Rhodiola plants: Chemistry and biological activity

• Published in: Yàowu shi͡p︡in fenxi Vol. 23; no. 3; pp. 359 - 369
• Main Authors: Chiang, Hsiu-Mei, Chen, Hsin-Chun, Wu, Chin-Sheng, Wu, Po-Yuan, Wen, Kuo-Ching
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: China (Republic : 1949- ) Elsevier B.V 01.09.2015; Food and Drug Administration; Taiwan Food and Drug Administration
• Subjects: Adaptogens; Aging; Alcohol; Anticancer properties; Antidepressants; antineoplastic activity; Antioxidants; Asia; bioactivity; Biological activity; Cell cycle; chemistry; Dehydrogenases; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; Drug dosages; Enzymes; Europe; Fatigue; Immune response; Inflammation; Lipid peroxidation; Lipids; Liver; Liver diseases; Medicinal plants; Nervous system; neurons; Organic chemistry; Oxidative stress; Plants (botany); Polyphenols; Propionibacterium acnes; Proteins; Review; Rhodiola; Rhodiola crenulata; Rhodiola rosea; Rodents; Salidroside; Skin; Skin diseases; Tyrosol; Mongolia; Asia; Eastern Europe; Europe; salidroside; tyrosol; Rhodiola; bioactivity
• ISSN: 1021-9498; 2224-6614
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jfda.2015.04.007

Rhodiola is a genus of medicinal plants that originated in Asia and Europe and are used traditionally as adaptogens, antidepressants, and anti-inflammatory remedies. Rhodiola plants are rich in polyphenols, and salidroside and tyrosol are the primary bioactive marker compounds in the standardized extracts of Rhodiola rosea. This review article summarizes the bioactivities, including adaptogenic, antifatigue, antidepressant, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antinoception, and anticancer activities, and the modulation of immune function of Rhodiola plants and its two constituents, as well as their potential to prevent cardiovascular, neuronal, liver, and skin disorders.