Table 2. Baseline scores in two groups for the randomized patients (n=56).
*Independent sample t-test for between-group comparisons.
**Mann-Whitney U test for between-group comparisons.
QoL: quality of life; PCS-12: physical domain of SF-12 QoL; MCS-12: mental domain of SF-12 QoL; SF-12: Short Form Health Survey-12; TEWL: transepidermal water loss; SD: standard deviation; CI: confidence interval
Total physician assessment score is the sum of scores for individual signs (wrinkles, pores, hydration/moisture, brightness/tone, and pigmentation).
| Parameter | Ashwagandha (n=28) | Placebo (n=28) | Mean difference (95% CI) | Test | p-Value | |
| Mean (SD) | Mean (SD) | |||||
| QoL scores | PCS-12 score | 11.82 (1.98) | 11.75 (2.17) | 0.07 (-1.04 to 1.19) | 0.129* | 0.898 |
| MCS-12 score | 17.46 (1.14) | 17.18 (1.49) | 0.29 (-0.43 to 1.00) | 0.806* | 0.424 | |
| SF-12 total score | 29.29 (2.57) | 28.93 (3.03) | 0.36 (-1.15 to 1.86) | 0.476* | 0.636 | |
| Cutometer parameters | TEWL (g/h m2) | 22.73 (04.72) | 22.57 (04.27) | 0.16 (-2.25 to 2.57) | 0.134* | 0.894 |
| Melanin index (AU) | 381.85 (79.23) | 377.21 (73.12) | 4.64 (-36.21 to 45.49) | 0.228* | 0.821 | |
| Hydration (CU) | 24.65 (04.01) | 24.79 (05.00) | -0.15 (-2.57 to 2.28) | -0.121* | 0.904 | |
| R2 ratio | 0.63 (0.13) | 0.62 (0.14) | 0.004 (-0.07 to 0.08) | 0.124* | 0.902 | |
| Physician assessment scores | Skin wrinkles | 1.61 (0.79) | 1.57 (0.74) | 0.036 (-0.37 to 0.44) | 0.175** | 0.862 |
| Pores | 2.04 (0.74) | 2.07 (0.77) | -0.036 (-0.44 to 0.37) | -0.177** | 0.860 | |
| Hydration/moisture | 1.64 (0.99) | 1.68 (1.02) | -0.036 (-0.57 to 0.50) | -0.133** | 0.895 | |
| Brightness/tone | 1.82 (0.72) | 1.79 (0.69) | 0.036 (-0.34 to 0.41) | 0.190** | 0.850 | |
| Pigmentation | 2.11 (0.69) | 2.07 (0.66) | 0.036 (-0.32 to 0.39) | 0.198** | 0.844 | |
| Total physician assessment score | 10.11 (2.47) | 10.07 (2.43) | 0.036 (-1.28 to 1.35) | 0.055** | 0.957 | |