Rhaponticum carthamoides – History, Benefits, Research, and More (2023)

Overview

An adaptogen is a substance that improves your ability to handle life's challenges. It's usually made from herbs that work in yourcells to manage stress, improve athletic performance, and prevent diseases. The effects can be short-term or long-term.

Adaptogens can also improve your health in a variety of ways.For instance, they can improve cognitive function, reduce exhaustion, and even boost your libido. One very powerful adaptogen is Rhaponticum carthamoides.

Maral Root (Rhaponticum carthamoides), also known as Russian Leuzea (Leuzea Carthamoides), is a traditional adaptogenic herb that originates from Russia. The story of usingthis medicinal plant is fascinating.

Initially, local hunters in the Altai region noticed that the maral deer recovered quickly and showed strength after consuming the roots of this plant. As a result, it was named after the maral deer, which is a symbol of strength and vitality in the region.

In this comprehensive guide, we will cover everything you need to know about Rhaponticum carthamoides, including the variety of benefits it offers. The discussed data will be evidence-based rather than anecdotal evidence of folklore medicine.

What are Rhaponticum carthamoides?

Rhaponticum carthamoides, or Maral Root, contains numerouscompounds that contribute to its medicinal properties. For starters, it is rich in steroids, such as ecdysteroids, which can significantly promote strength and endurance in athletes.

These ecdysteroids with flavonoids and phenolic acids contribute to Rhaponticum carthamoides’ adaptogenic effects.

Aside from the ecdysteroids and phenolics, Rhaponticum carthamoides also contains:

What’s more, Rhaponticum carthamoides is very rich in B vitamins, including folic acid, thiamine, riboflavin, pantothenic/nicotinic acids, and pyridoxine. For those unfamiliar with B vitamins, they play essential roles in metabolism, energy production, and overall well-being.

Because of its adaptogenic properties, people use Rhaponticum carthamoides to boost physical performance, combat fatigue, and improve endurance. Traditionally, athletes use this herb to boost their exercise capacity and promote muscle growth. There is also some evidence that Rhaponticum carthamoides can promote lipolysis (i.e., fat breakdown).

Researchers also identified the positive effects of Rhaponticum carthamoides on mental state. For instance, it can reverse negative emotions and provide the user with peace and calmness.

How does Rhaponticum carthamoides work?

Maral root's effectiveness is attributed to its composition of various compounds, including:

These compounds play a crucial role in helping individuals maintain focus and alertness, especially in demanding occupations.

Ecdysterone, a key component of Rhaponticum carthamoides is a major contributor to its unique properties. It mediates protein synthesis and promotes muscle growth. It’s basically a steroid without the harmful side effects.

Moreover, ecdysterone facilitates the activation of indispensableenzymes, such as acetylcholine esterase and glutamate decarboxylase. These are responsible for energy production in cells. By upregulating the action of these enzymes, Rhaponticum carthamoides boosts your energy levels and optimize your cognitive reasoning.

With this blend of natural compounds, Rhaponticum carthamoides offers a safe and efficient way to boost concentration and productivity for individuals facing mentally demanding challenges.

With all of that said, we still don’t have a comprehensive understanding on how these compounds optimize athletic performance or mental health.

What are the benefits of Rhaponticum carthamoides?

Boosts physical performance

One of the most exciting aspects of maral root is its potential to enhance athletic performance. More specifically, the ecdysteroids found in Rhaponticum carthamoides [20-hydroxyecdysone (20E)] can augment physical strength and endurance.

In clinical trials, track runners who consumed maral root for 20 days experienced an increase in muscle mass and a decrease in fat composition relative to control groups. Similarly, studies on animal models demonstrated that maral roots can stimulate myocyte growth.

Protects the nervous system

Maral root exhibits neuroprotective properties, especially in some regions of the brain. Ecdysterones found in maral root reduce glutamate-induced excitotoxicity in the hippocampus,which is a brain region critical for memory and learning.

Furthermore, the maral root may protect the brain during a stroke, as it can prevent destructive changes and reduce the density of synapses in the cerebral cortex after a stroke.

Reduces the threshold of fatigue

Rhaponticum carthamoides can increase alertness and dampen drowsiness. This effect makes it a potential remedy for combating fatigue and enhancing performance.

Additionally, a few studies suggest that maral root may have a positive impact on emotions, preventing mood swings and improving your emotional state.

Optimizes immune function

Rhaponticum carthamoides boosts the function of the immune system in track runners, according to a study.

The study found that Rhaponticum carthamoides improvesblood coagulation and enhances immunoglobulins A (IgA), G (IgG) levels, and complement 3 in the blood. This may lower the risk of numerous infections.

Eradicates free radicals

Rhaponticum carthamoides is very rich in antioxidants, which play a crucial role in neutralizing harmful free radicals and reducing oxidative stress in the body.

The antioxidant properties can protect against various chronic diseases and promote your general health.

May aid with some types of cancer

While more research is necessary in this field, the initial findings are intriguing.

Studies demonstrated that Rhaponticum carthamoides may have anti-cancer activity against some types of tumors, including:

Exerts antimicrobial properties

Rhaponticum carthamoides demonstrated potent antibacterial, antifungal, and antiparasitic properties. This makes it a natural alternative for fighting infections caused by various pathogens.

Research demonstrated that this herb can eradicate the following bacteria:

Additionally, Rhaponticum carthamoides is effective in removing Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, and Candida tropicalis from the body.

Supports your vessels

Rhaponticum carthamoides may improve the health of your vascular system. Studies suggest that this adaptogen helps with vascular problems, such as coronary artery disease andatherosclerosis.

What’s more, the herb lowered blood pressure in rats with blood hypertension. This may potentially offer a solution forindividuals with hypertension. Additionally, Rhaponticum carthamoides might aid in the management of arrhythmias.

Improves the biliary system

Rhaponticum carthamoides lowers cholesterol levels and improves bile levels of bilirubin. Some major components, such as hesperetin, quercetin, quercetagetin, luteolin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, chrysanthemin, and cyanin, can significantly decrease cholesterol and triglyceride levels in animal models.

Additionally, Rhaponticum carthamoides also exhibited protective effects on the liver against heliotrine-induced hepatitis.

Reduces the risk of metabolic syndrome

Diabetes and metabolic syndrome are major health problemsworldwide. Rhaponticum carthamoides can reduce blood glucose levels and improve liver glycogen levels in diabetic animal models.

Moreover, it may help prevent metabolic syndrome induced by a high-fat diet by improving glucose intolerance.

May accelerate wound healing

Alpha-amyrin is a component of Rhaponticum carthamoides that can boost your intrinsic wound healing properties. However, before you rely on this herb for treating wounds, more research is necessary.

Protects against medication toxicity

In various animal studies, experts demonstrated the promising effects of Rhaponticum carthamoides in preventing memory loss related to drug intoxications (e.g., alcohol, narcotics).

Additionally, alpha-amyrin may help safeguard the liver from acetaminophen-induced injuries.

Helps with anxiety and chronic stress

For individuals who suffer from anxiety, Rhaponticum carthamoides may aid in this issue. Scientists found that a component of this adaptogen, N-feruloylserotonins, helps with chronic stress and anxiety.

If you are not taking pharmacological drugs to manage your mental health issues, it wouldn’t hurt to include this supplement in your diet.

Boost your libido

Studies suggest that Rhaponticum carthamoides may improve libido and sexual function.

For instance, in a study that included patients recovering from heart attacks, Rhaponticum carthamoides increased sexualfunction and improved sperm quality, further supporting its potential as a natural remedy for enhancing sexual health.

Rhaponticum carthamoides and physical performance – More research

A study investigated the effects of two herbal supplements,Rhaponticum carthamoides (Rha) and Rhodiola rosea (Rho), on resistance exercise performance in rats.

Rhaponticum has potent muscle-building properties and adaptogenic effects. At the same time, Rhodiola reducesphysical and mental fatigue and enhances endurance.

The researchers conducted short and long-term analyses. In the first study, the rats underwent a session of resistance training. After that, they were given specific doses of Rha and/or Rho. The results showed that Rha and Rha + Rho supplementation stimulated protein synthesis more than resistance exercise alone.

In the long-term study, the rats trained five times a week for four weeks. After each training session, the rats received Rha + Rho supplementation. The results also showed that the rats that received Rha + Rho and Rha-alone had increased mean power performance compared to the control group after four weeks of training.

Interestingly, the combination of Rha and Rho extracts showed a synergistic effect on stimulating muscle protein synthesis. The researchers observed that the combination of both extracts increased protein synthesis more than Rha alone. This suggests that the two supplements may work together to enhance muscle growth and adaptation to exercise.

However, the combination did not further enhance muscle performance compared to Rha alone in the long-term study. This indicates that the effects of the combination might reach a plateau. Therefore, it might be an optimal ratio of Rha to Rho that requires further investigation.

It is worth noting that Rhodiola alone did not show a significant increase in physical power, which is surprising given its known adaptogenic properties. The exact underlying mechanisms for the observed effects on protein synthesis are still not fully understood.

Rhaponticum carthamoides compared to other adaptogens

To compare the effects of different adaptogens, a study compared four plants:

The goal of the study was to understand their bioactive compounds. These compounds are found in different parts of the plants and can be subject to a number of factors, including climate and soil.

Despite their different compositions, these plants show promise for addressing many diseases, including diabetes andcardiovascular diseases. They also contain nootropic and liver-protecting ingredients.

The results of the study showed that Rhaponticum carthamoides possesses ergogenic activity that can improve physical performance. The study highlights the importance of understanding the specific compounds in this plant to harness their medicinal benefits effectively.

The appropriate dosage for Rhaponticum carthamoides

The appropriate dosage for Rhaponticum carthamoides depends on numerous factors, such as:

Unfortunately, we don't have enough scientific data to precisely know the exact dose for Rhaponticum carthamoides.

Read and follow the instructions on the product labels. When in doubt, speak to your doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider.

Possible interactions with other medications

Be careful if you are taking medications that slow down blood clotting (e.g., Anticoagulant, Antiplatelet drugs) while using Rhaponticum carthamoides. This adaptogen might slow down blood clotting, so combining it with these medications could increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.

Some of the medications that slow down blood clotting include:

It's essential to talk to your healthcare provider about this interaction.

Special precautions

Special precautions and warnings for using maral root include:

Pregnancy and breastfeeding – There is not enough information available about the safety of using maral root during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. To be safe, it's best to avoid it.

Bleeding disorders – Rhaponticum carthamoides may slow down blood clotting. This could potentially increase the risk of bruising and bleeding, especially in individuals with hemostaticdisorders.

Surgery – Taking Rhaponticum carthamoides before surgery may also slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding during or after the procedure. To prevent this from happening, you should stop taking this herb at least 2 weeks before any scheduled surgery.

Takeaway message

Rhaponticum carthamoides is a naturally-occurring adaptogen that offers a variety of benefits, especially in the fitness field. Consuming this herb before exercise can help you boost your physical performance and promote muscle hypertrophy.

We hope that this article helped you understand the value and benefits of Rhaponticum carthamoides and how it can take your fitness to the next level.

If you have questions or concerns about Rhaponticum carthamoides, please feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below.