Khanum Farhath, Bawa Amarinder Singh, Singh Brahm
The authors are with Defence Food Research Laboratory, Biochemistry and Nutrition, Mysore, Karnataka, India.
Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf. 2005 Jul;4(3):55-62. doi: 10.1111/j.1541-4337.2005.tb00073.x.
Rhodiola rosea (rose root) belonging to the family Crassulaceae is a popular medicinal plant in Russia, Scandinavia, and many other countries. Extracts of the roots of this plant have been found to favorably affect a number of physiological functions including neurotransmitter levels, central nervous system activity, and cardiovascular function. It is being used to stimulate the nervous system, decrease depression, enhance work performance, eliminate fatigue, and prevent high-altitude sickness. Most of these effects have been ascribed to constituents such as salidroside (rhodioloside), rosavins, and p-tyrosol. It has also been found to be a strong antioxidant and anticarcinogen due to the presence of several phenolic compounds. Adaptogens are plant extracts that allow an organism to counteract adverse physical, chemical, and biological stressors by generating nonspecific resistance. Adaptogens are known to increase the availability of energy during the day, reduce stressed feelings, increase endurance, and increase mental alertness. This multipurpose medicinal plant (R. rosea), with adaptogenic properties that increase the body's nonspecific resistance and normalize functions, has been traditionally grown and used in Russia and Mongolia. Due to increasing consumer demands toward natural health products and the growing interests in the secondary metabolites of plants and their application in biotechnology and therapy, much focus has been put on the rose root and its medical properties. The rose root imparts normalizing influences on adverse physical, chemical, and biological disturbances but is otherwise innocuous. In India, the plant has been growing wild in the high altitudes of the Himalayas. The Defence Research and Development Organization in India has taken on the responsibilities of its conservation, as well as the development of multiple management practices and the development of health foods, supplements, and nutraceuticals in India.
红景天属于景天科植物，是俄罗斯、斯堪的纳维亚半岛及许多其他国家广受欢迎的药用植物。已发现这种植物根部的提取物对多种生理功能有积极影响，包括神经递质水平、中枢神经系统活动和心血管功能。它被用于刺激神经系统、减轻抑郁、提高工作效率、消除疲劳以及预防高原病。这些作用大多归因于红景天苷（罗赛维）、玫瑰红景天苷和对香豆醇等成分。由于含有多种酚类化合物，它还被发现是一种强大的抗氧化剂和抗癌剂。适应原是一类植物提取物，能使生物体通过产生非特异性抗性来对抗不利的物理、化学和生物应激源。已知适应原可增加白天的能量供应、减轻压力感、增强耐力并提高精神警觉性。这种具有增加机体非特异性抗性和使功能正常化的适应原特性的多功能药用植物（红景天），在俄罗斯和蒙古一直有种植和使用。由于消费者对天然健康产品的需求不断增加，以及对植物次生代谢产物及其在生物技术和治疗中的应用兴趣日益浓厚，人们对红景天及其药用特性给予了很多关注。红景天对不利的物理、化学和生物干扰具有调节作用，但除此之外并无危害。在印度，这种植物在喜马拉雅山脉的高海拔地区野生生长。印度国防研究与发展组织已承担起对其进行保护的责任，以及制定多种管理措施并开发印度的健康食品、补充剂和营养保健品。
