Rhodiola Studies
Anti-Aging
- Salidroside, a compound found within rhodiola, exhibits anti-aging properties.
- Salidroside, a compound found within rhodiola, protects against aging in a mouse model.
- Rhodiola exhibits an effect on decelerated aging in the fruit fly.
Anti-inflammatory
Rhodiola reduces C-reactive protein and creatine kinase in the blood.
Antioxidant
- Tyrosinase inhibitory effect and antioxidative activities of fermented and ethanol extracts of Rhodiola rosea and Lonicera japonica.
- Fermented mixture of Rhodiola rosea and Korean red ginseng protects differentiated C2C12 cells from hydrogen peroxideinduced oxidative stress associated with antioxidant enzyme responses
Antiviral
Rhodiola rosea has neuraminidase inhibitory activity against influenza viruses.
Anxiety
- A Pilot Study of *Rhodiola rosea* (Rhodax^®^) for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- Rhodiola rosea significantly improves generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
Blood Sugar, High
Cinnamon and rhodiola have significant blood sugar lowering and antioxidant activity.
Cancer
- A combination of Leuzea carthamoides (Maral root), Rhodiola, Eleutherococcus (Siberian ginseng) and Schisandra may boost suppressed immunity in ovarian cancer patients on chemotherapy.
- Rhodiola crenulata demonstrates anti-tumor and anti-metastatic activity against human breast cancer cells.
- Rhodiola has an antiproliferative and antimitotic effect against human leukemia cells.
Cardiovascular
- Rhodiola is cardioprotective and has anti-stress activity.
- Rhodiola rosea demonstrates an anti-arrhythmia effect, possibly through induction of opioid peptide biosynthesis.
- Rhodiola rosea demonstrates significant cardioprotective and antiarrhythmic properties.
- A combination of Astagalus, Rhodiola Rosea and Sophora flavenscens ameliorates coxsackievirus B3 induced myocarditis in mice.
Depression:
Research in Sweden has supported the role of Rhodiola rosea in depression. In an experimental model of depression Rhodiola performed as well as St. John’s wort and the antidepressant drug imipramine. The activity was dose dependent and several key phytochemicals in Rhodiola including rosavin were shown to be active.
This research led to a clinical trial of Rhodiola extract in mild and moderate depression. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design, male and female patients aged 18-70 years with Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) scores of 21 to 31 were divided into three groups. Over 6 weeks Group A (31 patients) received 340mg/day of Rhodiola extract, Group B (29 patients) received 680 mg/day of extract and Group C (29 patients) were assigned a matching placebo. Both the Hamilton and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were used to assess treatment outcomes at 6 weeks. The BDI is a series of questions developed to measure the intensity, severity and depth of depression.
In terms of overall depression, there were highly significant reductions in both the Hamilton and BDI scores after 6 weeks of Rhodiola treatment that was not evident in the placebo group. The average HAMD score in Groups A and B fell from around 25 to 18 in both groups, indicating that a dose-response outcome was not seen. In contrast, a dose-response relationship was observed for the BDI scale, with values falling from around 11 to 8 in Group A and from about 11 to 5 in Group B. In terms of the HAMD subgroup scores, significant reductions were seen for insomnia, emotional instability and somatization (physical symptoms caused by mental or emotional factors), but not for self-esteem (except in the high dose Group B). No serious side effects were seen.
In discussing a mechanism of action for Rhodiola, the authors emphasized its adaptogenic and anti-stress activities. In depression its theorized that stress hormones such as cortisol and indeed the HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) axis are overactivated and do not switch off appropriately via the normal negative feedback. The influence of certain stress chemicals released by cells (stress kinases) is thought to play a key role in this overactivity. In particular, the inhibit the sensitivity of receptors in the brain to cortisol. In an experimental model, Rhodiola extract decreased the release of stress kinases and cortisone in response to stress. This suggests that Rhodiola inhibits the stress-induced activation of stress kinases in depressed patients and so restores the impaired sensitivity of their brain receptors to cortisol. This ‘resistance’ of the cortisol receptors is a noted feature in many patients with major depression.
- Rhodiola SHR-5 extract and the treatment of depression
- Clinical trial of Rhodiola rosea L. extract SHR-5 in the treatment of mild to moderate depression.
- R. rosea, although less effective than sertraline, may possess a more favorable risk to benefit ratio for individuals with mild to moderate depression.
- Rhodiola rosea versus sertraline for major depressive disorder: A randomized placebo-controlled trial.
- Rhodiola shows anti-depressive potency in patients with mild to moderate depression.
Ebola
Identification of Ellagic Acid from Plant Rhodiola rosea L. as an Anti-Ebola Virus Entry Inhibitor
Endurance, Exercise
- Acute Rhodiola rosea intake can improve endurance exercise performance
- Fermented R. rosea extract effectively protects against fatigue caused by strenuous exercise.
- *Rhodiola rosea* as an adaptogen to enhance exercise performance: a review of the literature
Fatigue
- Rhodiola rosea in stress induced fatigue—a double blind cross-over study of a standardized extract SHR-5 with a repeated low-dose regimen on the mental performance of healthy physicians during night duty
- Rhodiola roseafor physical and mental fatigue: a systematic review.
- A double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of the stimulating and adaptogenic effect of Rhodioa rosea SHR-5 extract on the fatigue of students caused by stress during an examination period with a repeated low-dose regimen
- A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study of the standardised extract shr-5 of the roots of Rhodiola rosea in the treatment of subjects with stress-related fatigue.
- Rhodiola rosea extract exerts anti-fatigue effect that increases mental performance, ability to concentrate, and decreases cortisol response to stress in patients with fatigue syndrome.
Immune Effects
Learning / Memory / Mental Work
- Rhodiola rosea L. Improves Learning and Memory Function: Preclinical Evidence and Possible Mechanisms.
- A randomized trial of two different doses of a SHR-5 Rhodiola rosea extract versus placebo and control of capacity for mental work.
- Rhodiola rosea has a therapeutic effect in treating mental fatigue.
Cognitive Impairment
Rhodiola generates significant improvement in adults with physical and cognitive deficiencies.
Morphine Tolerance
Neuroprotective
- Rhodiola rosea Extract Protects Human Cortical Neurons against Glutamate and Hydrogen Peroxide-induced Cell Death Through Reduction in the Accumulation of Intracellular Calcium
- Rhodiola prevents ischemic brain damage development in an experimental model.
Pneumonia
Radiation Protection
Rhodiola has radioprotective properties.
Smoking Cessation
Rhodiola rosea has a therapeutic effect in the treatment of smoking cessation.
Stress Reduction
- Therapeutic effects and safety of Rhodiola rosea extract WS® 1375 in subjects with life-stress symptoms—results of an open-label study.
- Eleutherococcus senticosus and Rhodiola rosea induce increased stress response and a longer lifespan.
- Rhodiola rosea extract is a potent inhibitor of stress-induced behavioral and physiological changes.
- Rhodiola attenuates stress-induced anorexia, in the rodent model.
Other Effects
- Potent in vitro inhibition of CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein by Rhodiola rosea
- Rhodiola reduces the level of biophoton emission in human subjects.
- Simultaneous determination of salidroside and tyrosol in extracts of Rhodiola L. by microwave assisted extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography
- Rosenroot traditional use, chemical composition, pharmacology and clinical efficacy(
- Effect of commercial Rhodiola rosea on CYP enzyme activity in humans.