Effects of Rhodiola rosea and Panax ginseng on the Metabolic Parameters of Rats Submitted to Swimming.

Adaptogen-based plant formulations play an important role in traditional medicine and have been used in medical practice to increase the resistance of individuals. Rhodiola rosea (RR) and Panax ginseng (PG) exhibit adaptogenic properties and are related to the recovery of homeostasis and strengthen systems impaired by stress. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of RR and PG on metabolic profile and muscle damage parameters in Wistar rats submitted to swimming. Animals were divided according to the following: G1: control group; G2: group that was submitted to swimming; G3: group treated with PG; G4: group treated with PG and submitted to swimming; G5: treated with RR; and G6: treated with RR and submitted to swimming. At the end of the experimental protocol, groups G2, G4, and G6 practiced swimming for a period five times longer than during the previous 30 days. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were investigated, and no significant results were found in the groups. Nevertheless, animals treated with PG and RR reduced the levels of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH). Our findings demonstrate that both PG and RR produced a significant reduction in the levels of CPK and LDH after physical stress, suggesting that they can be used to improve physical performance. For these reasons, we may say that these plants may be used to minimize the stress promoted by the practice of physical exercises.

Protective effects of salidroside on chronic heart failure in rats and the underlying mechanisms

The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of salidroside on chronic heart failure (CHF) in rats and to explore the underlying mechanisms. One hundred SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operated, model, and low-, medium- and high-dose salidroside groups. The CHF model was established in later 4 groups. The later 3 groups were intragastrically administrated with 6, 12 and 24 mg/kg salidroside, respectively, once a day, for continuous 4 weeks. Finally, the serum levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), cardiac function indexes, and expression levels of myocardial cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase (Caspase)-3, Caspase-9, matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) protein were determined. Results showed that, after treatment, compared with model group, in high-dose salidroside group the heart function indexes were significantly improved (P < 0.05), the serum levels of BNP and IL-6 were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), the expression levels of myocardial Caspase-3, Caspase-9 and MMP-1 protein were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), and the expression level of TIMP-1 protein was significantly increased (P < 0.05). In conclusion, salidroside has obvious protective effects on CHF in rats. The mechanisms may be related to its regulation of cardiomyocyte apoptosis and ventricular remodelingregulation related protein expressions

Analysis of the relationship between ribosomal DNA ITS sequences and active components in Rhodiola plants.

Rhodiola plants are a valuable resource in traditional Chinese medicine. The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation between ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences and the three active components in Rhodiola plants. For this, we determined ITS sequence polymorphisms and the concentrations of active components salidroside, tyrosol, and gallic acid in different Rhodiola species from the Tibetan Plateau. In a total of 23 Rhodiola samples, 16 different haplotypes were defined based on their ITS sequences. Analysis of the active components in these same samples revealed that salidroside was not detected in species with haplotypes H4, H5, or H10, tyrosol was not detected with haplotypes H3, H5, H7, H10, H14, or H15, and gallic acid was detected in with all haplotypes except H14 and H15. In addition, the concentrations of salidroside, tyrosol and gallic acid varied between samples with different haplotypes as well as those with the same haplotype, implying that no significant correlation exists between haplotype and salidroside, tyrosol or gallic acid concentrations. However, a statistically significant positive correlation was observed for among these three active components.

Isolation of microsatellite loci for Rhodiola alsia (Crassulaceae), an important ethno-medicinal herb endemic to the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau.

Rhodiola alsia, which has been used widely in traditional Chinese medicine for a considerable time, grows on moist habitats at high altitude near the snow line. Microsatellite loci were developed for R. alsia to investigate its population genetics. In total, 17 polymorphic microsatellites were developed based on ESTs from the Illumina HiSeq(TM) 2000 platform. The microsatellite loci were checked for variability using 80 individuals of R. alsia sampled from four locations on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The total number of alleles per locus ranged from 10 to 20, and the observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.000 to 1.000. The null allele frequency ranged from 0.000 to 0.324. These microsatellites are expected to be helpful in future studies of population genetics in R. alsia and related species.

Synergistic interactions between the antinociceptive effect of Rhodiola rosea extract and B vitamins in the mouse formalin test.

AIM: In this study, the pharmacological interactions between a Rhodiola rosea ethanol extract and B-vitamins such as thiamine (B1), riboflavine (B2), pyridoxine (B6), cyanocobalamin (B12) and a mixture of vitamins B1+B6+B12 was investigated in the mouse formalin test. METHODS: Individual dose response curves of the Rhodiola rosea ethanol extract, as well as B-vitamins alone or in a mixture were evaluated in mice in which nociception was induced with 2% formalin intraplantarly. The antinociceptive mechanisms of the Rhodiola rosea were investigated by exploring the role of the opioid and serotonin receptors and the nitric oxide pathway. Isobolographic analysis was used to evaluate the pharmacological interactions between the Rhodiola rosea ethanol extract and each B-vitamin individually or the mixture of vitamins B1+B6+B12 by using the ED30 and a fixed 1:1 ratio combination. RESULTS: Administration of the Rhodiola rosea extract alone or in combination with all of the vitamins produced a significant and dose-dependent antinociceptive response. The antinociceptive effect of the Rhodiola rosea extract (ED50=81 mg/kg, p.o.) was significant and reverted in the presence of antagonists of the 5-HT1A, GABA/BDZs and opioid receptors and by blocking mediators of the nitric oxide/cGMP/K(+) channels pathway. Isobolograms demonstrate that all of the combinations investigated in this study produced a synergistic interaction experimental ED30 values were significantly smaller than those calculated theoretically. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide evidence that a Rhodiola rosea ethanol extract in combination with B-vitamins produces a significant diminution in the nociceptive response in a synergistic manner, which is controlled by various mechanisms. These findings could aid in the design of clinical studies and suggest that these combinations could be applied for pain therapy.

Neuroimmunomodulatory compound for sensitive skin care: in vitro and clinical assessment.

BACKGROUND: The pathophysiology of sensitive skin consists of an inflammatory reaction resulting from the abnormal penetration in the skin of potentially irritating substances, which occurs due to skin barrier dysfunction and changes in the production of local neuromediators. AIMS: The therapeutic potential of L-carnosine and Rhodiola rosea, as antioxidant and neuromodulatory, respectively, leads us to investigate the effects of the R. rosea extract/L-carnosine-associated compound (RCAC) on sensitive skin alterations. METHODS: A double-blind comparative study was conducted on 124 volunteers with sensitive skin, who were selected by their reactivity to stinging test. Two randomized groups of 62 each received either a formulation containing 1% of RCAC or placebo, which was applied twice a day for 28 consecutive days. One perceptibility questionnaire was applied at the onset and at the end of the treatment to evaluate the subjective response to test product. Additionally, in vitro studies were performed to investigate RCAC neuroimmunomodulatory mechanisms. RESULTS: RCAC treatment produced in vivo protective effects in skin barrier function and a positive subjective response of sensitive skin volunteers. In vitro treatment promoted the release of proopiomelanocortin peptides and restored to normal the increased levels of neuropeptides and cytokines produced by keratinocytes exposed to ultraviolet radiation. Clinical effectiveness was measured by reduction of transepidermal water loss, positive perceptions of improvements in skin dryness and skin comfort sensation, and reduction of discomfort sensation after stinging test. CONCLUSIONS: The protective effect of RCAC in skin barrier function and the positive response produced in human subjects with sensitive skin could be partially explained by our in vitro results showing a significant increase in opioid peptides release, an inhibitory effect on neuropeptides production, and modulation of cytokines production by keratinocytes under ultraviolet stress.

Determination of genetic variation in Rhodiola crenulata from the Hengduan Mountains Region, China using inter-simple sequence repeats

The plant Rhodiola crenulata is a perennial herbaceous species distributed in the plateau region of southwestern China, especially the Hengduan Mountains region. It has been one of the most important traditional herbal remedies in Tibet for more than one thousand years, but the accelerated and uncontrolled collection of this plant since the 1980s has lead to deforestation. We used inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) to assess levels of genetic variation in R. crenulata from nine diverse natural populations in eastern Tibet and northern Yunnan, the first time such a study has been carried out. The 12 primers we used were able to detect 184 polymorphic loc. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that species level genetic diversity was relatively high (p = 97.83 percent, and Ho = 0.464) and analysis using ShannonÆs index showed that the within and between genetic diversity of R. crenulata are approximately equal. NeiÆs genetic distance and unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA) cluster analysis showed that the three populations from Tibet and the six populations from Yunnan form two major clusters. The Yunnan populations from three locations were further divided into three corresponding groups, indicating that genetic differentiation was correlated to geographic distribution. Understanding the genetic structure of R. crenulata provides insight for the conservation and management of this endangered species.