Chemistry and Biological Activities of Selected Popular Chinese Herbs in the US Market-3B - 農業知識入口網

3. Rhodiola rosea (Golden root, Roseroot, Hong Jing Tian)

B. Biological activities

Extracts of Rhodiola rosea exhibited adaptogenic effects in mice and rabbits (29), cardio-protective and antiaderenergic activity during stress (30). One standardized extract SHR-5 was reported to significantly relieve stress-induced fatigue in a double blind cross-over study (31). An alcohol-aqueous extract (1:1) was found to improve learning and long-time memory in mice (32). Rhodiola extracts were also reported to prevent ischemic brain damage development (33), to scavenge free radicals (34), to
show anti-tumor effect in experiments on inbred and noninbred mice and rats with transplantable NK/Ly tumor, Ehrlich’s adenocarcinoma, melanoma B16 and Lewis lung carcinoma (35). In a small clinical trial with 12 superficial bladder patients, the oral administration of Rhodiola extract was found to improve the characteristics of the erothelial tissue integration, parameters of leukocyte integrins and T-cell immunity and average frequency of relapses for these patients has been found to fall twice (36).

Neuroprotective effects of the major component of Rhodiola, salidroside have been studied. The salidroside was found to protect the PC12 cells against hypoglycemia and serum limitation-induced cytotoxicity possibly by the way of the modulation of apoptosis-related gene expression, the restoration of the mitochondrial membrane potential, and the inhibition of the intracellular ROS production (37). Similarly, the treatment of PC12 cells with salidroside can block H2O2-induced apoptosis by regulating Bcl-2 family members and by suppressing cytochrome c release and caspase cascade activation (38). Recent research also suggested that the extract of Rhodiola significantly extend the lifespan of the fruit fly, Drosophia melanogaster (39).