Eleutherococcus: Description and origin

Eleutherococcus or Siberian ginseng, (Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.) Maxim, Araliaceae family) is a shrub native to Korea, northern China, Japan and Siberia. Eleutherococcus can grow up to three metres high and its roots are long, woody and bendy (1). Its flowers are yellowish (female flowers) and violet (male flowers) in colour (2).

Eleutherococcus: History

Eleutherococcus has been used in China for over 2,000 years as a remedy for treating infections, reducing fatigue and strengthening the immune system (3). Due to its anti-fatigue properties, eleutherococcus root is prized by inhabitants of Siberia and northern China (4).

With properties that enhance performance and overall health in stressful situations, during the 1950s Russian scientists proposed eleutherococcus as an alternative to Korean ginseng (1). Soviet astronauts also consumed eleutherococcus root to boost their strength and endurance, and to counteract the effects of zero gravity (4).

Eleutherococcus: Composition

The main active compounds of eleutherococcus root are eleutherosides (eleutheroside B, eleutheroside E etc.). It also contains phenylpropanoids, triterpene saponins, sterols, polysaccharides, flavonoids and glucans (1, 5-6).

Eleutherococcus: Our extract

Extract name: Dry extract of eleutherococcus standardised to contain 0.8% eleutherosides

Scientific name: Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Maxim.

Part used: Root

Eleutherococcus: Benefits

Eleutherococcus root is an adaptogen used to reduce the effects of stress and enhance mental and physical performance (1,5).

Eleutherococcus: Usage, dosage

One dose of our extract is equivalent to 4 grams of Eleutherococcus root.

Eleutherococcus: Studies

The European Medicines Agency approves the traditional use of eleutherococcus root to treat symptoms of asthenia (fatigue and weakness) (7).

Adaptogens help the body to cope with stress and help its internal systems regain their equilibrium. Eleutherococcus is one of the plants considered adaptogenic and it has been claimed that eleutherococcus modifies physiological response to stress and helps the body to cope with it (1). Its anti-stress (physical as well as mental) properties are backed up by numerous studies (8-9) and its effectiveness in relieving symptoms of burnout, or professional fatigue syndrome, are proven (10).

The anti-fatigue attributes of eleutherococcus root mean it helps to prolong physical activity and improve recovery after exercise, by increasing the supply of oxygen to muscles (6,11). It also decreases glycogenolysis and the production of lactic and pyruvic acid during exercise (6), which helps prevent the onset of fatigue.

Eleutherococcus: Bibliography

1. Bone and Mills (2013). Principles and practice of Phytotherapy. Second Edition, Elsevier.

2. Berdonces (2009) Gran diccionario ilustrado de las Plantas Medicinales descripción y aplicaciones. [Illustrated dictionary of medicinal plants. Description and applications] Oceano Ambar.

3. Goulet and Dionne (2005) Assessment of the effects of Eleutherococcus senticosus on endurance performance. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 15: 75-83.

4. Cebrián (2012) Diccionario de plantas medicinales [Dictionary of medicinal plants]. RBA libros.

5. Wichtl and Anton (2003) Plantes thérapeutiques. Tradition, pratique officinale, science et thérapeutique. [Therapeutic plants. Tradition, official practice, science and therapeutics]. 2é edition. Editions Tec & Doc.

6. Castillo-García and Martínez-Solís (2011). Manual de Fitoterapia [Herbal medicine manual]. Elsevier.

7. EMA/HMPC/680618/2013 Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC) Community herbal monograph on Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Maxim., radix.

8. Yan-Lin et al. (2011) Eleutherococcus senticosus as a crude medicine: Review of biological and pharmacological effects. J Med Plants Res 5(25): 5946-5952.

9. Vanaclocha and Cañigueral (2003) Fitoterapia. Vademécum de prescripción. [Phytotherapy. Prescription handbook] 4ª Edición. Elsevier España.

10. Jacquet et al. (2015) Burnout: evaluation of the efficacy and tolerability of TARGET 1® for professional fatigue syndrome (burnout). J Int Med Res 43(1):54-66.