Ashwagandha: Effects on Stress, Inflammation and Immune Cell Activation

Completed · Phase 1

Conditions studied: Inflammation, Cancer, Autoimmune Diseases

In brief

Ayurvedic medicine has been practiced in for more than 2,500 years. Ashwagandha is one of the most widely utilized herbs in the system. It is thought to affect the endocrine, immune, nervous, and cardiopulmonary systems. This study is designed as a preliminary investigation of the effects of Ashwagandha on stress, inflammation, and immune modulation. Participants will take the liquid extract in cow's milk twice a day for five days. The results of initial, one-day, and final blood draws will be compared to determine participant's beginning and ending levels of cortisol, inflammatory cytokines, and immune-cell activation (CD4 T-cells, CD8 T-cells, B cells and natural killer cells). Measurements will be completed using flow cytometry and ELISA assay. The purpose of this study is to determine which effects of Ashwagandha are most suitable for further investigation.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT00817752

Run by

National University of Natural Medicine

People needed

25

Starts

2007-05-01

Expected to finish

2008-02-01

Last updated by the study team

2010-03-18

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 55. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Healthy adults, not pregnant

You may not qualify if…

• Fear or aversion to needles or blood draws.
• Recent infection or immunocompromised.
• Allergy to cow's milk.
• Known herb allergies.
• Aversions or medical contraindications to alcohol.
• Medication contra-indications, such as: benzodiazepines, CNS depressants,immunosuppressants and thyroid hormone and supplements.

Where it is running

• Helfgott Research Institute — Portland, Oregon, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.