tt
Clinical Studies
Rhodiola Rosea, or Roseroot, is reported to have stimulant, anti-stress and adaptogenic actions (increasing resistance to the harmful effects of stressors). Animal studies are reported to show protection from stressors such as cold and radiation, increased work capacity, decreased fatigue and improved learning and memory. Roseroot demonstrates potential for improving learning and memory. It is also used for depression, strengthening the nervous system, improving athletic performance and sexual function, cardiac disorders such as arrhythmias and hyperlipidemia. In experimental studies with animals it has been found that Rhodiola extract in a single dose essentially improves learning and retention after 24 hours. Significant improvements of the long-term memory has been established in memory tests after 10 day treatment with the same dose of the extract.
Published Clinical Studiescl top
1
[Preventive and treatment effect of composite Rhodiolae on acute lung injury in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension during extracorporeal circulation]
Xu KJ, Zhang SF, Li QX.
Department of Cardio-thoracic Surgery, General Hospital of Lanzhou Military Region of PLA, Lanzhou 730050. familyxu@hotmail.com
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possibility of early prevention and treatment of acute lung injury by using composite Rhodiolae (CR) in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension during extracorporeal circulation. METHODS: Seventy-six patients with severe pulmonary hypertension screened out by color 2D-Doppler ultrasonography were randomly divided into the treated group (n = 40) and the control group (n = 36). The general treatment for the two groups, including preoperational preparation, operational procedure and conventional drug therapy, was the same. To the treated group, CR was administered 4 g every day (half the dose in children) at 7-10 day before and 5-7 day after the operation. The life signs, pulmonary ventilation parameters, arterial blood gas analysis were monitored and blood levels of TXB2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha in both groups were determined in the fixed time points. RESULTS: The various parameters in the treated group were all better than those in the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), the occurrence rate of acute lung injury and its mortality in the treated group were 7.5% (3/40) and 0% (0/3) respectively, while in the control group were 19.4% (7/36) and 43% (3/7) respectively. CONCLUSION: CR has good preventive and treatment effect in treating complicated acute lung injury during extracorporeal circulation (cardiopulmonary bypass) in patients with pulmonary hypertension.
Publication Types:
PMID: 14571608 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
2
A randomized trial of two different doses of a SHR-5 Rhodiola rosea extract versus placebo and control of capacity for mental work.
Shevtsov VA, Zholus BI, Shervarly VI, Vol'skij VB, Korovin YP, Khristich MP, Roslyakova NA, Wikman G.
Centre of Sanitary and Epidemiological Inspection of the R.F. Ministry of Health, Moscow, Russia.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical study with an extra non-treatment group was performed to measure the effect of a single dose of standardized SHR-5 Rhodiola rosea extract on capacity for mental work against a background of fatigue and stress. An additional objective was to investigate a possible difference between two doses, one dose being chosen as the standard mean dose in accordance with well-established medicinal use as a psychostimulant/adaptogen, the other dose being 50% higher. Some physiological parameters, e.g. pulse rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, were also measured. The study was carried out on a highly uniform population comprising 161 cadets aged from 19 to 21 years. All groups were found to have very similar initial data, with no significant difference with regard to any parameter. The study showed a pronounced antifatigue effect reflected in an antifatigue index defined as a ratio called AFI. The verum groups had AFI mean values of 1.0385 and 1.0195, 2 and 3 capsules respectively, whilst the figure for the placebo group was 0.9046. This was statistically highly significant (p < 0.001) for both doses (verum groups), whilst no significant difference between the two dosage groups was observed. There was a possible trend in favour of the lower dose in the psychometric tests. No such trend was found in the physiological tests.
Publication Types:
PMID: 12725561 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Phenylpropanoid glycosides from Rhodiola rosea.3
Tolonen A, Pakonen M, Hohtola A, Jalonen J.
Department of Chemistry, University of Oulu, Finland. ari.tolonen@oulu.fi
Rhodiola rosea L. (Golden Root) has been used for a long time as an adaptogen in Chinese traditional medicine and is reported to have many pharmacological properties. Along its known secondary metabolites tyrosol (1), salidroside (rhodioloside) (2), rosin (3), rosarin (4), rosavin (5), sachaliside 1 (6) and 4-methoxy-cinnamyl-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (7), four compounds were isolated from aqueous methanol extract of the plant and identified as cinnamyl-(6'-O-beta-xylopyranosyl)-O-beta-glucopyranoside (8), 4-methoxy-cinnamyl-(6'-O-alpha-arabinopyranosyl)-O-beta-glucopyranoside (9), picein (10) and benzyl-O-beta-glucopyranoside (11) by UV, MS and NMR methods. Compounds 8 and 9 are new natural compounds whereas compounds 10 and 11 were isolated first time from R. rosea. Also the compounds 6 and 7 are isolated earlier only from the callus cultures of the plant but not from the differentiated plant.
PMID: 12673010 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
[Hepatoprotective properties of liquid extract of Rhodiola rosea]4
Iaremii IN, Grigor'eva NF.
Medical Chemistry Department, Bukovinian State Medical Academy, ul. Bogomol'tsa 2, Chernovtsy 58000, Ukraine.
The effect of a liquid extract from Rhodiola rosea on the functional state of rat liver with experimental toxic hepatitis was studied. The extract produces a hepatoprotective effect, as manifested by normalized activity of aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase, normalized content of medium-molecular-weight peptides, urea, and bilirubin, and reduced activity of alanine aminotransferase and glutathione-S-transferase in the blood plasma of rats with the toxic hepatitis model.
PMID: 12596536 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
[Rhodiola rosea extract for prophylaxis of ischemic cerebral circulation disorder]5
Pogorelyi VE, Makarova LM.
Pharmacology Department, State Pharmaceutical Academy, Pyatigorsk, pr. Kalinina 11, 357532 Russia.
It was experimentally established that prophylactic introduction of a Rhodiola Rosea extract prevents the ischemic brain damage development. A course administration of the drug in a dose of 700 mg/kg arrests the development of hyper- and hypoperfusion in cerebral circulation, weakens the postischemic hyperglycemic reaction, lowers oxygen extraction by cerebral tissues, suppresses lactate acidosis, promotes pyruvate participation in metabolic processes inhibits edema swelling, prevents the "calcium paradox" development, and decreases manifestations of the lipid peroxidation processes.
PMID: 12449069 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
6
[The effect of rhodiola and acetazolamide on the sleep architecture and blood oxygen saturation in men living at high altitude]
Ha Z, Zhu Y, Zhang X, Cui J, Zhang S, Ma Y, Wang W, Jian X.
The 18th Hospital of PLA, Yecheng 844900, China.
OBJECTIVE: To study the changes of sleep architecture and blood oxygen saturation (SaO(2)) during sleep in men living at high altitude, and to investigate the effect of rhodiola and acetazolamide on these sleep indexes. METHODS: Twenty-four men aged 18 to 21 years who had stayed at high altitude (5 380 m above sea level) for 1 year were randomly divided into groups A (treated with oral rhodiola), B (treated with oral acetazolamide) and C (treated with rhodiola + acetazolamide). Their sleep architecture and SaO(2) were recorded for 24 days before and after taking the medicines. RESULTS: Compared with baseline, the waking SaO(2) (WSaO(2)), the lowest SaO(2) (LSaO(2)) and the mean SaO(2) (MSaO(2)) were increased significantly after treatment for 24 days (P < 0.01), and the times of oxygen desaturation >/= 4% per hour (DI4) and the percentage of time spent at SaO(2) below 80% (SIT(80)) were decreased significantly (P < 0.01). After treatment, the NREM I and II was shortened, and III + IV and REM sleep were prolonged (P < 0.01): the total waking time (TWT) was shortened, and the sleep efficiency index (SEI) was markedly increased (P < 0.01). Compared with group A's, groups B's and C's SIT(80) were increased (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both rhodiola and acetazolamide were effective in modulating the sleep architecture and improving the sleep quality in young men living at high altitude, but there was no synergistic effect between rhodiola and acetazolamide.
Publication Types:
PMID: 12423559 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
7
Mechanisms underling the effects of adaptogens on erythropoiesis during paradoxical sleep deprivation.
Provalova NV, Skurikhin EG, Pershina OV, Suslov NI, Minakova MY, Dygai AM, Gol'dberg ED.
Institute of Pharmacology, Tomsk Research Center, Siberian Division of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences.
We studied the effects of adaptogens extracts of Siberian ginseng, Rhodiola rosea, bergenia, and ginseng and pantohematogen, on erythropoiesis after paradoxical sleep deprivation. Adaptogens stimulated bone marrow erythropoiesis in the early stage, but decreased the count of bone marrow erythrokaryocytes 3-7 days after treatment. The effect of adaptogens on erythropoiesis is associated with modulation of the state of brain neurotransmitter systems followed by changes in functional activity of cells in the hemopoiesis-inducing microenvironment.
PMID: 12420051 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Volatiles from rhizomes of Rhodiola rosea L.8
Rohloff J.
The Plant Biocentre, Department of Botany, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7491 Trondheim, Norway. jens.rohloff@chembio.ntnu.no
Terpenes and aroma volatiles from rhizomes of Rhodiola rosea L. from Norway have been isolated by both steam distillation and headspace solid-phase micro-extraction coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis. The dried rhizomes contained 0.05% essential oil with the main chemical classes: monoterpene hydrocarbons (25.40%), monoterpene alcohols (23.61%) and straight chain aliphatic alcohols (37.54%). n-Decanol (30.38%), geraniol (12.49%) and 1,4-p-menthadien-7-ol (5.10%) were the most abundant volatiles detected in the essential oil, and a total of 86 compounds were identified in both the SD and HS-SPME samples. Geraniol was identified as the most important rose-like odour compound besides geranyl formate, geranyl acetate, benzyl alcohol and phenylethyl alcohol. Floral notes such as linalool and its oxides, nonanal, decanal, nerol and cinnamyl alcohol highlight the flowery scent of rose root rhizomes.
PMID: 11867098 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
9
[The effect of Rhodiola capsules on oxygen consumption of myocardium and coronary artery blood flow in dogs]
Zhang Z, Liu J, Shang X, Yang J, Chu J, Wang Z, Yao Z, Ma H, Li Q, Wang Y.
Institute of Information on TCM, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100700.
It has been proved that Rhodiola Capsules can obviously decrease the oxygen consumption of myocardium and oxygen consumption index in anesthetic dogs, decrease the coronary artery resistance, but have no marked effect on the coronary artery blood flow. The Capsules also have the function of decreasing blood pressure and slowing heart rate.
PMID: 11596257 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Rhodiola rosea: a possible plant adaptogen.10
Kelly GS.
Rhodiola rosea is a popular plant in traditional medical systems in Eastern Europe and Asian with a reputation for stimulating the nervous system, decreasing depression, enhancing work performance, eliminating fatigue, and preventing high altitude sickness. Rhodiola rosea has been categorized as an adaptogen by Russian researchers due to its observed ability to increase resistance to a variety of chemical, biological, and physical stressors. Its claimed benefits include antidepressant, anticancer, cardioprotective, and central nervous system enhancement. Research also indicates great utility in asthenic conditions (decline in work performance, sleep difficulties, poor appetite, irritability, hypertension, headaches, and fatigue) developing subsequent to intense physical or intellectual strain. The adaptogenic, cardiopulmonary protective, and central nervous system activities of Rhodiola rosea have been attributed primarily to its ability to influence levels and activity of monoamines and opioid peptides such as beta-endorphins.
Publication Types:
PMID: 11410073 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
[Medicinal plant preparations used as adjuvant therapeutics in experimental oncology]12
Razina TG, Zueva EP, Amosova EN, Krylova SG.
Tomsk Scientific Center, Siberian Division, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Russia.
Experiments on mice inoculated with metastasing Lewis lung carcinoma showed that the antitumor and antimetastatic effects of cyclophosphan (cyclophosphamide) are potentiated by the extracts of phytopreparations based on Baikal scullcap (Scutellaria baikalensis), rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea), common licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), and their principal acting components--baikalin, paratyrosol, and glycyrram.
PMID: 11109531 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
13
A double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of the stimulating and adaptogenic effect of Rhodiola rosea SHR-5 extract on the fatigue of students caused by stress during an examination period with a repeated low-dose regimen.
Spasov AA, Wikman GK, Mandrikov VB, Mironova IA, Neumoin VV.
Volgograd Medical Academy, Russia.
The objective was to investigate the stimulating and normalizing effect of the adaptogen Rhodiola rosea extract SHR-5 in foreign students during a stressful examination period. The study was performed as a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled with low repeated dose regime. The study drug and the placebo were taken for 20 days by the students during an examination period. The physical and mental performance were assessed before and after the period, based on objective as well as on subjective evaluation. The most significant improvement in the SHR-5 group was seen in physical fitness, mental fatigue and neuro-motoric tests (p <0.01). The self-assessment of the general well-being was also significantly (p < 0.05) better in the verum group. No significance was seen in the correction of text tests or a neuro-muscular tapping test. The overall conclusion is that the study drug gave significant results compared to the placebo group but that the dose level probably was suboptimal.
Publication Types:
PMID: 10839209 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
14
[The anti-arrhythmia action of an extract of Rhodiola rosea and of n-tyrosol in models of experimental arrhythmias]
Maimeskulova LA, Maslov LN.
Department of Experimental Cardiology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Tomsk Research Center, Russia.
A daily 8-day course of Rhodiolae fluidum extract (1 ml/kg; ED50 = 0.43 ml/kg)--a preparation from the group of adaptogens caused a marked preventive antiarrhythmic effect on models of adrenaline and CaCl2-induced, but not acontine, arrhythmias. Aglycone--n-tyrosol demonstrated a lower antiarrhythmic activity (ED50 = 16 mg/kg) than that of Rhodiola extract.
PMID: 9621172 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
15
[Effect of Rhodiola rosea on the yield of mutation alterations and DNA repair in bone marrow cells]
Salikhova RA, Aleksandrova IV, Mazurik VK, Mikhailov VF, Ushenkova LN, Poroshenko GG.
The study was made of the influence of the Rhodiola rosea extracts administration on chromosome aberrations, production of cells with micronuclei and unscheduled DNA synthesis in bone marrow cells of mice under action of mutagens cyclophosphamide and N-nitroso-N-methylurea (NMU). It was found that Rhodiola rosea extracts reduce significantly the yield of cells with the chromosome aberrations and micronuclei induced by cyclophosphamide in vivo, inhibit unscheduled DNA synthesis induced by NMU in vitro. It is emphasized that Rhodiola rosea extracts are antimutagens due to ability to raise the efficiency of the intracell DNA repair mechanisms.
PMID: 9471597 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
[The cardioprotective and antiadrenergic activity of an extract of Rhodiola rosea in stress]16
Maslova LV, Kondrat'ev BIu, Maslov LN, Lishmanov IuB.
The course of administration of Rhodiola rosea extract was studied for effects on the pattern of stress-induced cardiac damage which was assessed by 99mTc-pyrophosphate accumulation in the heart. Rhodiola rosea was found to prevent stress-induced cardiac damage. Simultaneously, myocardial catecholamines and cAMP levels were measured. Rhodiola rosea was ascertained to prevent both stress-induced catecholamine release and higher cAMP levels in the myocardium. Moreover, the adaptogen prevented lower adrenal catecholamines during stress. The findings suggest that the antistressor and cardioprotective effects of Rhodiola rosea are associated with limited adrenergic effect on the heart.
PMID: 7756969 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]