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Rhodiola rosea (Golden
Root)
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Improve health, performance
& longevity...with Lift™
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Science
Supplement
Rhodiola rosea
Description
Rhodiola
comprises several species of plants in the Crassulacea family
– and is generally found in the arctic mountain regions
of Siberia. The root of the plant is used medicinally and
is also known as "Golden root" and more recently
as “Crenulin”. Rhodiola has been used for hundreds of years
to treat cold and flu-like symptoms, promote longevity and
increase the body’s resistance to physical and mental stresses.
Claims
- Promotes weight loss
- Aphrodisiac
- Relieves stress
- Enhances athletic performance
- Tonic for well-being
- Immune enhancer
- Improves cognitive function
- Anti-depressant
Theory
Rhodiola is typically considered
to be an “adaptogen” and is believed to invigorate the body
and mind to increase resistance to a multitude of stresses.
The key active constituents in Rhodiola are believed to
be rosavin, rosarin, rosin and salidroside.
Scientific Support
In a placebo controlled study of Rhodiola
rosea’s ability to mobilize fatty acids from adipose tissue,
121 subjects were given either Rhodiola rosea extract or
a placebo, and their serum lipid levels were tested at rest
and after one hour of exercise. The Rhodiola group had 6%
greater serum fatty acid levels than the placebo group at
rest and 44% greater levels after one hour of exercise.
This difference is presumably due to Rhodiola rosea’s ability
to activate adipose lipase, a key enzyme required to burn
the body’s fat stores.
In an open clinical trial of Rhodiola
rosea’s ability to alleviate symptoms of depression, 128
patients were given extract of Rhodiola rosea. The Rhodiola
rosea extract was effective in reducing or removing symptoms
of depression in 65% of the patients. In another study of
35 men suffering from weak erection, premature ejaculation,
or both were treated with 100-150mg Rhodiola rosea extract
in an open clinical trial that lasted for three months.
26 of the 35 patients recognized a substantial improvement
in sexual function as a result of the treatment.
A placebo-controlled study of Rhodiola
rosea extract’s effects on intellectual performance employed
120 subjects who took a proofreading test. Test subjects
took the test both before and after administration of the
Rhodiola rosea extract or placebo. The Rhodiola group experienced
significant improvement in their scores while the control
group did not. Members of each group were continually tested
for their ability to perform on the proofreading test for
24 hours after administration of the extract or placebo.
The control group experienced a large increase in the number
of errors made in the proofreading test while the group
receiving Rhodiola rosea extract experienced performance
decline to a much lesser extent.
Safety
Rhodiola rosea extract is
thought to be quite safe. There are no known contraindications
or interactions with other drugs/herbs, but there is some
potential for allergic reactions in some individuals.
Value
Rhodiola rosea extract is valuable as an adaptogen,
to increase the body’s ability to deal with a number of
psychological and physiological stresses. Of particular
value is the theoretical role for Rhodiola in increasing
the body’s ability to take up and utilize oxygen - an effect
similar to that of Cordyceps, which may explain some of the
energizing effects attributed to the plant.
Dosage
General dosage recommendations for Rhodiola rosea
extract are typically in the range of 500 -1000mg/day.
References
1. Linh PT, Kim YH, Hong SP, Jian JJ,
Kang JS. Quantitative determination of salidroside and tyrosol
from the underground part of Rhodiola rosea by high performance
liquid chromatography. Arch Pharm Res 2000 Aug;23(4):349--52.
2. Lishmanov IuB, Naumova AV, Afanas'ev
SA, Maslov LN. Contribution of the opioid system to realization
of inotropic effects of Rhodiola rosea extracts in ischemic
and reperfusion heart damage in vitro. Eksp Klin Farmakol
1997 May-Jun;60(3):34-6.
3. Maslova LV, Kondrat'ev BIu, Maslov
LN, Lishmanov IuB. The cardioprotective and antiadrenergic
activity of an extract of Rhodiola rosea in stress. Eksp
Klin Farmakol 1994 Nov-Dec;57(6):61-3.
4. Rege NN, Thatte UM, Dahanukar SA.
Adaptogenic properties of six rasayana herbs used in Ayurvedic
medicine. Phytother Res 1999 Jun;13(4):275-91.
5. Spasov AA, Wikman GK, Mandrikov VB,
Mironova IA, Neumoin VV. 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. Phytomedicine 2000 Apr;7(2):85-9.
6. Wang S, Wang FP. Studies on the chemical
components of Rhodiola crenulata. Yao Hsueh Hsueh Pao. 1992;27(2):117-20.
7. Wang S, You XT, Wang FP. HPLC determination
of salidroside in the roots of Rhodiola genus plants. Yao
Hsueh Hsueh Pao. 1992;27(11):849-52.
8. Xu J, Xie J, Feng P, Su Z. Oxygen
transfer characteristics in the compact callus aggregates
of Rhodiola sachalinensis. Chin J Biotechnol 1998;14(2):99-107.
9. Yoshikawa M, Shimada H, Horikawa S,
Murakami T, Shimoda H, Yamahara J, Matsuda H. Bioactive
constituents of Chinese natural medicines. IV. Rhodiolae
radix. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 1997 Sep;45(9):1498-503.
10. Zhang S, Wang J, Zhang H. Chemical
constituents of Tibetan medicinal herb Rhodiola kirilowii.
Chung Kuo Chung Yao Tsa Chih 1991 Aug;16(8):483, 512.
11. Zong Y, Lowell K, Ping JA,
Che CT, Pezzuto JM, Fong HH. Phenolic constituents of Rhodiola
coccinea, a Tibetan folk medicine. Planta Med 1991 Dec;57(6):589.
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