Roots, Leaves, Berries & Other Plant Parts
Why root, leaf and other plant parts are not interchangeable in adaptogen products, with what testing of ashwagandha, ginseng and other products found.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
Different parts of a plant contain different mixes of compounds. A label that says "ashwagandha" or "ginseng" without naming the part leaves a question open. This page sets out what the sources we read say about roots, leaves and other parts. It does not say which part is better.
Traditional use and research are different things
Traditional use and research must be kept apart. One group of authors describes traditional ashwagandha use as root-only. [1] Traditional use is not proof of benefit, and research looks at one part, one extract and one population at a time, and a result for one part cannot be assumed for another. For tradition-based guides, see Ashwagandha in Ayurveda.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
NIH says ashwagandha supplements typically contain root, leaf, or root/leaf extracts. [2]
| Question | What the source found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Do root and leaf differ chemically? | In one plant study, leaves had the highest content of withaferin A and roots the highest of withanolides A and B [3] | Single laboratory study of plants from one site |
| What do products on the market contain? | In 25 tested supplements, only two were confirmed as root-derived; the rest contained varying proportions of disclosed or undisclosed aerial parts [1] | Single study; products tested were those the authors obtained |
| Does it matter for quality tests? | A compound found mostly in leaf samples caused withanolide A to be underestimated in the standard test method, and many products failed standards [1] | Single study |
| Does it matter for traditional use? | The same authors note that aerial parts are used commercially despite traditional root-only use [1] | Authors' statement |
Which part is used in a given trial matters for how to read it. Trial summaries are on Ashwagandha root vs leaf vs whole-plant extracts. Proper evidence not found, in the sources we read, comparing safety of root and leaf products in people. NIH reports rare liver injury cases linked to ashwagandha supplements without separating them by plant part. [2]
Ginseng (Panax ginseng)
NIH says the root is the part most used for health purposes. [4] A review of authenticity studies found that substitution of root with leaves, stems or flowers had also been reported. [5] Red and white ginseng are two preparations of the same root. [4] See Red vs white ginseng.
Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea)
The medicinal part is the root and rhizome (the underground stem). [6] The EU monograph is titled "rhizoma et radix", Latin for rhizome and root. [7]
Eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus)
One chemical study notes that the leaves contain triterpene glycosides, organic acid derivatives and flavonoids. [8] Proper evidence not found, in the sources we read, comparing leaf and root products for health outcomes.
Berries, fruit and other parts
The Polish study of eleven products included dried fruit products, and schisandra preparations had the highest contamination levels, a small sample that cannot be generalized. [9] Beyond that, a comparison of berry products with other parts is not described in the sources we read. For the plant itself, see Schisandra.
Frequently asked questions
Is ashwagandha root better than leaf?
Proper evidence not found, in the sources we read, that one is better. They differ in chemistry. [3]
How do I know which part is in a supplement?
The label should say. In a 2025 study, many products contained undisclosed aerial parts. [1]
Does the part matter for trial results?
Yes. Results for one extract do not transfer to another.[2]
Are leaves of ginseng the same as root?
No. Substitution of root with leaves, stems or flowers has been reported. [5]
Where can I learn about forms?
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety
Cautions for ashwagandha do not depend on which part you use, according to the sources we read: NIH says avoid it during pregnancy, do not use it while breastfeeding, and it is not recommended before surgery or with autoimmune or thyroid disorders. [2] Whether leaf-heavy products carry different risks is not described in the sources we read. Ask a pharmacist before combining with medicines (see medication interactions).
References
- Avula B, et al. A comparison of British and US Pharmacopoeia standards for quality of ashwagandha dietary supplements in commerce. Phytother Res. 2026;40(8):4833-4844. Read 2026-10-23.
- NCCIH, Ashwagandha: Usefulness and Safety (last updated March 2023). https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/ashwagandha. Read 2026-10-23.
- Ankad GM, et al. Traditional horticulture practices increase the production of selected withanolides in Withania somnifera. J Chromatogr Sci. 2020;58(10):899-906. Read 2026-10-23.
- NCCIH, Asian Ginseng: Usefulness and Safety (last updated February 2025). https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/asian-ginseng. Read 2026-10-23.
- Ichim MC, de Boer HJ. A review of authenticity and authentication of commercial ginseng herbal medicines and food supplements. Front Pharmacol. 2021;11:612071. Read 2026-10-23.
- Booker A, et al. The authenticity and quality of Rhodiola rosea products. Phytomedicine. 2016;23(7):754-762. Read 2026-10-23.
- European Medicines Agency (HMPC), European Union herbal monograph on Rhodiola rosea L., rhizoma et radix, final revision 1, 20 March 2024. Read 2026-10-23.
- Wang YH, et al. The chemical characterization of Eleutherococcus senticosus and Ci-wu-jia tea using UHPLC-UV-QTOF/MS. Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(3):475. Read 2026-10-23.
- Jasińska-Balwierz A, et al. Heavy metal contamination in adaptogenic herbal dietary supplements. Biology (Basel). 2025;14(11):1479. Read 2026-10-23.