RHODIOLA ROSEA AS A NATURAL ADAPTOGEN: A REVIEW OF ITS EFFECTS ON STRESS REDUCTION, MOOD ENHANCEMENT, AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION
Abstract
Introduction: Rhodiola rosea is a widely used adaptogenic herb known for its potential to enhance the body’s resistance to physical and psychological stress. Traditionally employed in various medical systems, it has recently gained scientific attention for its beneficial effects on mood regulation, stress reduction, and cognitive performance. The complex phytochemical composition of Rhodiola rosea underpins these effects, yet the precise mechanisms and clinical efficacy remain to be fully elucidated. This review aims to comprehensively summarize current knowledge regarding the phytochemistry, mechanisms of action, preclinical and clinical evidence of Rhodiola rosea’s adaptogenic properties, focusing on its impact on stress reduction, mood enhancement, and cognitive function. Mechanisms of action involving modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, neurotransmitter systems, and antioxidant pathways are discussed. Despite promising results, further high-quality, large-scale randomized controlled trials are needed to establish standardized protocols for clinical use.
Material and methods: A systematic literature analysis was conducted, including in vitro, animal, and human studies investigating Rhodiola rosea extracts. Emphasis was placed on studies examining biochemical pathways, neurobehavioral outcomes, and clinical trials assessing stress-related parameters, mood states, and cognitive metrics.
Results: Rhodiola rosea exhibits modulatory effects on monoaminergic neurotransmission, enhances antioxidant defenses by upregulating enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and catalase, and improves mitochondrial function, leading to increased cellular energy production. Clinical studies demonstrate significant reductions in perceived stress and fatigue, improvements in mood disorders including mild to moderate depression, and enhanced psychomotor performance and cognitive processing speed. However, variability in extract standardization and study design influences the consistency of findings.
Conclusions: Rhodiola rosea represents a promising natural adaptogen with multifaceted actions supporting stress resilience, mood stabilization, and cognitive enhancement. Standardized extracts with defined phytochemical profiles are essential to ensure reproducible therapeutic effects. Further rigorous clinical investigations are warranted to clarify optimal dosing regimens and long-term safety.
References
Zhai Y, Zhang Z, Li Y, Zhao C, Peng Z, Liu Y, et al. Preparation, structural characterization, and bioactivities of polysaccharides from Rhodiola: A review. Int J Biol Macromol. 2025;307(Pt 1):141873.
Amsterdam JD, Panossian AG. Rhodiola rosea L. as a putative botanical antidepressant. Phytomedicine. 2016;23(7):770-83.
Tinsley GM, Jagim AR, Potter GDM, Garner D, Galpin AJ. as an adaptogen to enhance exercise performance: a review of the literature. Br J Nutr. 2024;131(3):461-73.
Kreipke PhD VC, Moffatt PhD RJ, Tanner Ma CJ, Ormsbee PhD MJ. Effects of Concurrent Training and a Multi-Ingredient Performance Supplement Containing. J Diet Suppl. 2021;18(6):597-613.
Aktar A, Bhuia S, Chowdhury R, Hasan R, Islam Rakib A, Al Hasan S, et al. Therapeutic Promises of Bioactive Rosavin: A Comprehensive Review with Mechanistic Insight. Chem Biodivers. 2024;21(7):e202400286.
Sánchez IA, Cuchimba JA, Pineda MC, Argüello YP, Kočí J, Kreider RB, et al. Adaptogens on Depression-Related Outcomes: A Systematic Integrative Review and Rationale of Synergism with Physical Activity. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(7).
Wang Z, Du H, Li H, Zhao K, Zhao B, Ma Y, et al. Effects of the Combined Supplementation of Caffeine and Rhodiola Rosea with Resistance Training on Lower Limb Explosive Power in Male Volleyball Players. Nutrients. 2025;17(4).
Iannuzzo F, Schiano E, Pastore A, Guerra F, Tenore GC, Novellino E, et al. Controlled Cultivation Confers. Antioxidants (Basel). 2024;13(8).
Coors A, Brosch M, Kahl E, Khalil R, Michels B, Laub A, et al. Rhodiola rosea root extract has antipsychotic-like effects in rodent models of sensorimotor gating. J Ethnopharmacol. 2019;235:320-8.
Wei X, Chang QY, Liu Y, Hua HN, Liu YN, Tang ZH, et al. Influence of Wild and Cultivated Environments on the Antioxidant and Medicinal Components of. Plants (Basel). 2024;13(24).
Anand A, Shrivastava A, Singh K, Barik R, Gayakwad D, Jailani S, et al. Neuroprotective Efficacy and Complementary Treatment with Medicinal Herbs: A Comprehensive Review of Recent Therapeutic Approaches in Epilepsy Management. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2025;24(1):60-73.
Ballmann CG, Maze SB, Wells AC, Marshall MM, Rogers RR. Effects of short-term Rhodiola Rosea (Golden Root Extract) supplementation on anaerobic exercise performance. J Sports Sci. 2019;37(9):998-1003.
Cai Y, Huang G, Ren M, Chai Y, Huang X, Yan T. Synthesizing network pharmacology, bioinformatics, and in vitro experimental verification to screen candidate targets of Salidroside for mitigating Alzheimer's disease. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2025;398(4):4539-58.
Li J, Cui Y, Yao J, Guo C, Jiao M. Mechanistic insights of Rhodiola crenulata in treating diabetic kidney disease via network pharmacology. J Mol Endocrinol. 2025;75(1).
Chen H, Yang P, Wu Z, Zhang C, Li X, Li Z, et al. Multi-level fingerprint and immune activity evaluation of polysaccharides from Rhodiola rosea L. Int J Biol Macromol. 2025;299:140197.
Conti F. Dietary Protocols to Promote and Improve Restful Sleep: A Narrative Review. Nutr Rev. 2025.
Drafi F, Bauerova K, Chrastina M, Taghdisiesfejír M, Rocha J, Direito R, et al. L. Extract, a Known Adaptogen, Evaluated in Experimental Arthritis. Molecules. 2023;28(13).
Gao Z, Liu Y, Liao W, Song W, Zhang X, Lin H, et al. Efficacy and safety of. Front Pharmacol. 2025;16:1595953.
Ji S, Chen D, Ding F, Gu X, Xue Q, Zhou C, et al. Salidroside exerts neuroprotective effects on retrograde neuronal death following neonatal axotomy via activation of PI3K/Akt pathway and deactivation of p38 MAPK pathway. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2025;494:117178.
Korczak M, Pilecki M, Granica S, Gorczynska A, Pawłowska KA, Piwowarski JP. Phytotherapy of mood disorders in the light of microbiota-gut-brain axis. Phytomedicine. 2023;111:154642.
Lai W, Nie J, Hong A, Zhang Y, Chen J, Zheng X, et al. Neuroprotective effects of Rosavin via HIF-1α signaling in a rat model of ischemic stroke. Phytomedicine. 2025;145:157068.
Zhang L, Yin H, Xie Y, Zhang Y, Dong F, Wu K, et al. Exploring the anti-oxidative mechanisms of. Mol Med Rep. 2024;30(6).
Li Y, Pham V, Bui M, Song L, Wu C, Walia A, et al. an herb with anti-stress, anti-aging, and immunostimulating properties for cancer chemoprevention. Curr Pharmacol Rep. 2017;3(6):384-95.
Zhang W, Huai Y, Miao Z, Chen C, Shahen M, Rahman SU, et al. Systems pharmacology approach to investigate the molecular mechanisms of herb Rhodiola rosea L. radix. Drug Dev Ind Pharm. 2019;45(3):456-64.
Liang K, Ma S, Luo K, Wang R, Xiao C, Zhang X, et al. Salidroside: An Overview of Its Promising Potential and Diverse Applications. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2024;17(12).
Limanaqi F, Biagioni F, Busceti CL, Polzella M, Fabrizi C, Fornai F. Potential Antidepressant Effects of Scutellaria baicalensis, Hericium erinaceus and Rhodiola rosea. Antioxidants (Basel). 2020;9(3).
Liu C, Zhao H, Yan Y, Yang W, Chen S, Song G, et al. Synergistic Effect of. Nutrients. 2023;15(3).
Liu LY, Yu XF, Chi ZC, Shi SM, Lan T, Leng JH, et al. Salidroside improves bovine embryo quality by mitigating oxidative stress and regulating mitochondrial lipid metabolism. Theriogenology. 2025;247:117570.
Zhang X, Zhang H, Liu Z, Huang T, Yi R, Ma Z, et al. Salidroside improves blood- brain barrier integrity and cognitive function in hypobaric hypoxia mice by inhibiting microglia activation through GSK3β. Phytother Res. 2025;39(4):1808-25.
Lu Y, Deng B, Xu L, Liu H, Song Y, Lin F. Corrigendum: Effects of Rhodiola Rosea Supplementation on Exercise and Sport: A Systematic Review. Front Nutr. 2022;9:928909.
Nawrot J, Gornowicz-Porowska J, Budzianowski J, Nowak G, Schroeder G, Kurczewska J. Medicinal Herbs in the Relief of Neurological, Cardiovascular, and Respiratory Symptoms after COVID-19 Infection A Literature Review. Cells. 2022;11(12).
Lu Y, Deng B, Xu L, Liu H, Song Y, Lin F. Effects of Rhodiola Rosea Supplementation on Exercise and Sport: A Systematic Review. Front Nutr. 2022;9:856287.
Marcos-Frutos D, Leban, Li Z, Zhang X, Lara PM, Alix-Fages C, et al. The Impact of Rhodiola Rosea Extract on Strength Performance in Alternative Bench-Press and Bench-Pull Exercises Under Resting and Mental Fatigue Conditions: A Randomized, Triple-Blinded, Placebo Controlled, Crossover Trial. Nutrients. 2025;17(6).
Urata M, Sakurai H, Ueno F, Maruki T, Tada T, Uchida T, et al. Efficacy of Pharmacological Interventions in Milder Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Neuropsychopharmacol Rep. 2025;45(1):e70008.
Wróbel-Biedrawa D, Podolak I. Anti-Neuroinflammatory Effects of Adaptogens: A Mini Review. Molecules. 2024;29(4).
Zhu R, Fang CF, Zhang SJ, Han Z, Zhu GH, Cai SZ, et al. Comprehensive Review on Rhodiola crenulata: Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, Pharmacological Properties and Clinical Applications. Chin J Integr Med. 2025.
Sanz-Barrio PM, Noreen EE, Gilsanz-Estebaranz L, Lorenzo-Calvo J, Martínez-Ferrán M, Pareja-Galeano H. Rhodiola rosea supplementation on sports performance: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Phytother Res. 2023;37(10):4414-28.
Sowjanya A, Kadiri SK, Khobragade DS, Shaik M, Tiwari P. Exploring the Anthelmintic and Antidiabetic Effects of Rosarin in Preclinical Studies Using Zebrafish and Earthworm Models (Curr Diabetes Rev. 2025.
Wojdasiewicz P, Brodacki S, Cieślicka E, Turczyn P, Poniatowski A, Ławniczak W, et al. Salidroside: A Promising Agent in Bone Metabolism Modulation. Nutrients. 2024;16(15).
Sun S, Tuo Q, Li D, Wang X, Li X, Zhang Y, et al. Antioxidant Effects of Salidroside in the Cardiovascular System. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2020;2020:9568647.
Tao B, Sun H, Li H, Xu Z, Xu Y, Chen L, et al. Combined Effects of Rhodiola Rosea and Caffeine Supplementation on Straight Punch Explosive Power in Untrained and Trained Boxing Volunteers: A Synergistic Approach. Metabolites. 2025;15(4).
Yun H, Lu B, Su W, Wang J, Zheng J, Wang Z, et al. Combined effects of. Front Nutr. 2024;11:1335950.
Vikal A, Maurya R, Patel BB, Patel P, Kumar M, Kurmi BD. A Mini-Review on Unlocking Cognitive Enhancement: An Innovative Strategy for Optimal Brain Functions. Cent Nerv Syst Agents Med Chem. 2025.
Chen HI, Ou HC, Chen CY, Yu SH, Cheng SM, Wu XB, et al. Neuroprotective Effect of. Am J Chin Med. 2020;48(2):373-90.
Kim KJ, Jung YS, You DM, Lee SH, Lee G, Kwon KB, et al. Neuroprotective effects of ethanolic extract from dry. Food Sci Biotechnol. 2021;30(2):287-97.
Views:
14
Downloads:
6
Copyright (c) 2025 Maciej Ćmil, Wojciech Karchut, Gabriela Furtak, Wiktor Daniszewski, Wiktoria Knobelsdorf, Michał Pogoda, Bartosz Oder, Dominika Pietrzyk, Maria Łagódka, Katarzyna Zając
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
All articles are published in open-access and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). Hence, authors retain copyright to the content of the articles.
CC BY 4.0 License allows content to be copied, adapted, displayed, distributed, re-published or otherwise re-used for any purpose including for adaptation and commercial use provided the content is attributed.
