Rhodiola
“Rhodiola rosea” is an herb used in traditional medicine in Eastern Europe and Asia. It also comes as tablets, capsules, and liquid extracts.
Common Names
- Golden root
- Rose root
- Hong Jing Tian
- Rose root
- Rosenroot
- SHR-5
- Arctic root
- King’s crown
Potential uses and benefits
- Manage stress
- Manage fatigue (feeling very tired or having less energy than usual)
- Improve endurance (your ability to do physical activity for a long time)
- Helpful to reduce depressive disorders
Side effects
- Dizziness (feeling faint or lightheaded)
- Dry mouth
Clinical Summary
Rhodiola is a plant used in traditional medicine in Eastern Europe and Asia to enhance physical and mental performance, stimulate the nervous system, and reduce depressive symptoms. Although Rhodiola rosea extract and its key constituent salidroside is a multifunctional bioactive substance mainly derived from Rhodiola. It has a variety of pharmacological properties, including anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, anti-stress, anti-oxidation, anti-apoptosis, and neuroprotective activities) have been researched, data in humans are limited.In vitro studies suggest that salidroside may have neuroprotective (8)(9) and anticancer effects (10). Animal data suggest benefits with rhodiola on cognitive function, but most studies were determined to have a high risk of bias (24).
In humans, preliminary data suggest rhodiola supplementation may improve physical endurance (1) and mental performance (2)(3), and reduce fatigue (4)(5) and stress (19)(20). Other small studies suggest it may improve symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (6) and mild to moderate depression (7). In one study, it was better tolerated and had fewer side effects than sertraline, although it was also less effective (22). A systematic review evaluating rhodiola trials determined that higher reporting quality and better methodological quality are needed (25).
In patients with breast cancer receiving epirubicin, a small study suggests that salidroside may have cardioprotective effects (11), but larger confirmatory studies are needed.
Mechanism of Action
In vitro studies suggest that salidroside, a key constituent, confers neuroprotective effects via NO pathway inhibition (9), induces antioxidant enzymes thioredoxin, heme oxygenase-1, and peroxiredoxin-I; downregulates proapoptotic Bax protein; and upregulates antiapoptotic Bcl-XL proteins (8). Rhodiola constituents may also have synergistic antioxidant activity (17) and potential antidepressant effects may be due to inhibition of monoamine oxidases A and B (13). In human breast cancer cells, salidroside induced cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis via mechanisms as yet unidentified, but independent of the estrogen receptor (10).
In animal models, rhodiola exhibits dose- and time-dependent Th1 and Th2 cytokine modulation effects (16).