Rhodiolae roseae radix

Rhodiolae roseae radix, the root of rose root, is a drug used in herbal medicines for, among other things, stress and general improvement of physical and mental performance.

A pharmacopoeia quality description is not available.

HMPC -Monograph: Traditional-use: internal: mild symptoms of stress, fatigue, feeling of weakness
ESCOP: unedited.
Commission E: unedited.

Experiential medicine: enhancement of physical and mental performance, cognitive vitality: attention, concentration, memory, support of concentration of hyperactive children.

Rhodiolae roseae radix contains phenylpropanoids such as raisin, rosarin, rosavin (total content of raisins according to HMPC mongrophaie: 0.5-3.0%) In addition, phenyl carboxylic acids, flavonoids (rhodiolin), phenylthanoids (e.g. p-tyrosol), mono- and triterpenes (see terpenes below) such as rosiridol and rosiridine, gallic acid and epicatechine tanning agents (see tanning agents below).

Rose root root is said to improve long-term memory. The drug has a supporting effect in stressful situations and increases mental and physical performance. Furthermore, antiphlogistic effects of the extract can be proven (Abidov M et al. 2000).

Based on clinical studies, the rose-root root is used to increase mental and physical performance. Further indications are symptoms of stress such as feelings of weakness and tiredness.

The daily dose of the drug is 0.2 g, which should be taken in the first half of the day. In addition, it is recommended that the drug be taken for at least 4 months.

Internal use: insomnia. However, contact with the fresh root may cause contact dermatitis.

No interactions with other medications were found.

Although rose-root has similarities to ginkgo preparations, it is not a substitute for them.

Not suitable for persons under 18 years of age. Do not use for more than 2 weeks without medical advice.

1. Abidov M et al. (2000) Extract of Rhodiola rosea radix reduces the level of C-reactive protein and
   creatinine kinase in the blood. Bull Exp Biol Med 138:63-64.
   Cayer C et al. (2013) Characterization of the anxiolytic activity of Nunavik Rhodiola rosea. Planta Med 79:1385-1391.
2. Hernández-Santana A et al. (2014) A Rhodiola rosea root extract protects skeletal muscle cells against chemically induced oxidative stress by modulating heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) expression. Phytother Res 28:623-628.
3. Mudge E et al. (2013) Purification of phenylalkanoids and monoterpene glycosides from Rhodiola rosea L. roots by high-speed counter-current chromatography. Phytochem Anal 24:129-134.
4. Nabavi SF et al. (2016) Rhodiola rosea L. and Alzheimer's Disease: From Farm to Pharmacy. Phytother Res 30:532-539.
5. Panossian A et al. (2010) Rosenroot (Rhodiola rosea): traditional use, chemical composition, pharmacology and clinical efficacy. Phytomedicine 17:481-493.
6. Punja S et al. (2014) Rhodiola rosea for mental and physical fatigue in nursing students: a randomized controlled trial. PLoS One 9:e108416.
7. Schilcher H (2016) In: Leitfaden Phytotherapie, Urban & Fischer Verlag München, pp. 273 f.
8. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/rosenwurz.php.
9. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-community-herbal-monograph-rhodiola-rosea-first-version_en.pdf
10. Wenigmann M. (2017) Phytotherapy medicinal drugs, phytopharmaceuticals, application. Urban & Fischer, pp. 182-183