rosavin and rhodioloside

Rhodiola rosea L. (roseroot) is a common member of the family Crassulaceae, known as one of the most important popular medicinal plants in the northern region of Europe. The roots of R. rosea possess a wide range of pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, antiinflammatory, anticancer, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective effects that are because of the presence of different phytochemicals such as phenols and flavonoids. In addition, the presence of salidroside, rosavins, and p-tyrosol are responsible for its beneficial effects for the treatment of on depression, fatigue, and cognitive dysfunction. A plethora of studies report that R. rosea has potent neuroprotective effects through the suppression of oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and excitotoxicity in brain tissues and antagonism of oncogenic p21-activated kinase. However, to our knowledge, no review articles have been published addressing the neuroprotective effects of R. rosea. Therefore, the present article aims at critically reviewing the available literature on the beneficial effects of R. rosea on as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases where oxidative stress plays a major role in disease development and progression. We also discuss the cultivation, phytochemistry, clinical impacts, and adverse effects of R. rosea to provide a broader insight on the therapeutic potential for this plant.

Topics: Alzheimer Disease; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cognition Disorders; Disaccharides; Glucosides; Humans; Neuroprotective Agents; Oxidative Stress; p21-Activated Kinases; Phenols; Phenylethyl Alcohol; Plant Extracts; Plant Roots; Plants, Medicinal; Rhodiola

Rhodiola rosea (Rro) has been reported to have various pharmacological properties, including anti-fatigue, anti-stress and anti-inflammatory activity. It is also known to improve glucose and lipid metabolism, but the effects of Rhodiola rosea on adipocyte differentiation and metabolism are not still elucidated. In this study the anti-adipogenic and lipolytic activity of two extracts of Rhodiola rosea, containing 3% salidroside (RS) or 1% salidroside and 3% rosavines (RR) on primary human visceral adipocytes was investigated. Pre-adipocytes were analyzed after 10 and 20 days of treatment during differentiation and after 7 days of treatment when they reached mature shape. The RS extract significantly induced higher apoptosis and lipolysis in comparison to control cells and to RR extract. In contrast, RR extract significantly reduced triglyceride incorporation during maturation. Differentiation of pre-adipocytes in the presence of RS and RR extracts showed a significant decrease in expression of genes involved in adipocyte function such as SLC2A4 and the adipogenic factor FGF2 and significant increase in expression of genes involved in inhibition of adipogenesis, such as GATA3, WNT3A, WNT10B. Furthermore RR extract, in contrast to RS, significantly down-regulates PPARG, the master regulator of adipogenesis and FABP4. These data support the lipolytic and anti-adipogenetic activity of two different commercial extracts of Rhodiola rosea in primary human visceral pre-adipocytes during differentiation.

Topics: Adipocytes; Adipogenesis; Apoptosis; Cell Differentiation; Cell Survival; Cells, Cultured; Disaccharides; Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; GATA3 Transcription Factor; Gene Expression; Glucose Transporter Type 4; Glucosides; Glycerol; Humans; Intra-Abdominal Fat; Lipid Metabolism; Lipolysis; Phenols; Plant Extracts; PPAR gamma; Proto-Oncogene Proteins; Rhodiola; Wnt Proteins; Wnt3A Protein

Extracts from the immature fruit of Citrus aurantium are often used for weight loss but are reported to produce adverse cardiovascular effects. Root extracts of Rhodiola rosea have notable antistress properties. The hypothesis of these studies was that C aurantium (6% synephrine) and R rosea (3% rosavins, 1% salidroside) in combination would improve diet-induced obesity alterations in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. In normal-weight animals fed standard chow, acute administration of C aurantium (1-10 mg/kg) or R rosea (2-20 mg/kg) alone did not reduce deprivation-induced food intake, but C aurantium (5.6 mg/kg) + R rosea (20 mg/kg) produced a 10.5% feeding suppression. Animals maintained (13 weeks) on a high-fat diet (60% fat) were exposed to 10-day treatments of C aurantium (5.6 mg/kg) or R rosea (20 mg/kg) alone or in combination. Additional groups received vehicle (2% ethanol) or were pair fed to the C aurantium + R rosea group. Although high-fat diet intake and weight loss were not influenced, C aurantium + R rosea had a 30% decrease in visceral fat weight compared with the other treatments. Only the C aurantium group had an increased heart rate (+7%) compared with vehicle. In addition, C aurantium + R rosea administration resulted in an elevation (+15%) in hypothalamic norepinephrine and an elevation (+150%) in frontal cortex dopamine compared with the pair-fed group. These initial findings suggest that treatments of C aurantium + R rosea have actions on central monoamine pathways and have the potential to be beneficial for the treatment of obesity.

Topics: Adipose Tissue, White; Animals; Citrus; Diet, High-Fat; Disaccharides; Dopamine; Glucosides; Hypothalamus; Kaolin; Male; Monoamine Oxidase; Norepinephrine; Obesity; Phenols; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Plant Roots; Prefrontal Cortex; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Rhodiola; Synephrine; Weight Loss

The demand for plant material of Rhodiola rosea L. (Crassulaceae) for medicinal use has increased recently, amid concerns about its quality and sustainability. We have analysed the content of phenylpropanoids (total rosavins) and salidroside in liquid extracts from 3-year old cultivated plants of European origin, and mapped the influence of plant part (rhizome versus root), genotype, drying, cutting, and extraction solvent to chemical composition. Rhizomes contained 1.5-4 times more salidroside (0.3-0.4% dry wt) and total rosavins (1.2-3.0%) than roots. The qualitative decisive phenylpropanoid content in the extracts was most influenced by plant part, solvent, and genotype, while drying temperature and cutting conditions were of less importance. We have shown that R. rosea from different boreal European provenances can be grown under temperate conditions and identified factors to obtain consistent high quality extracts provided that authentic germplasm is used and distinguished between rhizome, roots and their mixtures.

Topics: Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Disaccharides; Glucosides; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Phenols; Rhodiola

An RRLC method capable of simultaneous identification and rapid quantification of six biologically active compounds (salidroside, tyrosol, rosarin, rosavin, rosin, rosiridin) in Rhodiola rosea L. and two active compounds (eleutheroside B and eleutheroside E) in Eleutherococcus senticosus Maxim. was developed. The chromatographic analyses were performed on a reversed phase Phenomenex C18 (2)-HST column at 40°C with a neutral mobile phase (purified water and acetonitrile) gradient system at a flow rate of 1.0ml/min and UV detection at 205 and 220nm simultaneously. Baseline separation of eight active compounds was achieved within 8min. This developed method provides good linearity (R>0.9997), precision (RSD<1.99%) and recovery of the bioactive compounds. The RRLC method developed is capable of controlling the quality of R. rosea and E. senticosus raw herbs, commercial extracts, as well as polyherbal formulations containing R. rosea and E. senticosus as ingredients. This RRLC method is accurate and sensitive; in addition, it greatly increases sample analysis throughput with reduced analysis time, which is suitable for routine quality control analysis.

Topics: Calibration; Chemistry Techniques, Analytical; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; Chromatography; Chromatography, Liquid; Disaccharides; Eleutherococcus; Glucosides; Lignans; Phenols; Phenylethyl Alcohol; Phenylpropionates; Plant Extracts; Plant Preparations; Quality Control; Reproducibility of Results; Resins, Plant; Rhodiola

A simple, sensitive and reliable reversed phase Rapid Resolution Liquid Chromatography (RRLC) method was developed and validated for six biologically active compounds (salidroside, tyrosol, rosarin, rosavin, rosin and rosiridin) in Rhodiola rosea L. roots and powder extracts. The method uses a Phenomenex C18 (2)-HST column at 40 degrees C with a neutral gradient system mobile phase (H20 and acetonitrile), a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, and UV detection wavelengths set at 205 and 254 nm, simultaneously. Baseline separation of the six active compounds was achieved within 8 minutes. The average percentages of rosavins (rosarin, rosavin, and rosin) in authentic R. rosea roots and root powder extracts were quantitatively determined and a characteristic R. rosea roots RRLC profile was established. The RRLC method is accurate and sensitive; in addition, it effectively increases the sample analysis throughput compared with conventional HPLC.

Topics: Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Disaccharides; Glucosides; Phenols; Phenylethyl Alcohol; Plant Extracts; Plant Roots; Quality Control; Reference Standards; Resins, Plant; Rhodiola

Interest from the dairy industry in adding herbal drugs to milk and yogurt products raises the question of whether these plant materials can be pasteurized. Root material of Rhodiola rosea, Eleutherococcus senticosus, and Panax ginseng, all plants with adaptogenic activities, was pasteurized. The content of active compounds in the root material before and after pasteurization was quantified by HPLC analysis. The results show that the eleutherosides in E. senticosus, and to an extent the ginsenosides from P. ginseng, could withstand pasteurization, whereas salidroside and rosavin from R. rosea did not survive pasteurization. Thus, R. rosea is not suitable for products requiring pasteurization.

Topics: Animals; Cattle; Dairy Products; Disaccharides; Eleutherococcus; Food Preservation; Ginsenosides; Glucosides; Milk; Panax; Phenols; Plant Extracts; Plant Roots; Plants, Medicinal; Rhodiola; Yogurt

The root extract from Rhodiola rosea has been reported to have numerous health benefits in human and animal studies. Its molecular mechanism is currently unknown; however, it has been suggested to act as an antioxidant. This study found that a formulation of R. rosea extract, SHR-5, from the Swedish Herbal Institute (SHI) could extend both mean (24% in both sexes) and maximum (16% in males and 31% in females) life span in Drosophila melanogaster when compared to controls. It also found that it lowered mitochondrial superoxide levels and afforded elevated protection against the superoxide generator paraquat in both sexes. The extract SHR-5 did not alter the activities of the major antioxidant enzymes, the superoxide dismutases or catalase, nor did it afford protection against H(2)O(2) or soluble iron. These results present a decrease in endogenous superoxide levels as a possible mode of action for the root extract of R. rosea.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Catalase; Cytoprotection; Disaccharides; Down-Regulation; Drosophila melanogaster; Female; Fertility; Glucosides; Hydrogen Peroxide; Longevity; Male; Mitochondria; Oxidants; Oxidative Stress; Paraquat; Phenols; Plant Extracts; Plant Roots; Rhodiola; Superoxide Dismutase; Superoxides

The antidepressant-like activity of an extract of the roots of Rhodiola rosea (RR), its combination with piperine containing extract (RPE), pure substances isolated from Rhodiola, such as rhodioloside, rosavin, rosin, rosarin, tyrosol, cinnamic alcohol, cinnamaldehyde and cinnamic acid has been assessed in laboratory animals through application of the Porsolt behavioural despair assay. RR increased the swimming time of rats in a dose dependent manner (ED50=7 mg/kg) and, when administered at 20mg/kg, exhibited a stronger anti-depressant type effect than either imipramine (at 30 mg/kg) or an extract of Hypericum perforatum (at 20mg/kg). Rhodioloside, and tyrosol were identified as active principles of the extract, whereas rosavin, rosarin, rosin, cinnamic alcohol, cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid were inactive. A fixed combination of rhodioloside, rosavin, rosarin and rosin was more active than any of the individual components alone, indicating a synergistic effect of the ingredients in RR extract. Piperine in combination with Rhodiola (RPE) distorts pharmacological effect of Rhodiola most probably due to changes of pharmacokinetic profile of rhodioloside and rosavin. RPE cannot provide predictable therapeutic effect due to herb-herb interaction. Moreover, concomitant treatment of RPE with other drugs should also be excluded due to drug-piperine interaction.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Depression; Disaccharides; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Interactions; Drug Synergism; Glucosides; Male; Molecular Structure; Phenols; Phenylethyl Alcohol; Piper nigrum; Plant Preparations; Plant Roots; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Rhodiola; Stress, Physiological