Rhodiola: benefits, dosage, contraindications
Other name(s)
Pink orpine
Scientific name(s)
Rhodiola rosea
Family or group:
Plants
Active ingredients:
Rosavin
Salidroside
Flavonoids
Beta-sitosterol
Indications
Scoring methodology
EFSA approval.
Fatigue ✪✪✪✪✪
Preliminary clinical research shows that Rhodiola root extract may reduce fatigue in stressful situations. Most preliminary clinical trials evaluated a specific extract (SHR-5®) at various doses and in different populations ranging from 50 mg to 555 mg. This extract was standardized to contain 2.6% salidroside per tablet; or 2.3% salidroside, 0.4% p-tyrosol and 2.7% rosavin per 144 mg tablet.
Posologie
Oral: root, rhizome
50 - 288 mg
7 - days
standardized Rhodiola extract, dry extract
Multicenter, Open-Label, Exploratory Clinical Trial With Rhodiola rosea Extract in Patients Suffering From Burnout Symptoms
The Effectiveness and Efficacy of Rhodiola Rosea L.: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials
Therapeutic Effects and Safety of Rhodiola Rosea Extract WS® 1375 in Subjects With Life-Stress Symptoms--Results of an Open-Label Study
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 in Subjects With Prolonged or Chronic Fatigue Symptoms: Results of an Open-Label Clinical Trial
Rhodiola Rosea (SHR-5), Part I: A Proprietary Root Extract of Rhodiola Rosea Is Found to Be Effective in the Treatment of Stress-Related Fatigue
Rhodiola rosea for mental and physical fatigue in nursing students: a randomized controlled trial.
The Influence of Adaptogens on Ultraweak Biophoton Emission: A Pilot-Experiment
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.
Acute Rhodiola rosea intake can improve endurance exercise performance.
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
The Effects of Rhodiola Rosea L. Extract on Anxiety, Stress, Cognition and Other Mood Symptoms
Improve adaptability ✪✪✪✪✪
The adaptogenic properties of Rhodiola provide protection against stress and increase work capacity, learning ability, and memory. A recent double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study on young volunteers shows that taking standardized Rhodiola extracts increases endurance. The EMA indicates Rhodiola for the temporary relief of stress symptoms, such as fatigue and a feeling of weakness.
Posologie
Oral: root, rhizome
50 - 680 mg
standardized Rhodiola extract, dry extract
Rhodiola rosea for mental and physical fatigue in nursing students: a randomized controlled trial.
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
The Influence of Adaptogens on Ultraweak Biophoton Emission: A Pilot-Experiment
Community herbal monograph on Rhodiola rosea L., rhizoma et radix
Cognitive performance ✪✪✪✪✪
Rhodiola is suggested to enhance attention and memory in stressful situations. It helps maintain focus during periods requiring high concentration and reduces feelings of fatigue.
Posologie
Oral use: root, rhizome
100 - 660 mg
standardized Rhodiola extract, dry extract
The Effects of Rhodiola Rosea L. Extract on Anxiety, Stress, Cognition and Other Mood Symptoms
Therapeutic Effects and Safety of Rhodiola Rosea Extract WS® 1375 in Subjects With Life-Stress Symptoms--Results of an Open-Label Study
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.
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
The Effectiveness and Efficacy of Rhodiola Rosea L.: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials
A Randomized Trial of Two Different Doses of a SHR-5 Rhodiola Rosea Extract Versus Placebo and Control of Capacity for Mental Work
Sports performance ✪✪✪✪✪
Studies suggest that Rhodiola supplementation (standardized extract containing 3% rosavins and 1% salidroside) improves athletic performance measures such as fatigue, maximal oxygen consumption, time to exhaustion, and power.
Posologie
Oral: root, rhizome
200 - 500 mg
standardized Rhodiola extract, dry extract
Effects of Chronic Rhodiola Rosea Supplementation on Sport Performance and Antioxidant Capacity in Trained Male: Preliminary Results
Acute Rhodiola rosea intake can improve endurance exercise performance.
The Effectiveness and Efficacy of Rhodiola Rosea L.: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials
Rhodiola rosea does not reduce in vivo inflammatory activity after continuous endurance exercise
Anxiety ✪✪✪✪✪
Preliminary clinical research shows that taking a specific dry extract of Rhodiola at a dose of 200 mg twice daily for 14 days slightly reduces self-reported anxiety levels by 11% from baseline, as well as reported levels of anger, confusion, negative mood, and stress in anxious students. Compared with a control group, these changes are significant.
Posologie
Oral: root, rhizome
170 - 240 mg
10 weeks
standardized Rhodiola extract, dry extract
Depression ✪✪✪✪✪
Preliminary clinical research shows that taking a standardized extract of Rhodiola (SHR-5®) at a dose of 340 mg once or twice daily reduces symptoms of mild to moderate depression after 6 weeks of treatment compared with placebo. Rhodiola reduced symptoms of general depression, emotional instability, insomnia, and somatization.
Posologie
Oral: root, rhizome
340 - 680 mg
6 - weeks
standardized Rhodiola extract, dry extract
Rosenroot (Rhodiola Rosea): Traditional Use, Chemical Composition, Pharmacology and Clinical Efficacy
Rhodiola rosea L. as a putative botanical antidepressant
Clinical trial of Rhodiola rosea L. extract SHR-5 in the treatment of mild to moderate depression.
Rhodiola rosea versus sertraline for major depressive disorder: A randomized placebo-controlled trial
Stress ✪✪✪✪✪
Clinical studies have shown a significant reduction in stress in patients treated with Rhodiola compared with placebo.
Posologie
Oral: root, rhizome
200 - 400 mg
4 - weeks
standardized Rhodiola extract, dry extract
Aging well ✪✪✪✪✪
Rhodiola may play an important role in brain health and overall well-being, particularly in the context of aging. Given its various neuroprotective properties, Rhodiola is of particular interest for older adults. Rhodiola has been shown to protect neurons against oxidative stress and cellular damage, two major factors in the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. In addition, Rhodiola is used in the management of cerebrovascular disorders in older adults.
Posologie
By mouth: root, rhizome
50 - 680 mg
Standardized Rhodiola extract, dry extract
Properties
Adaptogen
The adaptogenic properties of Rhodiola show protection against stress and an increase in work capacity, learning, and memory. Animal studies have shown that chronic intake of Rhodiola extract, standardized to 3% rosavine and 1% salidroside, effectively inhibits behavioral and physiological changes induced by prolonged exposure to mild stress. This action is comparable to that of fluoxetine, a drug commonly used to treat depression. The beneficial effects of Rhodiola, when administered in multiple doses, are mainly related to its action on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, a central system in the body's response to stress. A single dose of Rhodiola may be useful in situations requiring a rapid stress response, by acting on the sympatho-adrenal system. Rhodiola begins to act within 30 minutes of administration and its stimulating effect can last between 4 and 6 hours. This rapid action is attributed to the plant's active compounds, the salidroside and the rosavine. These effects have been observed in humans; a recent double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study in young volunteers demonstrates that taking standardized Rhodiola extracts increases endurance.
Usages associés
Effects of Rhodiola rosea L. extract on behavioral and physiological alterations induced by chronic mild stress in female rats
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
Antidepressant
The components of Rhodiola — rhodioloside, salidroside and tyrosol — are associated with its antidepressant activity. They inhibit the activity of monoamine oxidase A, an enzyme linked to a number of psychiatric disorders such as depression, aggressiveness and antisocial behaviors. They may also enhance cognitive functions such as memory and learning. However, the mechanism is not documented. The effect of Rhodiola was tested in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial in patients with mild to moderate depression with recurrent episodes. The results indicate that after 6 weeks of treatment with Rhodiola extract there is a significant improvement, notably in overall depression and insomnia.
Usages associés
Antioxidant
Rhodiola has antioxidant properties and protects cells against oxidative stress and aging, notably liver cells thanks to the action of salidroside. Its antioxidant effects are potentially superior to those of other adaptogens such as eleuthero.
Bioenergetic
Rhodiola extracts may increase ATP production in muscles, thereby enhancing exercise endurance.
Usages associés
Hepatoprotective
Rhodiola produces a hepatoprotective effect manifested by normalization of aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities and by restoring urea and bilirubin to normal levels. Rhodiola also reduces alanine aminotransferase and glutathione S-transferase activities in the plasma of rats in a toxic hepatic model.
Cardiovascular
Rhodiola extracts may prevent stress-induced heart damage by preventing increases in cardiac catecholamines and cyclic AMP. In animals, administration of a Rhodiola extract prevents the decrease in contractile force after cold exposure. Another study shows a marked preventive effect on arrhythmias induced by epinephrine and calcium chloride (CaCl2). Salidroside appears to be responsible for these effects.
Neurological
Rhodiola, and more specifically one of its components called salidroside, has demonstrated neuroprotective effects in animal studies. Salidroside acts in a dose-dependent manner to protect brain cells against different types of damage. One of the main ways salidroside protects the brain is by combating oxidative stress, a process that can damage cells and is involved in many neurodegenerative diseases. Salidroside prevents apoptosis, that is programmed cell death which is often triggered by excessive oxidative stress. It also inhibits the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are harmful byproducts of cellular metabolism that can cause significant cellular damage. Other studies have shown that Rhodiola inhibits monoamine oxidase B activity and thus offers protection against neurodegenerative diseases associated with this enzyme such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. In addition, salidroside helps restore mitochondrial membrane potential, which is essential for proper cell function, and reduces the concentration of free calcium inside cells, a factor that can contribute to cellular damage when present in excess. Because of these properties, Rhodiola's salidroside could play an important role in the prevention and treatment of conditions related to brain injury, such as ischemic stroke and neurodegenerative diseases.
Usages associés
Cognitive function
A clinical study measured the effect of Rhodiola on the mental performance of young physicians. A significant increase in cognitive functions was observed in the group treated with Rhodiola. The beneficial effects of Rhodiola on mental performance can be partly explained by its anticholinesterase action.nnThe anticholinesterase action is Rhodiola's ability to inhibit the activity of the enzyme cholinesterase. This enzyme is crucial to the functioning of the nervous system because it breaks down acetylcholine, an essential neurotransmitter involved in many functions, including memory, concentration, and the learning process. Its inhibition leads to an increase in acetylcholine concentration in the brain, with a potential positive impact on cognitive functions.nn
Usages associés
Anti-aging
Preliminary evidence from animal research suggests that Rhodiola may increase lifespan by reducing oxidative stress. In addition, salidroside, a constituent of Rhodiola, protects human fibroblast cells from premature aging by modulating oxidative status.nn
Usages associés
Anxiolytic
In mice, Rhodiola extract induced significant anxiolytic effects.nn
Usages associés
Antiviral
Laboratory research suggests that salidroside has antiviral activity against coxsackievirus B3 (a human pathogen associated with cardiac arrhythmias and acute heart failure) in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, flavonols isolated from Rhodiola appear to have antiviral activity against influenza virus in vitro.
Anti-inflammatory
Rhodiola is anti-inflammatory by reducing C-reactive protein levels and inhibiting enzymes involved in the inflammatory cascade.
Safe dosage
Adults aged 18 and over: 100 mg - 600 mg (standardized extract)
Rhodiola extracts are often standardized according to their rosavin and/or salidroside content, the most common amounts being 2.7% to 3% for rosavin and 1% to 2.7% for salidroside. It is not recommended to exceed 800 mg of extract per day.
Interactions
Médicaments
Antidiabetic: moderate interaction
In vitro and in animals, Rhodiola extract may lower blood glucose by inhibiting alpha-glucosidase (this is an enzyme involved in the final stage of sugar digestion). Theoretically, Rhodiola may have additive effects with antidiabetic medications and increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Antihypertensive: moderate interaction
In vitro and in animals, Rhodiola extract inhibits the angiotensin-converting enzyme (this is an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II, which is a potent vasoconstrictor) and may lower blood pressure. Theoretically, Rhodiola may have additive effects with antihypertensives and increase the risk of hypotension.
Cytochrome P450 substrate: moderate interaction
In vitro, Rhodiola inhibits cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4). Theoretically, using Rhodiola with drugs metabolized by CYP3A4 may increase the levels of these drugs and consequently increase the risk of adverse effects.
Escitalopram: moderate interaction
In a case report, a patient taking escitalopram (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor with antidepressant effects) together with Rhodiola developed a tachyarrhythmia. Escitalopram is partially metabolized by cytochrome P450 3A4, which is inhibited by Rhodiola. Theoretically, concomitant use of escitalopram and Rhodiola may increase escitalopram levels and raise the risk of adverse effects.
Immunosuppressant: moderate interaction
In vitro and in animals, Rhodiola has immunostimulant effects. Theoretically, it may interfere with immunosuppressive therapy.
P-glycoprotein substrates: moderate interaction
In vitro research has shown that Rhodiola inhibits P-glycoprotein (a protein that acts as a pump capable of expelling, using energy provided by ATP, specific substrates that can be endogenous molecules or exogenous xenobiotic substances), thereby promoting the absorption of P-glycoprotein substrates and consequently increasing the risk of adverse effects from these drugs.
Precautions
Pregnant women: avoid
Avoid use due to lack of reliable and sufficient information.
Autoimmune diseases: use with caution
Rhodiola can have immunostimulant effects. Theoretically, it may exacerbate autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Type 2 diabetes: use with caution
La Rhodiola appears to have alpha-glucosidase activity (this is an enzyme involved in the final stage of sugar digestion) and may reduce blood glucose levels. Dose adjustments of antidiabetic medications may be required.
Hypotension: use with caution
The Rhodiola extract may inhibit the angiotensin-converting enzyme (this is an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II, which is a potent vasoconstrictor) and lower blood pressure. Theoretically, Rhodiola could increase the risk of hypotension in hypotensive patients.
Breastfeeding: avoid
Avoid use due to a lack of reliable and sufficient information.
Children up to 18 years: avoid
Use in children and adolescents under 18 years has not been established due to a lack of adequate data.
Bipolar disorder: avoid
Avoid in people with bipolar disorder due to the risk of manic episodes related to the antidepressant effects of Rhodiola.
