Stimulating effect of adaptogens after single dose administration

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Phytother Res. 2005 Oct 31;19(10):819-838 [Epub ahead of

print] Stimulating effect of adaptogens: an overview with particular

reference to their efficacy following single dose administration.

Panossian A, Wagner H. Swedish Herbal Institute, Viktor

Rydbergsgatan 10, SE-411 32, Gothenburg, Sweden. Plant adaptogens

are compounds that increase the ability of an organism to adapt to

environmental factors and to avoid damage from such factors. The

beneficial effects of multi-dose administration of adaptogens are

associated mainly with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, a

part of the stress-system that is believed to play a primary role in the

reactions of the body to repeated stress and adaptation. In contrast, the

single dose application of adaptogens is important in situations that

require a rapid response to tension or to a stressful situation. In this

case, the effects of the adaptogens are associated with another part of

the stress-system, namely, the sympatho-adrenal-system (SAS), that

provides a rapid response mechanism mainly to control the acute

reaction of the organism to a stressor. This review focuses primarily on

the SAS-mediated stimulating effects of single doses of adaptogens

derived from Rhodiola rosea, Schizandra chinensis and

Eleutherococcus senticosus. The use of these drugs typically generates

no side effects, unlike traditional stimulants that possess addiction,

tolerance and abuse potential, produce a negative effect on sleep

structure, and cause rebound hypersomnolence or 'come down' effects.

Furthermore, single administration of these adaptogens effectively

increases mental performance and physical working capacity in

humans. R. rosea is the most active of the three plant adaptogens

producing, within 30 min of administration, a stimulating effect that

continues for at least 4-6 h. The active principles of the three plants that

exhibit single dose stimulating effects are glycosides of phenylpropane-

and phenylethane-based phenolic compounds such as salidroside,

rosavin, syringin and triandrin, the latter being the most active. Copyright

© 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. PMID: 16261511 [PubMed - as

supplied by publisher]

 

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