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Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), one of Ayurveda's most revered Rasayana herbs, took centrestage at a high-level international side event held on the sidelines of the 2nd WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit, 2025, reaffirming India's leadership in advancing traditional medicine through evidence-based global dialogue.
The session, titled 'Ashwagandha: From Traditional Wisdom to Global Impact - Perspectives from Leading Global Experts,' was organised by the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (WHO-GTMC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Ayush at Bharat Mandapam here. It brought together eminent global experts, regulators, researchers and policymakers to deliberate on the evolving scientific, regulatory and safety landscape surrounding Ashwagandha. With Ashwagandha gaining growing international recognition for its adaptogenic, neuroprotective and immunomodulatory properties, the discussions focused on strengthening the bridge between traditional knowledge systems and contemporary scientific validation. Experts underscored the importance of rigorous preclinical and clinical research, safety assessment, pharmacovigilance and standardisation to support its responsible global use, a release said. Moderated by Dr JB Gupta, Secretary, World Ashwagandha Council, the session featured keynote presentations by leading international authorities. Dr Roy Upton of the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia highlighted global benchmarks for identity, quality testing and therapeutic applications. Mari Lyyra, Head of Food and Feed at Medfiles Ltd, Finland, shared perspectives on Europe's regulatory environment and the growing acceptance of Ashwagandha. Dr Ikhlas Khan, Director of the National Center for Natural Products Research, University of Mississippi, emphasised the need for methodological rigour and robust evidence to inform regulatory decision-making. Dr Geetha Krishnan of WHO-GTMC addressed the balance between promise and precaution in the global adoption of Ashwagandha. An interactive panel discussion enabled candid exchanges among experts on harmonising standards, ensuring reproducible efficacy and fostering collaborative research to advance evidence-based Ashwagandha formulations. The session concluded with a shared consensus on the need for sustained international cooperation to position Ashwagandha within conventional healthcare frameworks while preserving the integrity of traditional wisdom. The deliberations reflected a growing global commitment to integrating traditional medicine into contemporary health systems in a safe, scientific and sustainable manner, in line with the broader objectives of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit. The WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit provides a global platform for dialogue, cooperation and policy alignment on traditional, complementary and integrative medicine, with a strong emphasis on evidence, safety and quality, the release said. (ANI)
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