HOW DOES IT WORK?
Rhodiola rosea, also known as golden root or Arctic root, is widely distributed at high altitudes in the Arctic and mountainous regions throughout Europe and Asia. It has been a popular plant in European and Asian traditional medicine and has been intensively studied in Russia and Scandinavia for more than 35 years.1

While all species of the genus Rhodiola contain the phytochemical, salidroside, the chemical composition of Rhodiola rosea differs from other species in the genus. Only Rhodiola rosea contains rosavins. Rosavins are three phenylpropanoids: rosavin, rosin, and rosarin.1,2 Rosavins serve as the marker compounds that identify pure Rhodiola rosea extract.

The Rhodiola rosea extracts used in most clinical studies have been standardized to contain a minimum of 3 % rosavin and 0.8-1.0 % of salidroside.2 Clinical studies have shown that Rhodiola rosea supports mental and physical energy, and promotes mental well-being.1,2

Energy and Performance
Current research has focused on Rhodiola rosea's effect on brain transmitters and brain electrical activity.2 In a double-blind crossover study, the effect of Rhodiola rosea extract on fatigue during night duty was investigated on 56 healthy physicians. The effect was measured using tests that gauged mental fatigue involving complex perception and cognitive functions. The parameters were tested before and after night duty.3 The authors of this study noted that significant improvements in perception and cognitive functions were observed in the group taking the Rhodiola rosea extract. The results indicate that Rhodiola rosea extract can reduce general fatigue and increase mental and physical energy under stressful conditions.3

Another double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigated Rhodiola rosea's effect on stress-induced mental and physical fatigue of students. In this study, the students took Rhodiola rosea extract or a placebo for 20 days during an examination period. Researchers evaluated rated the participants on physical fitness, subjective fatigue, and neuro-motor tests before and after the study period.4

Significant improvements in physical fitness, mental fatigue, and motor tests were observed in the group taking the Rhodiola rosea extract. The results indicate that Rhodiola rosea extract can reduce general fatigue and increase mental and physical energy under stressful conditions.4

Mental Well-Being
Current research has focused on Rhodiola rosea's effect on brain transmitters. Laboratory studies have shown that Rhodiola rosea extract supports the balance of various neurotransmitters, such as norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin in the central nervous system.2,4

In more than 250 clinical case studies, physicians reported that Rhodiola rosea extract helped support mental well-being in their patients.2 These physicians used a Rhodiola rosea extract containing 3 % rosavin and 1 % salidroside.2

REFERENCES

1. Kelly G. Rhodiola rosea: A possible plant adaptogen. Altern Med Rev. 2001;6:293-302.
2. Brown R, Gerbarg P, Ramazanov Z. Rhodiola rosea: A phytomedicinal overview. Herbalgram. 2002;56:40-52.
3. Darbinyan V, Kteyan A, Panossian A, Gabrielian, Wikman G, Wagner H. 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. Phytomedicine. 2000; 7:365-371.
4. Spasov A, Wikman G, Mandrikov V, Mironova I, Neumoin V. A double blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of the stimulating and adptogenic 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; 7:85-89.