. Ask which compounds are included in “withanolides”, how the result is calculated and which analytical method applies to that grade. Two offers with the same percentage should not be accepted as equivalent without reviewing these details.
| Check | Root-only offer | Root-and-leaf / whole-herb offer |
|---|---|---|
| Plant part | Written root declaration | Exact parts; ratio or description where applicable |
| Assay | Named analytes, HPLC procedure and reporting basis | Named analytes and method applicable to this material |
| Composition | Extract, carriers and other constituents | Extract, carriers and other constituents |
| Documents | Root-grade specification and relevant lot COA | Plant-part-matched specification and relevant lot COA |
Neither a larger assay number nor a different plant-part description establishes suitability for your formula. Compare the proposed material with your technical purchasing brief.
Use our grade references as a starting point
The product page lists root withanolide references of ≥1%, ≥1.5%, ≥2.5%, ≥5% and ≥10% by HPLC, and a separate whole-herb total-withanolide reference of ≥2.5% by HPLC. These are supplier-document references, with current grade and lot availability confirmed for an inquiry.
The reviewed root procedure describes root dry extract. Ask for separate confirmation of method applicability to whole-herb material. The published physical limits also differ; acid-insoluble ash and ash must be compared by their exact parameter names.
Example: compare two proposals for a root-only brief
Illustrative purchasing example: your brief calls for root-only extract with a minimum 5% withanolide specification by HPLC. Proposal A declares root but gives only a generic “5%” claim. Proposal B declares root-and-leaf and provides a detailed assay method.
Ask A for the method, analyte definition, composition and matching documents. B does not match the root-only brief unless your technical team approves a specification change. A lower price or a more complete COA does not resolve a plant-part mismatch.
Connect sample review to the proposed order
Record sample identity and lot, the specification being evaluated and the criteria your team will accept. Ask which documents refer to the sample and which refer to a proposed shipment. Confirm any changes before moving from sample evaluation to an order.
Include composition restrictions, relevant contaminant and microbiological requirements, application, quantity and destination. Ask about packaging, costs and timing rather than assuming fixed sample or supply terms.
Compare the published root and whole-herb references
These entries come from the reference specifications already published on our product page. They describe requirements to confirm with the source, not current-lot results.
| Specification reference | Assay method |
|---|---|
| Root · withanolides ≥1% | HPLC |
| Root · withanolides ≥1.5% | HPLC |
| Root · withanolides ≥2.5% | HPLC |
| Root · withanolides ≥5% | HPLC |
| Root · withanolides ≥10% | HPLC |
| Whole herb · total withanolides ≥2.5% | HPLC |
| Parameter | Root grades | Whole-herb 2.5% grade |
|---|---|---|
| Particle size | 95% through 80 mesh | 95% through 40 mesh |
| Moisture | ≤5.0% | ≤5.0% |
| Ash parameter | Acid-insoluble ash ≤5.0% | Ash ≤20.0% |
The root series specifies acid-insoluble ash, whereas the whole-herb 2.5% reference uses an ash parameter. These labels describe different measurements. Likewise, 80 mesh and 40 mesh are different sieve requirements. Carry the exact parameter name and limit into the purchasing specification instead of substituting one row for another.
The recorded supplier root-extract procedure TB/ZY-C-010 uses LC with UV detection at 227 nm and separate calculations for withanolide aglycones and glycosides. Request the complete applicable revision, analyte definition and reference-standard information. The file’s root scope does not establish applicability to whole-herb material.
For an offered root-and-leaf blend, request the actual parts and composition. Do not use a “whole herb” label to assume a specific ratio or claim equivalence to a branded or clinically studied extract.
Continue your purchasing review
What to Check in an Ashwagandha Extract COA ↗
Basis: the supplier-reference scope described on our product specification page. These notes explain document review; examples are illustrative and are not new test results or a current-stock statement.