Rhodiola Rosea Extract (5% Rosavins)

Rhodiola Rosea has been used in Russia traditional medicine for centuries. Found in the polar regions of eastern Siberia, it has been used to cope with the cold Siberian weather and stressful life. Known for its adaptogenic activity, Rhodiola Rosea can help our bodies adapt to stress*. It leads to an increase in the amount of basic b-endorphin in the blood plasma which inhibits the hormonal changes indicative of stress. Rhodiola Rosea has rejuvenative properties due to its ability to raise the efficiency of the intracellular DNA repair mechanisms*. Although many other species of Rhodiola exist, the majority of the research has been done on the Rhodiola Rosea species. The main chemical compounds of Rhodiola Rosea that have been isolated and studied in Rhodiola Rosea are Rosarin, Rosavin, Rosin and Salidroside. The most important of all these are Rosavin and Salidroside.

Colorado Nutrition® offers Siberian Rhodiola Rosea Extract manufactured according to the original Russian Pharmacopoeia. A majority of the studies (pharmacology, toxicology, and clinical trials) were done using product manufactured according to the original Russian Pharmacopeia.

Colorado Nutrition® uses only the absolute highest quality Siberian Rhodiola Rosea raw materials available, manufactured by Polifenoles Naturales (Polinat S.A.). Polifenoles Naturales ("POLINAT") of the Canary Islands, Spain, was headed by the recently deceased Dr. Zakir Ramazanov, a well-respected pioneer, scientist and leader in the nutraceuticals industry.

Dr. Ramazanov first encountered Rhodiola rosea in 1979 as a Soviet soldier in Afghanistan. Dr. Ramazanov is the person that introduced Siberian Rhodiola rosea to the North American marketplace, supporting this valuable dietary supplement with his characteristically strong scientific documentation and publications.

Learning and informing ourselves about these Russian discoveries on adaptogens couldn't have been made possible without the outstanding help and knowledge of Dr. Zakir Ramazanov. Dr. Ramazanov was one of the main scientists that took part in the secret Russian studies on adaptogens. Through Dr. Ramazanov we have been able to learn about the qualities of these incredible natural substances, adaptogens.

Colorado Nutrition® Rhodiola Rosea Research & Information:

Rhodiola rosea, also known as "golden root" or "roseroot" belongs to the plant family Crassulaceae. R. rosea grows primarily in dry sandy ground at high altitudes in the arctic areas of Europe and Asia. The plant reaches a height of 12 to 30 inches (70cm) and produces yellow blossoms. It is a perennial with a thick rhizome, fragrant when cut. The Greek physician, Dioscorides, first recorded medicinal applications of rodia riza in 77 C.E. in De Materia Medica. Linnaeus renamed it Rhodiola rosea referring to the rose-like attar (fragrance) of the fresh cut rootstock.

For centuries, R. rosea has been used in the traditional medicine of Russia, Scandinavia, and other countries. Between 1748 and 1961 various medicinal applications of R. rosea appeared in the scientific literature of Sweden, Norway, France, Germany, the Soviet Union, and Iceland.^2,4-12 Since 1961, more than 180 pharmacological, phytochemical and clinical studies have been published. Although R. rosea has been extensively studied as an adaptogen with various health-promoting effects, its properties remain largely unknown in the West. In part this may be due to the fact that the bulk of research has been published in Slavic and Scandinavian languages. This review provides an introduction to some of the traditional uses of R. rosea, its phytochemistry, scientific studies exploring its diverse physiological effects, and its current and future medical applications.

Colorado Nutrition® Rhodiola rosea in Traditional Medicine

Traditional folk medicine used R. rosea to increase physical endurance, work productivity, longevity, resistance to high altitude sickness, and to treat fatigue, depression, anemia, impotence, gastrointestinal ailments, infections, and nervous system disorders. In mountain villages of the Republic of Georgia, a bouquet of roots is still given to couples prior to marriage to enhance fertility and assure the birth of healthy children.² In Middle Asia, R. rosea tea was the most effective treatment for cold and flu during severe Asian winters. Mongolian doctors prescribed it for tuberculosis and cancer.¹³ For centuries, only family members knew where to harvest the wild "golden roots" and the methods of extraction.² Siberians secretly transported the herb down ancient trails to the Caucasian Mountains where it was traded for Georgian wines, fruits, garlic, and honey. Chinese emperors sent expeditions to Siberia to bring back the "golden root" for medicinal preparations.

Linnaeus wrote of R. rosea as an astringent and for the treatment of hernia, leucorrhoea (vaginal discharge), hysteria, and headache.^4,7 In 1755 R. rosea was included in the first Swedish Pharmacopoeia. Vikings used the herb to enhance their physical strength and endurance.¹⁴ German researchers described the benefits of R. rosea for pain, headache, scurvy, hemorrhoids, as a stimulant, and as an anti-inflammatory.^15,16

In 1961, G.V. Krylov, a Russian botanist and taxonomist in the Department of Botany at the Novosibirsk Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, led an expedition to the cedar taiga in the Altai Mountains of southern Siberia where he located and identified the "golden root" as Rhodiola rosea.17 Extracts of the R. rosea root were found to contain powerful adaptogens. Research revealed that it protected animals and humans from mental and physical stress, toxins, and cold.^2,17 The quest for new medicines to treat diseases such as cancer and radiation sickness, and to enhance physical and mental performance, led to the discovery of a group of phenylpropanoids that are specific to R. rosea. (See Phytochemistry section below.)

Phytochemistry of Rhodiola rosea

The investigation of the phytochemistry of R. rosea root has revealed the presence of six distinct groups of chemical compounds:

• Phenylpropanoids: rosavin, rosin, rosarin (specific to R. rosea);
• Phenylethanol derivatives: salidroside (rhodioloside), tyrosol;
• Flavanoids: rodiolin, rodionin, rodiosin, acetylrodalgin, tricin;
• Monoterpernes: rosiridol, rosaridin;
• Triterpenes: daucosterol, beta-sitosterol;
• Phenolic acids: chlorogenic and hydroxycinnamic, gallic acids.

The standardization of R. rosea root extracts has gone through two distinct phases. Initially, in the 1970s, the compound responsible for its unique pharmacological properties was believed to be salidroside (rhodioloside).^{2,23,24,26,27} Therefore, the first generation of R. rosea tincture/extracts approved by the Russian Pharmacopoeia Committee was standardized to a minimum of 0.8 percent salidroside content.²⁵

In late 1980s, demand for R. rosea-based phytomedicines dramatically increased. The wild-crafted raw material was over-harvested, resulting in a steady decline in the quality and effectiveness of "Rhodiola" preparations. Scientific investigation revealed that other species of genus Rhodiola (which also contained salidroside) were being substituted for R. rosea. While some of these mixed batches were highly variable in quality, others had no pharmacological effect. Logically, the suspicion arose that the salidroside standard was inadequate. Based on comparative analysis, the obvious hypothesis was that the original high potency product contained other active compounds specific to R. rosea that had not yet been identified.

Colorado Nutrition® Rhodiola rosea in Modern Medicine

Since 1969, R. rosea has been included in official Russian medicine. The Pharmacological and Pharmacopoeia Committee of the Soviet Ministry of Health recommended medicinal use and industrial production of liquid R. rosea extract. In 1975, the Soviet Ministry of Health approved and registered preparation No. 75/933/14 as a medicine and tonic, allowing large-scale production under the name Rhodiola Extract Liquid, an alcohol-based extract (40 percent ethyl alcohol). Medical and pharmacological texts describe its use as a stimulant for asthenia (fatigue), for somatic and infectious illnesses, in psychiatric and neurological conditions, and in healthy individuals to relieve fatigue and to increase attention span, memory, and work productivity. The common dose is 5-10 drops 2-3 times a day, 15-30 minutes before eating for a period of 10-20 days. In psychiatric disorders with fatigue, a starting dose of 10 drops 2-3 times a day is gradually increased up to 30-40 drops for 1-2 months.

In Sweden R. rosea was recognized as an Herbal Medicinal Product in 1985 and has been described as an antifatigue agent in the Textbook of Phytomedicine for Pharmacists.⁹

In the textbook of pharmacology for dispenser training in Sweden, R. rosea is mentioned as a plant with a stimulant action. Also the Pharmaceutical Book (Läkemedelsboken 97/98) mentions R. rosea as one of the most commonly used psychostimulants in the group of officially registered herbal medicinal products.¹¹

In Denmark, R. rosea is registered as a medical product in the category of botanical drugs. Registered preparations are extensively used in Sweden and other Scandinavian countries to increase mental work capacity during stress, as a psychostimulant, and as a general strengthener.

Side Effects and Contraindications:

Overall, R. rosea has very few side effects. Most users find that it improves their mood, energy level, and mental clarity. Some individuals, particularly those who tend to be anxious, may feel overly activated, jittery, or agitated. If this occurs, then a smaller dose with very gradual increases may be needed. R. rosea should be taken early in the day because it can interfere with sleep or cause vivid dreams (not nightmares) during the first few weeks. It is contraindicated in excited states. Because R. rosea has an activating antidepressant effect, it should not be used in individuals with bipolar disorder who are vulnerable to becoming manic when given antidepressants or stimulants. Until this has been further studied, the authors advise caution in patients with bipolar spectrum disorders. The herb does not appear to interact with other medications, though it may have additive effects with other stimulants. It is best absorbed when taken on an empty stomach 30 minutes before breakfast and lunch. As with any herbal preparation, patients should inform their primary healthcare practitioner when taking R. rosea.

Complete Colorado Nutrition® Rhodiola Rosea Monograph & References List

Colorado Nutrition® Siberian Rhodiola Rosea (5% Rosavins) Certificate Of Analysis .PDF