Arjuna Natural’s Shoden-R receives Ingredient Idol award for relaxation category

In a recent press release, Arjuna Natural, announced that Shoden-R, their newest ingredient, received the Ingredient Idol award for the relaxation category at the SupplySide Global conference which took place in Las Vegas, Nevada, between October 29 to October 30, 2025.

The Ingredient Idol Food and Beverage edition occurred for the second time at SupplySide Global. During this event, R&D and marketing professionals compete to showcase their ingredient. A live pitch was viewed by both the expert panel of judges and trade show attendees. During the pitches, finalists “presented their novel food or beverage ingredient, highlighting the unique attributes, scientific backing, and market viability,” as mentioned in the press release.

“We are so excited to receive this recognition as a breakthrough relaxation ashwagandha ingredient for the food and beverage industries,” said Keely Johnson, VP of Marketing at Arjuna Natural, in the press release. “Shoden-R provides clinically backed benefits at just 60mg per day for a long-lasting, non-GMO, and clean label product that matches and exceeds consumers' expectations.”

The ingredient Shoden-R is a root-only version of Shoden. It is also standardized to 35% withanolide glycosides. With these components, the ingredient is bioavailable and provide a long-lasting form of ashwagandha which can be utilized in pills, RTDs, gummies, both carbonated and non-carbonated beverages, functional foods, quick-dissolving oral beads, and more.

“Most Ashwagandha extracts are standardized to 2.5%, 5%, or 10% withanolide aglycones, meaning they are less stable and less likely to be fully absorbed by the body,” said Dr. Benny Antony, Managing Director at Arjuna Natural. “For formulators, Shoden-R provides the only water-soluble extract for a highly bioavailable and effective product. This 100% root extract is also odorless, tasteless, and has virtually zero opacity for numerous applications to support resilience against physical, emotional, and biological stressors.”

During SupplySide Global’s Ingredient Idol Food and Beverage edition, there were nine additional finalists which were broken down into three categories that were formulation innovation technology, relaxation, and focus. The press release mentioned that Shoden-R was awarded the Ingredient Idol award for its “long-lasting, low-dose, excellent organoleptic properties, versatility, and scientific merit.”

Shoden-R Launched by Arjuna Natural at SupplySide Global 2025

Arjuna Natural launched their Shoden-R ingredient at this year’s SupplySide Global conference.¹

A recently published study showed that Shoden had significantly more bioavailability compared to other ashwagandha formulations with different bioactive profiles. It also had a longer half-life, extended mean residence time, and lower systemic clearance. “The enhanced bioavailability of WS-35 supports its preferential use in therapeutic applications and provides a strong rationale for further investigation into dose-response relationships and the long-term efficacy of standardized, high-bioavailability formulations,” the researchers concluded.

“We are so excited to bring this innovative, non-GMO, clean-label ingredient to market and expand into the functional food and beverage categories,” said Keely Johnson, vice president of sales and marketing at Arjuna Natural, in a press release. “Shoden-R is soluble, odorless, and at just 60mg per day, it is one of the smallest, yet most effective and bioavailable extracts available.”

The ingredient was also shown to support stress levels in 60 adult participants with higher-than-normal stress and anxiety levels. In the study, participants taking two different doses of the ashwagandha extract experienced:

• Significant reductions in anxiety levels (59%) compared to the placebo group, as measured by the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA)
• Reductions in morning blood cortisol levels by 66% and 67% in both Shoden groups compared to the placebo group, which only exhibited a 2.2% change in cortisol
• Significant increases in testosterone levels

“These findings have major implications for both consumers and supplement manufacturers,” said Benny Antony, PhD, joint managing director of Arjuna Natural, in a September 2, 2025, press release. “As ashwagandha continues to gain popularity for its adaptogenic, cognitive, and stress-relieving benefits, the current research underscores the need for more detailed labeling and standardization that goes beyond total withanolide content. Future clinical studies and product formulations should consider the specific withanolide profile—particularly the presence of glycosides—to deliver ashwagandha extracts with maximum efficacy and consistency.”

Reference

1. Krawiec, S. Arjuna natural to launch root-only version of its Ashwagandha Extract, Shoden, at Supplyside Global https://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/view/arjuna-natural-to-launch-root-only-version-of-its-ashwagandha-extract-shoden-at-supplyside-global (accessed Nov 21, 2025).