The product of 21st. century for your health and fitness.
Herbal stress-protector, muscle-gainer and energy-booster
euzea carthamoides DC. (Asteraceae) is a perennial medicinal
plant of Siberian origin. Its roots, which have a novel type of pharmacological
action classified as adaptogenic, are commonly used for medicinal purposes
Adaptogens were discovered in 1947 by the Russian scientist Dr. Nicolai
Lazarev, who in fact coined the name "adaptogen". Dr. Lazarev was also
the mentor of Dr. I. Brakeman, who conducted extensive research on adaptogenic
herbs. Dr Brakeman's first major focus was the now well known Panax Ginseng,
also called Korean or Chinese Ginseng. This worked, but unfortunately
it has a few drawbacks that have since become evident. It sometimes has
side effects such as causing over-excitement or constipation, and when
taken it can be too heating and stimulating to some people. Dr. Brakeman
soon moved on to other herbs and became recognised as the world's leading
expert on adaptogens. Since then more than a thousand experimental and
clinical studies on adaptogens have been done - most of them in Russia
and Germany. Most of these studies have shown the outstanding stress-protective
and immune system enhancing capacities of adaptogens. You may be familiar
with the names of what are now called "first-generation" adaptogens: Panax
Ginseng, American Ginseng, and Japanese Ginseng. But in this article I
want to tell you about adaptogens of the "second generation". The most
promising adaptogenic herbs today are probably Leuzeae carthamoides (Maral
rosea (Golden root) and Eleutherococcus
senticosus (Siberian Ginseng).
Three phases of stress progression
1) Alarm phase - When some
new stress factor strikes the organism it causes a sudden release of internal
stress-hormones - corticosteroids and catecholamines. If the stress is
very intense it can damage the regulatory systems of the body permanently
and at once (for example in case of exposure to high levels of nuclear
radiation). But if you are lucky, or if you are taking adaptogens, you
will smoothly progress further to the "adaptation phase".
2) Adaptation phase - If the
stress factor continues (for example, in sport it might be heavy athletic
training) our body learns to tolerate the stressful stimulus - "adapt"
- and increases its resistance to the stress factor. The "adaptation phase"
is usually a safe period. The more we can stay in the "adaptation phase",
3) Exhaustion phase appears,
when the body fails to fight stress any more and simply gives up. In this
"exhaustion phase", disease symptoms rapidly appear and get worse. Diseases
associated with stress may appear in the first "alarm phase", but they
mainly appear in the third "exhaustion phase" when the body cannot fight
stress any more. This third phase usually develops after a period of months
or years. Everything depends on the duration of the "adaptation phase".
Sometimes the body may be lucky and escape this third phase altogether,
provided that it can keep the stress under control. We can help to achieve
this by taking adaptogens; they can help us to stay in the "adaptation
phase" for as long as possible. Taking adaptogens, you will be able to
cope with stress better. The initial "alarm phase" will smoothly progress
to the "adaptation phase". Adaptogens can help you to stay in the safe
"adaptation phase" for a much longer time or even permanently, so preventing
you from proceeding further to the extremely dangerous "exhaustion phase".
We will tell you now more about one of the promising herbal adaptogens
of the second generation - Leuzea carthamoides (Russian leuzea).
Leuzea carthamoides DC. (syn. Rhaponticum carthamoides [Willd.]
Iljin) is an endemic species in South Siberia, on the Altai and Saian
Mountains. It grows in the high alpine and subalpine meadows at 1200-1900
m above the sea level (Postnicov 1980). The plant has a woody rhizome
with wiry roots of a length of 20-40 cm. The leaves are alternate, oval
or elliptical, 10-20 cm long. The flower stems, 1-3 per plant, appear
in the second year, their height ranges between 80 and 170 cm. The solitary
capitulum has a diameter of 3-6 cm and the florets are violet, The 1000
seed weight (TSW) is 11-19 grams, the length and width of the seeds are
5-8 mm and 2-4 m, respectively. Rhaponticum derives its traditional name
Maral Root from the famous Mongolian, Dzhamtsyn, who spoke about a plant
that imparted strength to the maral deer, who fed on it. Complete
List of Scientific Articles (Abstracts)
The principal constituents of the whole plant are ecdysteroids (5 beta-cholest-6-on-7-ene
derivatives) and flavonoids. Also polyacetylenes and triterpenes have
been isolated from different parts of the plant (Girault et. al. 1984,
Szendrei et. al. 1984, Varga et al. 1986 and 1990). Of the isolated compounds,
only 20-hydroxyecdysone is currently considered to play an important role
in the action of this plant. (Syrov and Kurmukov 1976). The main flavonoides
are 6-methoxy-kampferol, patuletin, isorhamnetin-glycoside and quercetin-5-glycoside.
All leaf and root samples contained 20-hydroxyecdysone as a main compound
of Leuzea. The 20-hydroxyecdysone of the roots ranged from 0.12 to 0.20%,
being higher than that of the leaves.
The 20-hydroxyecdysone content of the leaves ranged between 0.006 and
0.10%. According to the quantitative and qualitative data obtained experimentally,
the optimum time for root harvest of Leuzea carthamoides is at
the end of August when the 20-hydroxyecdysone content is the highest.
Leuzea considerably increases the capacity of tired skeletal muscles,
and contributes to a more sparing use of carbohydrates and an enhanced
new synthesis of glycogen and high-energy phosphorus compounds (Salnik
1967). When given to athletes, its extract is claimed to increase endurance,
reflexes and concentration, while the athletes grew tired later and recovered
earlier (Saratikov 1966). The rhizomes and roots of Leuzea carthamoides
are officially listed in the Russian Pharmacopoeia. The fluid extract
and the crude ecdysteroid fraction obtained from the roots are used in
the production of Ecdysten tablets, which are used in the official medicine
in Russia. Also other preparations made from these are marketed in a number
of countries (Varga et.al. 1985); Cupka 1992). Leuzea provide high-value
fodder material, the composition of the fresh and dry hay of Leuzea improved
the tolerance of the animals to the extreme Siberian climatic conditions
and increased milk production in cows (Vavilova and Kondratev 1975). In
a recent study, a diet, containing 10% of Leuzea in meal increased the
body weight and development of certain internal organs and affected the
behavior of different experimental animals (Selepcova et.al. 1995). Leuzea
carthamoides (Rhaponticum) is an old folk medicine for fatigue. It
has been traditionally used as a stimulant, for overcoming impotence,
and to assist convalescence from long illness. Russian and Eastern researchers
have found that Rhaponticum has a beneficial effect on memory and learning,
and can help break addictive behaviours. It increases working capacity
in tired skeletal muscles, relieves neurosis, and benefits anabolic and
adaptogenic processes Gadzhieva, R.M. et al. (1995). It enhances speed,
strength, and functioning of the muscle system. Leuzea extracts has been
used by Eastern Bloc athletes as a non-hormonal natural anabolic, adaptogen, and bio-stimulant.
In doses up to 40 mg/kg the extract was non-toxic. In certain
doses in mice and rats Leuzea carthamoides exerted a moderate central
stimulation action, increased ambulating and rearing, increased central
nervous excitability and improved learning and memory without any pronounced
side-effects (Petkov 1984).
Leuzea carthamoides is now slowly but surely becoming more widely
accepted. In today's culture of hustling and bustling, with chaos coming
from every direction, I do not think we can afford to ignore nature's
medicine any longer. It is in our interest to take advantage of these
powerful herbs if we want to survive the demands modern life imposes on
us. One does not have to be a professor or scientist to research herbs
and educate oneself on how they work. The motivation depends on how much
one desire to improve one's quality of life. Since life is so short, my
advice is: don't wait until you have a day off, maybe next week. Why not
take adaptogens as soon as possible, so your week will be more productive?
1. Cupka, P., Kamenska, R. (1992): Leuzea tekuty extrakt. Nase Liecive
Rastliny 5: 131-132.
2. Gadzhieva, R.M. et al. (1995) A comparative study of the anabolic
action of ecdysten, leveton and Prime Plus, preparations of plant origin
Eksp Klin Farmakol Sep-Oct 58(5): 46
3. Galambosi, B., Varga, Zs., Hajdu and Jokela, K. (1997): Introduction
of Leuzea carthamoides DC. As an adaptive medical plant in the nordic
climate. Drogenreport Jg. 10, Heft 16: 5-9
4. Girault, J-P., Lafont, R., Varga, E., Hajdu, ZS., Herke, I., Szendrei,
K. (1988): Ecdysteroids from Leuzea carthamoides. Phytochemistry
5. Petkov, V., Roussinov, K., Todrov, S., Lazareva, M., Yonkov,D. Dragonova,
S. (1984): Pharmacological Investigation on Rhaponticum carthamoides.
Planta Medica 50: 205-209
6. Postnikov, B.A. (1980): Maralii koren (Rhaponticum carthamoides/Willd.Iljin,
Leuzea carthamoides DC.). In Atlas Arealov i ResursovLekarstvennykh Rasteni.
Moskav. p.103, 263.
7. Salnik, B.Yu. (1967): Effect of extracts of Eleutherococcus and
Leuzea on carbohydrate-phosphorus and oxidative metabolism during a rated
muscle load. Ref. C.A. 67; 1999c.
8. Saratikov, A.S. (1966): Nekotorye itogi izyskannya i izucheniya
stimulatorov tsentralnoinervnoi sistemy rastitelnogo proishozhdenia. In:
Stimulatory Tsent. Nerv. Syst. Izd. Tomsk Univ. 3-23
9. Selepcova, L., Sommer, A., Vargova.M. (1995): Effect of feeding
on a diet containing varying amounts of Rhaponticum carthamoides hay meal
on selected morphological parameters in rats. Eur.J.Entomol 92: 391-397
10. Szendrei, K., Reisch, J., Varga, E. (1984): Tiophene acetylenes
from leuzea roots. Phytochemistry 23: 901-902
11. Syrov, V.N., Kurmukov, A.G. (1976): Ob anabolicheskoi aktivnostifitoekdizona-ekdisterona,
vydelennogo iz Rhaponticum carthamoides (Willd.) Iljin. Farmakol i
Toksikol 5: 690-693
12. Varga, A.E., Szendrei, K., Hajdu, ZS. (1985): Investigation of
the adaptogenous Leuzeae radix and preparations produced of. Herba
Hungarica 24 (2-3): 165-176
13. Varga, E., Szendrei, K., Hajdu, SZ., Hornok, L., Csaki, GY. (1986):
Study of the compounds contained in Hungarian-grown Leuzea carthamoides
DC. (Asteracae) with special regard to the ecdysteroids. Herba Hungarica
25 (1): 115-133
14. Varga, E., Sarik, G., Hajdu, ZS., Szendrei, K., Pelczer, II., Jerkovich,
GY. (1990): "Flavonoids from Leuzea carthamoides". Herba Hungarica
29 (1-2): 51-55
15. Vavilova, P.P., Kondratev, A.A. (1975); Novyje kormovue kultury.
Rosselkhozdat. Moskva, 346 p.
List of Scientific Articles (Abstracts)
carthamoides (Maral root)
What is it?
to modern science adaptogens are natural plant products that increase
the body's ability to cope with internal and external stress factors,
and normalise the functions of the body. They help maintain the
stable internal environment inside the body known as homeostasis.
An important characteristic is that they are safe, possessing few
known side effects.
The most promising adaptogenic herbs today
are probably Leuzeae
carthamoides (Maral root),
rosea (Golden root)
senticosus (Siberian Ginseng).
help you cope with stress-related situations so you can train harder,
recover more quickly, and achieve more of your body's full performance
potential. Leuzea has a marked anabolic effect, and aids the body
in the synthesis of muscle protein. Its extract, when included in
the diet, has a pronounced tonic effect and has abilities to protect
the bodily system from environmental stress. It may help the body
to re-build damaged muscle tissue. Adaptogens such as Leuzea are
often prescribed to elite athletes by sports physicians in order
to replenish the depleted mental and structural reserves exhausted
during hard training. Leuzea was used by elite Soviet and Russian
sportsmen in order to upgrade psychological and physical reserves
that were exhausted due to hard training. After regular intake of
Russian Leuzea the muscle component in the body increases while
the fat tissues are melting. Gadzhieva, R.M. et al. (1995)
activity - quality
There are many products on the market that contain Rhaponticum carthamoides.
But unfortunately these products often have only limited or even
no biological activity. Common reasons for these deficiencies are
incorrect species of plant, wrong climatic region, harvesting at
the wrong season, over-drying, or use of an inferior extraction
method. Root harvest requires a strong shaker and additional washing
the roots. According to our washing experiment, using tap water
with normal pressure, there were no differences in the 20-hydroxyecdysone
contents between the non-washed roots and the roots washed over
30-60-90-120 and 150 seconds (0.11%). It seems that 20-hydroxyecdysone
is hardly soluble in water. The manufacturing process of preparing
of dry extract is a key factor in the preparation of a high quality
adaptogenic extract, as is the selection of high quality raw materials
using proper assay methods.
Dry roots of
(20-hydroxyecdysone content: 0.1-0.2%)