Search Results (16)

As human life expectancy continues to rise, managing age-related diseases and preserving health in later years remain significant challenges. Consequently, there is a growing demand for strategies that enhance both the quality and the duration of life. Interventions that promote longevity, particularly those derived from natural sources, are popular for their potential to address age-related health concerns. Adaptogens—herbs, roots, and mushrooms—are valued in food science and nutrition for their ability to enhance resilience and overall well-being. Among these, Rhaponticum carthamoides (Willd.) Iljin, known as maral root (Russian leuzea), holds a prominent place in Siberian traditional medicine. The root extract, abundant in bioactive compounds such as flavonoids and phytoecdysteroids, is reputed for reducing fatigue, boosting strength, and offering immunomodulatory benefits. However, the effects of the plant extract on lifespan and age-related decline remains poorly studied. This study investigates the effect of maral root extract and phytoecdysteroids—ecdysterone, ponasterone, and turkesterone—on aging using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism. A sensitive liquid chromatography method with photodiode array detection was developed and validated to quantify the phytoecdysteroids in the extract. Behavioural and stress-response assays revealed that maral root not only extends lifespan but also significantly enhanced healthspan, stress resilience, and fitness in the nematodes. Additionally, treatment with ecdysterone, the most abundant compound in the root extract, improved healthspan by enhancing stress response. These findings underscore the potential of maral root as a natural adaptogen to mitigate age-related decline, providing valuable insights into natural longevity interventions. Full article

Rhaponticum carthamoides (Willd.) Iljin. is an endemic plant species found in Siberia, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan. Its roots and rhizomes are used to treat physical fatigue and weakness following illness. The present study examines the scaling up of caffeoylquinic acid (CQA) derivative and flavonoid production in R. carthamoides transformed roots. The transformed roots were grown in shaken Erlenmeyer flasks of varying volumes (0.5–2 L), a temporary immersion system (TIS) (Rita^® and PlantForm bioreactors), and a nutrient sprinkle bioreactor (NSB) in Woody Plant medium for 35 days. The highest dry biomass production was achieved in the 0.5 L and 1 L flasks and in the NSB bioreactor, yielding 22.2 to 20.4 g/L—approximately 14 to 23 times the weight of the inoculum. The accumulation of individual specialized metabolites varied depending on the culture system used. The peak amount of CQAs (544.5 mg/L), in terms of the increase in dry weight and metabolite levels, was obtained in the NSB bioreactor. The primary CQAs were chlorogenic acid (5-CQA) and a tri-CQA 1. The highest concentration of 5-CQA (7.38 mg/g DW) was found in the roots cultivated in the NSB bioreactor. In contrast, the tri-CQA 1 dominated in the roots from 2 L shaken Erlenmeyer flasks (8.44 mg/g DW). Our findings demonstrate that transformed roots growing in an NSB bioreactor are an effective system for increasing CQA production, potentially serving as an alternative source. This biotechnological approach could help reduce the overexploitation of field-grown R. carthamoides, a currently threatened species. Full article

The study of medicinal plants and having a protected status is an urgent issue for the conservation of biodiversity in Kazakhstan. Rhaponticum carthamoides (Willd.) Ilijn is a medicinal plant, and its excessive harvesting and destruction of habitats, as well as its conservation status, are of concern. We conducted a study to assess the ecological characteristics of the habitat of the species in the Tarbagatai National Natural Park, calculate the amount of medicinal raw materials, calculate both aboveground and underground phytomass, and calculate biological and operational reserves. A map has been developed to show the distribution of the species and potential harvest sites. In addition, a correlation analysis was performed to understand how population size affects productivity. The results highlight the need for continuous monitoring and protection of endangered species. The conservation of Rhaponticum carthamoides in the Tarbagatai State National Nature Park is currently ensured by its protected status. However, the study emphasizes the importance of developing a sustainable use regime to effectively manage plant resources and ensure their preservation for future generations. Full article

Phytoecdysteroids (PEs) are naturally occurring steroid compounds, that have recently gained significant attention, due to their diverse biological activities and high therapeutic potential. The aim of the present study was to quantify some PEs including 20-hydroxyecdysterone (20-HE), ponasterone A (PA), and turkesterone (TU) in selected plant foods and Rhaponticum carthamoides extract. Furthermore, the effects of 20-HE, TU, and R. carthamoides extract, were investigated with in vitro methods using isolated smooth muscle tissues. The levels of 20-HE in the analyzed samples exhibited significant differences, with kaniwa seed extract containing the highest amount, followed by spinach leaf extract, quinoa seed extract, and asparagus stem extract. The in vitro analyses suggested that R. carthamoides extract exhibits dose-dependent cytotoxic effects on smooth muscle cells, with low doses promoting contraction and higher doses inducing relaxation. Additionally, the extract demonstrated a significant inhibitory effect on ACh-induced contractions, while 20-HE enhanced the contractile response. The current findings highlighted phytoecdysteroids’ potential for modifying gastrointestinal motility. Full article

Plant in vitro cultures can be an effective tool in obtaining desired specialized metabolites. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on phenolic compounds in Rhaponticum carthamoides shoots cultured in vitro. R. carthamoides is an endemic and medicinal plant at risk of extinction due to the massive harvesting of its roots and rhizomes from the natural environment. The shoots were cultured on an agar-solidified and liquid-agitated Murashige and Skoog’s medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/L of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 0.5 mg/L of 6-benzyladenine (BA). The effect of the medium and different treatments of LED lights (blue (BL), red (RL), white (WL), and a combination of red and blue (R:BL; 7:3)) on R. carthamoides shoot growth and its biosynthetic potential was observed. Medium type and the duration of LED light exposure did not affect the proliferation rate of shoots, but they altered the shoot morphology and specialized metabolite accumulation. The liquid medium and BL light were the most beneficial for the caffeoylquinic acid derivatives (CQAs) production, shoot growth, and biomass increment. The liquid medium and BL light enhanced the content of the sum of all identified CQAs (6 mg/g DW) about three-fold compared to WL light and control, fluorescent lamps. HPLC-UV analysis confirmed that chlorogenic acid (5-CQA) was the primary compound in shoot extracts regardless of the type of culture and the light conditions (1.19–3.25 mg/g DW), with the highest level under R:BL light. BL and RL lights were equally effective. The abundant component was also 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, accompanied by 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, a tentatively identified dicaffeoylquinic acid derivative, and a tricaffeoylquinic acid derivative 2, the contents of which depended on the LED light conditions. Full article

The naturally occurring compounds ecdysterone and turkesterone, which are present in plants, including Rhaponticum carthamoides Willd. (Iljin), Spinacia oleracea L., Chenopodium quinoa Willd., and Ajuga turkestanica (Regel) Briq, are widely recognized due to their possible advantages for both general health and athletic performance. The current review investigates the beneficial biological effects of ecdysterone and turkesterone in nutrition, highlighting their roles not only in enhancing athletic performance but also in the management of various health problems. Plant-based diets, associated with various health benefits and environmental sustainability, often include sources rich in phytoecdysteroids. However, the therapeutic potential of phytoecdysteroid-rich extracts extends beyond sports nutrition, with promising applications in treating chronic fatigue, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders. Full article

Despite the fact that there are many studies related to the adaptogenic and pro-healthy activities of plant-based compounds, there are some adaptogenic plants whose activities are not fully known, especially those coming from the wild regions of Asia, Africa, and South America. The aim of these studies was to examine the contents of non-nutritional compounds, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and phenolic acids in ten adaptogenic species (Astragalus membranaceus (AM), Uncaria rhynchophylla (UR), Polygonum multiflorum (PM), Angelica sinensis (AS), Andrographis paniculatea (AP), Tinospora cordifolia (TC), Uncaria tomentosa (UT), Pfaffia paniculate (PP), Sutherlandia frutescens (SF), and Rhaponticum carthamoides (RC)). Considering biological activity, their antioxidant (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and ferrous-ion-chelating ability assays), anti-acetylcholinesterase, anti-hyaluronidase, and anti-tyrosinase activities were evaluated. The richest in polyphenols, flavonoids, and phenolic acids was UR (327.78 mg GAE/g, 230.13 mg QE/g, and 81.03 mg CA/g, respectively). The highest inhibitions of acetylcholinesterase, hyaluronidase, and tyrosinase were observed for TC, UR, and PM, respectively. In the case of antioxidant properties, extract from PM appeared to most strongly reduce DPPH, extract from UR inhibited ABTS, and extract from SF showed the best chelating properties. It should be noted that a particularly interesting plant was Ulcaria rhynchophylla. The results mean that there were compounds in UR with broad biological activities, and this species should be explored in more detail. Additionally, our results justify the traditional use of these species in the nutripharmacological or ethnopharmacological care systems of different regions. Full article

Besides their common use as an adaptogen, Rhaponticum carthamoides (Willd.) Iljin. rhizome and its root extract (RCE) are also reported to beneficially affect lipid metabolism. The main characteristic secondary metabolites of RCE are phytoecdysteroids. In order to determine an RCE’s phytoecdysteroid profile, a novel, sensitive, and robust high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method was developed and validated. Moreover, a comparative analysis was conducted to investigate the effects of RCE and its secondary metabolites on adipogenesis and adipolysis. The evaluation of the anti-adipogenic and lipolytic effects was performed using human Simpson–Golabi–Behmel syndrome cells, where lipid staining and measurement of released glycerol and free fatty acids were employed. The HPTLC method confirmed the presence of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), ponasterone A (PA), and turkesterone (TU) in RCE. The observed results revealed that RCE, 20E, and TU significantly reduced lipid accumulation in human adipocytes, demonstrating their anti-adipogenic activity. Moreover, RCE and 20E were found to effectively stimulate basal lipolysis. However, no significant effects were observed with PA and TU applications. Based on our findings, RCE and 20E affect both lipogenesis and lipolysis, while TU only restrains adipogenesis. These results are fundamental for further investigations. Full article

Phytoecdysteroids are a group of naturally occurring ecdysteroid hormones found in certain plant families and used for centuries for their adaptogenic, tonifying, and antioxidant properties. Ecdysterone and turkesterone are the dominant phytoecdysteroids found in the plant species Rhaponticum carthamoides Willd., Cyanotis arachnoidea C.B.Clarke and Ajuga turkestanica (Regel) Briq., and have been recognized for their adaptogenic potential and ability to enhance physical performance. However, over the past few years, supplementation with ecdysterone by professional athletes has raised some concerns about its safety and quality, leading to its inclusion in the World Anti-Doping Agency monitoring program. This study proposes a simple and reliable method for quality control of ecdysterone- and turkesterone-containing products using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. The HPLC method is based on reversed-phase chromatography and gradient elution to achieve a superior separation of phytoecdysteroids. The method has been shown to qualify both phytoecdysteroids at low concentrations such as 10.98 μg/mL for ecdysterone and 11.43 μg/mL for turkesterone. This method could be successfully used in research programs and routine quality control of dietary supplements to ensure their safety in professional athletes’ nutrition. Full article

Rhaponticum carthamoides (Willd.) Iljin is a rare, pharmacopoeial, and medicinal plant, endemic to Siberia and endangered due to the massive collection of raw material from the natural habitat. The aim of the current study was to estimate the effect of sucrose concentration (0–7%) on R. carthamoides transformed root growth and on caffeoylquinic acid derivative (CQA) and flavonoid production. Sucrose in higher concentrations may induce osmotic stress and thus may affect secondary metabolism in plants. It was revealed that sucrose concentration influenced R. carthamoides transformed root biomass and modified the phenolic compound metabolic pathway. However, the dynamics of both processes varied significantly. The optimal sucrose level was different for biomass accumulation and the biosynthesis of specialized metabolite. The highest dry weight of roots was achieved for 7% sucrose (31.17 g L⁻¹ of dry weight), while 1% sucrose was found to be optimal for phenolic acid and flavonoid production. Considering the dry weight increase and metabolite accumulation, 3% sucrose was revealed to give optimal yields of CQAs (511.1 mg L⁻¹) and flavonoids (38.9 mg L⁻¹). Chlorogenic acid, 3,5-, 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acids, 1,4,5-O-tricaffeoylquinic acid, and a tentatively-identified tricaffeoylquinic acid derivative 1 were found to be the most abundant specialized metabolites among the identified CQAs. Our findings indicate that R. carthamoides transformed roots may be an efficient source of CQA derivatives, with valuable health-promoting activities. Full article

Classified as an adaptogen, Maral root (Rhaponticum carthamoides, Leuzea carthamoides) is a herb that has long been used in Siberian as well as Russian alternative medicine. With over 200 substances found, this plant is a great source of bioactive compounds which have significant beneficial effects on human health and physical enhancement. Simultaneous quantification of the eight most therapeutic and abundant substances, i.e., 20-hydroxyecdysone (20-HE), kaempferol, hesperetin, quercetin, chlorogenic acid, N-feruloyl serotonin, cynaropicrin, and tracheloside belonging to various groups, such as ecdysteroids, flavonoids, phenolics, sesquiterpenes, and lignans, was performed for the first time through validated HPLC-MS. The evaluated parameters for method validation showed excellent linearity with R² higher than 0.996, stability under various environmental factors with % RSD ≤ 2%, and recovery between 97 and 103% for all the studied compounds. Other validation parameters including selectivity, sensitivity, and precision were found to be within the acceptance criteria. The results of the stability studies provide information on the best combination of conditions for sample handling and storage. Generally, for almost every compound, exposure to light and elevated temperature for 96 h led to degradation; nevertheless, the acidic environment was beneficial for most of them. Full article

Rhaponticum carthamoides (Willd.) Iljin is not only a source of phytosteroids and flavonoids, but is also source of essential oil (EO). This study evaluated the volatile metabolic constituents and histochemical localization of root and rhizome essential oils (EOs) from R. carthamoides populations wild-grown in Russia and cultivated in Bulgaria. The performed histochemical analysis confirmed the presence of lipophilic substances in the secretory ducts of the examined roots and rhizomes. Both EOs were obtained by hydrodistillation and further analyzed by gas chromatography with mass detection. The results showed differences between the chemical compositions of both EOs. Forty-six components were tentatively identified in R. carthamoides oil from the wild population, with β-selinene (4.77%), estragole (6.32%), D-carvone (6.37%), cyperene (8.78%), and ledene oxide (11.52%) being the major constituents. In the EO isolated from cultivated R. carthamoides, twenty-three compounds were tentatively identified, with humulene (7.68%), β-elemene (10.76%), humulene-1,2-epoxide (11.55%), ledene oxide (13.50%), and δ-elemene (19.08%) predominating. This is the first report describing the histolocalization and chemical profile of EO from R. carthamoides cultivated in Bulgaria. Further research on the cultivation of R. carthamoides in Bulgaria would affect the relationship between its chemical composition and pharmacological effects. Full article

Background: In the 1960s, research into plant adaptogens began. Plants with adaptogenic properties have rich phytochemical compositions and have been used by humanity since ancient times. However, it is not still clear whether the adaptogenic properties are because of specific compounds or because of the whole plant extracts. The aim of this review is to compare the bioactive compounds in the different parts of these plants. Methods: The search strategy was based on studies related to the isolation of bioactive compounds from Rhaponticum carthamoides, Lepidium meyenii, Eleutherococcus senticosus, and Panax ginseng. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. Results: This review includes data from 259 articles. The phytochemicals isolated from Rhaponticum carthamoides, Lepidium meyenii, Eleutherococcus senticosus, and Panax ginseng were described and classified in several categories. Conclusions: Plant species have always played an important role in drug discovery because their effectiveness is based on the hundreds of years of experience with folk medicine in different nations. In our view, there is great potential in the near future for some of the phytochemicals found in these plants species to become pharmaceutical agents. Full article

Adaptogens are synthetic compounds (bromantane, levamisole, aphobazole, bemethyl, etc.) or plant extracts that have the ability to enhance the body’s stability against physical loads without increasing oxygen consumption. Extracts from Panax ginseng, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Rhaponticum carthamoides, Rhodiola rosea, and Schisandra chinensis are considered to be naturally occurring adaptogens and, in particular, plant adaptogens. The aim of this study is to evaluate the use of plant adaptogens in the past and now, as well as to outline the prospects of their future applications. The use of natural adaptogens by humans has a rich history—they are used in recovery from illness, physical weakness, memory impairment, and other conditions. About 50 years ago, plant adaptogens were first used in professional sports due to their high potential to increase the body’s resistance to stress and to improve physical endurance. Although now many people take plant adaptogens, the clinical trials on human are limited. The data from the meta-analysis showed that plant adaptogens could provide a number of benefits in the treatment of chronic fatigue, cognitive impairment, and immune protection. In the future, there is great potential to register medicinal products that contain plant adaptogens for therapeutic purposes. Full article

This work aims to study the qualitative composition of biologically active substance (BAS) extracts in vitro callus, cell suspension, and root cultures of the medicinal plant Rhaponticum carthamoides. The research methodology is based on high-performance liquid chromatography, and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra, to study the qualitative and quantitative analysis of BAS. The results of the qualitative composition analysis of the dried biomass extracts of in vitro callus, cell suspension and root cultures showed that the main biologically active substances in the medicinal plant Rhaponticum carthamoides are 2-deoxy-5,20,26-trihydroxyecdyson (7 mg, yield 0.12%), 5,20,26-trihydroxyecdyson 20,22-acetonide (15 mg, yield 0.25%), 2-deoxy-5,20,26-trihydroxyecdyson 20,22-acetonide (6 mg, yield 0.10%), 20,26-dihydroxyecdyson 20,22-acetonidecdyson 20,22-acetonide (5 mg, yield 0.09%), and ecdyson 20,22-acetonide (6 mg, yield 0.10%). In the future, it is planned to study the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antitumor activity of BAS of extracts of in vitro callus, cell suspension, and root cultures of the medicinal plant Rhaponticum carthamoides, for the production of pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements with antitumor, antimicrobial and antioxidant effects. Full article