Rhodiola rosea
Background
Rhodiola rosea is a plant in the Crassulaceae family that lives at high altitudes in Europe, Asia, and the Indian Himalayas. Also known as ‘golden root’, ‘roseroot’, or ‘Aaron’s rod’. Rhodiola rosea is considered an ‘adaptogen’ in complementary medicine. According to popular websites and articles, it is used in traditional medicine in Scandanavia, Russia, Mongolia, Eastern Europe, and Asia to stimulate the nervous system, enhance physical and mental performance, treat fatigue, anxiety and depression, and in Chinese medicine it is used for anti-ageing, anti-cancer, anti-oxidative stress.
Active Compounds
A recent study shows that the root extract of Rhodiola rosea contains 17 chemical compounds, belonging to the phenylalkanoids and monoterpene analogues. Biologically active substances include the glycosides salidroside (a phenylpropanoid glycoside), rosavin, rosin, rosarin, rosiridin, the phenols tyrosol and hydroquinone. Many of the clinical trials on Rhodiola rosea used a standardized root extract called SHR-5 (produced by Swedish Herbal Institute).
Physiological Function
Scientific studies in vitro have shown that compounds in Rhodiola rosea extract inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE). AChE breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh). Scientific studies in vitro have also shown that Rhodiola rosea has potent antioxidant activity.
Cognitive Effects
Scientific studies suggest that Rhodiola rosea may alleviate the effects of stress and fatigue
In a double-blind study, students taking Rhodiola rosea (undisclosed dosage) for 20 days during exams showed improved physical fitness, mental fatigue and neuromotor tests. “The most significant improvement in the SHR-5 group was seen in physical fitness, mental fatigue and neuro-motoric tests (p <0.01)."
Spasov, A. A., G. K. Wikman, V. B. Mandrikov, I. A. Mironova, and V. V. Neumoin. ‘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 7, no. 2 (2000): 85-89.
In a double-blind study, administration of a single dose of either 370mg (n=41) or 555mg (n=20) Rhodiola rosea SHR-5 dry extract produced a significant antifatigue effect (measured by cognitive tests) in healthy young male cadets. “The study showed a pronounced antifatigue effect reflected in an antifatigue index defined as a ratio called AFI. The verum [drug] 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."
Shevtsov, V. A., B. I. Zholus, V. I. Shervarly, V. B. Vol’skij, Y. P. Korovin, M. P. Khristich, N. A. Roslyakova, and G. Wikman. ‘A randomized trial of two different doses of a SHR-5 Rhodiola rosea extract versus placebo and control of capacity for mental work.’ Phytomedicine 10, no. 2-3 (2003): 95-105.
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study of patients with fatigue syndrome, treatment with Rhodiola rosea SHR-5 at 576mg/day for 28 days reduced cortisol response and reduced fatigue, improving the ability to concentrate. The authors conclude “When the two groups were compared, however, significant effects of the SHR-5 extract in comparison with the placebo were observed in Pines’ burnout scale and the CCPT II [Conners' computerised continuous performance test II] indices omissions, Hit RT SE, and variability. Pre-versus post-treatment cortisol responses to awakening stress were significantly different in the treatment group compared with the control group. It is concluded that repeated administration of R. rosea extract SHR-5 exerts an anti-fatigue effect that increases mental performance, particularly the ability to concentrate, and decreases cortisol response to awakening stress in burnout patients with fatigue syndrome.”
Olsson, E. M. G., B. von Scheele, and A. G. Panossian. ‘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.’ Planta Medica 75, no. 2 (2009): 105-112.
In a double-blind crossover study, 56 young healthy physicians on night duty took standardized SHR-5 extract (dose undisclosed in abstract) daily for 2 weeks with statistically significant improvement in test scores of perceptive and cognitive function. The authors conclude “The effect was measured as total mental performance calculated as Fatigue Index. The tests chosen reflect an overall level of mental fatigue, involving complex perceptive and cognitive cerebral functions, such as associative thinking, short-term memory, calculation and ability of concentration, and speed of audio-visual perception. These parameters were tested before and after night duty during three periods of two weeks each: a) a test period of one RRE [rhizome Rhodiola rosea extract]/placebo tablet daily, b) a washout period and c) a third period of one placebo/RRE tablet daily, in a double-blind cross-over trial. The perceptive and cognitive cerebral functions mentioned above were investigated using 5 different tests. A statistically significant improvement in these tests was observed in the treatment group (RRE) during the first two weeks period. No side-effects were reported for either treatment noted. These results suggest that RRE can reduce general fatigue under certain stressful conditions.”
Darbinyan, V., A. Kteyan, A. Panossian, E. Gabrielian, G. Wikman, and H. Wagner. ‘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 7, no. 5 (2000): 365-371.
Clinical studies on patients with depression or anxiety suggest that Rhodiola rosea may improve these symptoms. NOTE: We could not find any studies conducted on healthy people to assess mood effects and the studies below are included for background information research purposes on this ingredient. VINCTO is not intended to diagnose, mitigate, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III clinical trial, adults with mild to moderate depression received Rhodiola rosea extract SHR-5 340mg/day (n=31), SHR-5 680mg/day (n=29) or placebo for 6 weeks. Overall depression, together with insomnia, emotional instability and somatization, but not self-esteem, improved significantly from baseline tests following medication, whereas placebo group did not. The authors conclude “It is concluded that the standardized extract SHR-5 shows anti-depressive potency in patients with mild to moderate depression when administered in dosages of either 340 or 680 mg/day over a 6-week period.”
Darbinyan, V., G. Aslanyan, E. Amroyan, E. Gabrielyan, C. Malmstrom, and A. Panossian. ‘Clinical trial of Rhodiola rosea L. extract SHR-5 in the treatment of mild to moderate depression.’ Nordic Journal of Psychiatry 61, no. 5 (2007): 343-348.
In a small pilot study (with no control group) 10 adult patients with generalized anxiety disorder received 340mg/day R rosea extract for 10 weeks, showing improved anxiety score compared to baseline. The authors conclude “Significant improvement in GAD [generalized anxiety disorder] symptoms was found with R. rosea, with a reduction in HARS [Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale] scores similar to that found in clinical trials.”
Bystritsky, A., L. Kerwin, and J. D. Feusner. ‘A pilot study of Rhodiola rosea (Rhodax (R)) for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).’ Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 14, no. 2 (2008): 175-180.
Adverse Effects and Contraindications.
Rhodiola rosea is generally well tolerated. Most clinical studies reported no adverse effects (even at high doses). One clinical trial reported dizziness and dry mouth in patients with generalized anxiety disorder treated with Rhodiola rosea extract 340mg/day.
VINCTO contains a safe dose of Rhodiola rosea root extract.
WARNING. If you are taking piperine consult your doctor before using VINCTO, as a rat study showed altered pharmacological activity with combined Rhodiola rosea extract and piperine.
Panossian, A., N. Nikoyan, N. Ohanyan, A. Hovhannisyan, H. Abrahamyan, E. Gabrielyan, and G. Wikman. ‘Comparative study of Rhodiola preparations on behaviorol despair of rats.’ Phytomedicine 15, no. 1-2 (2008): 84-91.
These statements have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
