BECARRE Natural Page 14 A wide array of human health benefits related to mental health and physical performance has been clinically demonstrated using the unique phytomedical form of R. rosea extract specifi- cally standardized to rosavins. Rhodiola rosea possesses valua- ble an-fague, an-stress, and an-depressant properes ; it smulates the bioelectrical acvi- ty of the brain and improves memory and mental perfor- mance. In addion, it also in- creases stamina and accelerates the physical recovery processes aſter intense training work- loads ; it smulates muscle energy status, im- proves glycogen synthesis in the muscles and liver and increases muscle protein synthesis and anabolic acvity. The right product from the right place at the right time While Rhodiola as a genus may have originated in the mountainous regions of Southwest China and the Himalayas, botanists have established that Rhodiola rosea naturally display a circum- polar distribuon in mountainous regions in the higher latudes and elevaons of the Northern Hemisphere. In central and Northern Asia, the genus is distributed from the Altai Mountains across Mongolia into many parts of Siberia. Rhodiola rosea used for the producon of Rho- dioLife® is wildcraſt collected from this part, under the Russian Government License. Altai Mountains represents a prisne area free from contaminaon in of the most well preserved and remote natural environments. PoliNat is involved from the early beginning in the collecon pracces, with SOPs describing the stage of the plant growth, best me of collecon and ecologically non-destrucve systems. Active Ingredients Acvies related to Rhodiola rosea have been tradionally aributed to the presence of four principal acve ingredients: salidroside, rosin, rosavin and rosarin (Sokolov, 1985; Furman- owa, 1998). The root of R. rosea shows six disnct groups of chemical compounds. The Phenylalkanoids are the main contributors, incl. : Phenylpropanoid : Rosavins are products of the phenylpropanoid metabolism. Tosavins (ie. rosavin, rosin and rosarin) are specific to the root from Rhodiola rosaea. The rosavins are the constuents currently most oſten selected as the marker compounds for standardizaon of extracts, although they are not necessarily the only pharmacologi- cally acve ingredients for its medicinal properes. Principal phenylethanoids consist of glyco- sides and salidroside has been reported as the most acve tyrosol glycoside, being associated, together with rosavins, to the an-depressive and anxiolyc effects (Maslowa, 1994; Tolonen, 2003). Other phenylethanoids have also been isolated but with today limited scienfic literature con- cerning the bioacvity (Jiménez 1994). Nutraceutic Applications Response to Stress : Rhodiola rosea bal- ance the body’s stress-response system. Adap- togenic plants naturally increase the body's non-specific resistance and normalise the funcons of the body, with a more resourceful manner when facing stressful situaon. R. rosea impacts central monoamine levels. Depression : R. rosea is said to assist the transport of serotonin precursors, tryptophan and 5-HTP into the brain. (Studies shows that serotonin brain neurotransmier is involved in many funcons such as pain percepon, be- havior, smooth muscle contracon, temperature regulaon, appete, etc... Sport Performance and muscles recovery : Rhodiola extract one hour before exer- cise significantly increases capacity for endur- ance exercise. It also shortens recovery me aſter long workouts, to increase strength, and an-toxic acon. Rhodiola extract reduces levels of C-reacve protein, an inflammatory marker, and creanine kinase, a marker of muscle damage (Abidov M & al., 2004). An other study from PoliNat suggests that Rhodiola extract protects against peroxide- induced oxidave stress through the modulaon of HPS70 (heat shock protein) in C2C12 muscles cells. Memory : R. Rosea increases the bioelectrical acvity of the brain which improves memory and brain energy. A study also described the Acetylcholine Esterase Inhibitors in Rhodiola rosea. It helps the body adapt to stress by affecng the levels and acvity of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, neu- rotransmiers found in different structures in the brain and influencing the central nervous system. It appears that Rhodiola inhibits the breakdown of these chemicals and facilitates the neurotransmier transport within the brain. In addion to its impact on the central nervous system, Rhodiola can increase the chemicals that provide energy to the muscle of the heart and prevent the depleon of adrenal hormones induced by acute stress. (Tori Hudson, 2006) Immune System : It smulates and protects the immune system (homeostasis), and increas- es the natural killer cells (NK) in the stomach and spleen. This acon may be due to its ability to normalize hormones. Cardiovascular : Linked to the an-stress acon (and decrease of catecholamines and corcosteroids released by the adrenal glands during stress), R. rosea decreases the amount of Keywords Rhodiola rosea Performance Memory, Aenon Stress Summary Rhodiola rosea L. (Crassulaceae), also known historically as “Golden Root” from the “Golden Montains” (Mongolian word ‘Altan’), is the most popular phytomedicine tradional used to increase physical endur- ance, work producvity, longevity, memory and aenon, resistance to high altude sickness, fague, depression, and disorders of the nervous system. The effect of Rhodiola rosea (RR) supplementa- on on ATP content in muscles was studied in Sprague-Dawley rats, where 24 adult rats were divided 3 groups equally: control group, RR (50mg/Kg) and Rhodiola crenulata (50mg/kg). Two sessions of forced swimming with 30-min intervals were carried out every day. The de- crease in ATP content in rats receiving R. rosea extract was stascally significantly less pro- nounced than the other groups (1). In a human trial, a total of 36 healthy untrained volunteers (21-24 years of age) were randomly, equally divided in 3 groups (control, placebo and RR extract). Individuals in the placebo and RR ex- tract groups received 2 capsules a day of each treatment (placebo or 340 mg of RR extract) for 30 days before and 6 days aſter exhausng physical exercise was performed (computer aided bicycle ergometer with gradual increases of workload). Changes in biochemical markers of muscle damage and inflammaon were signifi- cantly less pronounced in those taking RR sup- plementaon (2). 1. Abidov M, Crendal F, Grachev S, Seifulla R, Ziegen- fuss T. Effect of extracts from Rhodiola rosea and Rhodiola crenulata (Crassulaceae) roots on ATP content in mitochondria of skeletal muscles. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2003 Dec;136(6):585-7 2. Abidov M, Grachev S, Seifulla RD, Ziegenfuss TN. Extract of Rhodiola rosea radix reduces the level of C -reacve protein and creanine kinase in the blood. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2004 Jul;138(1):63-4. POLINAT is one of the very few Nutraceutical com- panies which has been granted an Export License by the Russian Government for the exportation of Rhodiola rosea roots from the Altai (Altay) region (Siberia). PoliNat closely collaborates with its suppli- er implementing operating procedures that provide general technical guidance for the sustainable col- lection and processing of Rhodiola rosea roots, following the overall context of quality assurance and the WHO guidelines on Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP). This includes the col- lection of the plants in the wild, as well as primary processing of the plant material, such as drying, packaging in bulk, storage and transport of the raw materials until it arrives to the PoliNat factory. The impact of collection on the environment and ecologi- cal processes, and the welfare of local communities are also considered. Page 14