Rhodiola Rosea Extracts: Are Rosavins or Salidrosides Superior?

Rhodiola rosea, a powerful adaptogenic herb, has been known for centuries to combat fatigue and stress and boost cognitive health. 

Its effects on mental well-being can be attributed to two primary compounds: rosavins and salidrosides, each offering their own unique health benefits.

Salidroside is popular for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties.

Rosavin, on the other hand, is recognized for its ability to improve mood and reduce stress thanks to its higher concentration in certain Rhodiola extracts.

So between rosavin and salidroside, is one superior to the other?

In this article, we’ll talk about the benefits of the two compounds with the Rhodiola rosea adaptogen, including how they can support brain function and overall health so you can decide which one best suits your current needs.

What is Salidroside?

Salidroside is a powerful glycoside compound from the Rhodiola rosea herb known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties. 

Over the years, the extract has shown promising benefits in treating chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s disease.

This has made Salidroside a subject of extensive study and research. 

What is Rosavin?

Rosavin is another active compound of Rhodiola rosea, and its name comes from the compound’s rose-like scent. 

Isolated by Russian botanists and chemists, the extract was discovered to have anti-stress and anti-fatigue properties. 

This makes Rosavin the ideal choice for boosting mental health and physical endurance due to its stress-relieving and performance-enhancing properties.

Rhodiola Rosea Standardization Explained

The standardization of the Rhodiola rosea extract is critical to ensure the consistency and potency of its active compounds (i.e. rosavins and salidrosides). 

Typically, Rhodiola rosea is standardized for 1% Salidroside and 3% Rosavin.

The extract’s content also depends on different factors such as climate zone, geographic location, method of extraction, how it’s derived, and preparation for the final dosage form. 

For example, in a study published in the Journal of Frontiers in Pharmacology, six samples of Rhodiola rosea were examined, including Rosavin, Salidroside, Tyrosol, Rosin, and, cinnamyl alcohol (which were shown to have a high degree of inter-clonal variation). 

Of all the six samples, Tyrosol and Salidroside had the highest variation with 87.8% and 92.8% respectively. 

This means that different producers can have different active dosing levels.

Therefore, always choose standardized Rhodiola rosea supplements to guarantee that every dose has the same amount and proportion of active ingredients. 

Especially since Rhodiola rosea contains other compounds that can enhance or diminish its overall effectiveness. 

Standardization helps ensure these additional compounds do not negatively impact the extract’s efficacy.

In doing so, you will be able to maximally experience the benefits of the Rhodiola rosea extract while minimizing any side effects. 

Rosavins vs Salidrosides: What are the Differences?

Rosavin and Salidroside, although both are active compounds from Rhodiola rosea, have different chemical structures and confer different health benefits.

Rosavin is made up of a phenylpropanoid and a sugar molecule, and is one of the major active compounds in Rhodiola rosea. 

This compound is believed to help manage and regulate the body’s stress response while simultaneously improving one’s mental health and physical performance.

On the other hand, Salidroside is comprised of sugar and tyrosol, and is known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties. 

It also has adaptogenic properties that help the body manage stress while improving mental and physical well-being.

Is Salidroside More Effective Than Rosavin?

Both Rosavin and Salidroside are active compounds in Rhodiola rosea, but their effectiveness can vary based on the specific health outcomes being examined and the concentrations at which they are active.

Research suggests that Salidroside may be effective in managing inflammation and enhancing cognitive function, even at lower concentrations.

Salidroside’s anti-inflammatory properties imply it can mitigate chronic inflammation, which is linked to cognitive impairment. 

Additionally, Salidroside may improve memory, focus, and overall cognitive performance due to its neuroprotective properties. 

On the other hand, Rosavin may be more effective in improving mood and reducing stress. 

In fact, it has a direct impact on the body’s stress response through its influence on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. 

By regulating cortisol levels, Rosavin helps alleviate stress and promotes a sense of calm.

However, it tends to be more active at higher concentrations compared to Salidroside.

Benefits of Pure Salidroside

Neuroprotective Effects

Emerging studies are showing that Salidroside has neuroprotective properties. 

The compound has been discovered to help prevent cognitive impairment and stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease by reducing inflammatory damage, lowering oxidative stress, and preventing cellular apoptosis.

In fact, in a study in the Journal of Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, salidroside was shown to help prevent and treat the possible progression of mental disorders caused by stress through several mechanisms.

These include promoting increased serotonin levels, increasing the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells in the hippocampus, and improving neurotransmitter homeostasis:

“Salidroside has been shown to increase serotonin (5-HT) levels, improve neurotransmitter homeostasis, and promote the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells in the hippocampus in a rat model of stress-induced depression.

Moreover, compared with control treatment, oral administration of salidroside and R. rosea significantly increases the concentrations of noradrenaline (NE), 5-HT and DA in the rat brainstem. 

Salidroside can improve neurotransmitter homeostasis in the brain by increasing the ability of precursors of dopamine (DA) and 5-HT to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB).

Furthermore, pretreatment with salidroside and R. rosea products effectively increase the levels of 5-HT and NE in the prefrontal cortex in an LPS-treated model, and salidroside and R. rosea play a vital role in preserving injured neurons in the hippocampus. 

Clearly, salidroside can regulate brain neurotransmitter homeostasis and improve brain network function and thus may be beneficial in alleviating anxiety and depression-like symptoms or behaviors caused by stress stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Moreover, salidroside supports brain health and was shown to alleviate neuronal degeneration in aging mice: 

“In this study, long-term cultured primary rat hippocampal neurons and naturally aged C57 mice were treated with salidroside. 

The results showed that salidroside increased the viability and MAP2 expression, reduced β-galactosidase (β-gal) levels of rat primary hippocampal neurons. 

Salidroside also improved cognition dysfunction in ageing mice and alleviated neuronal degeneration in the ageing mice CA1 region. 

Moreover, salidroside decreased the levels of oxidative stress and p21, p16 protein expressions of hippocampal neurons and ageing mice. Salidroside promoted telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) protein expression via the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathway. 

In conclusion, our findings suggest that salidroside has the potential to be used as a therapeutic strategy for anti-aging and ageing-related disease treatment.”

And as a nootropic, it may also help stop and delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease by protecting the brain from oxidative stress and inflammation:

“Beta amyloid (Aβ)-induced oxidative stress and chronic inflammation in the brain are considered to be responsible for the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). 

Salidroside, the major active ingredient of Rhodiola crenulata, has been previously shown to have antioxidant and neuroprotective properties in vitro. 

The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of salidroside on Aβ-induced cognitive impairment in vivo. 

Rats received intrahippocampal Aβ1-40 injection were treated with salidroside (25, 50 and 75 mg/kg p.o.) once daily for 21 days. 

Learning and memory performance were assessed in the Morris water maze (days 17-21). 

After behavioral testing, the rats were sacrificed and hippocampi were removed for biochemical assays (reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), malondialdehyde (MDA), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), acetylcholine (ACh)) and molecular biological analysis (Cu/Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD, GPx, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), inhibitor of κB-alpha (IκBα), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE)). 

Our results confirmed that Aβ1-40 peptide caused learning and memory deficits in rats. 

Further analysis demonstrated that the NADPH oxidase-mediated oxidative stress was increased in Aβ1-40-injected rats. 

Furthermore, NF-κB was demonstrated to be activated in Aβ1-40-injected rats, and the COX-2, iNOS and RAGE expression were also induced by Aβ1-40. 

However, salidroside (50 and 75 mg/kg p.o.) reversed all the former alterations. Thus, the study indicates that salidroside may have a protective effect against AD via modulating oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators.”

Antioxidant Properties

Salidroside has antioxidant properties that can help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals.

The imbalance of the antioxidant defense system and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production results in oxidative stress, which can disrupt and damage the body at the cellular level. 

Salidroside inhibits the overproduction of ROS by boosting levels of antioxidant enzymes in the body, as evidenced in a paper published in the Journal of ​​Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine:

“Oxidative stress refers to the imbalance between oxidation and antioxidation in vivo, and it is associated with aging and various diseases. 

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction is the main reason for this imbalance. Mitochondria are a major source of intracellular ROS. 

The antioxidant system can effectively remove the ROS produced during metabolism and protect biological macromolecules against oxidative damage by ROS, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT).

Accordingly, mitochondrial damage or decreased antioxidant enzyme synthesis results in excessive ROS production. 

R. rosea L. ethanol extract, which has high levels of phenolic compounds, particularly SAD, has strong antioxidant activity, as determined by DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays. 

Further studies have shown that SAD not only inhibits ROS production by the regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis but also inhibits ROS-mediated CVD by increasing the activity of the antioxidant enzymes SOD and GSH-Px. 

Finally, SAD has antioxidant effects in vivo and in vitro.”

In another study, Salidroside was discovered to help minimize the onset and progression of type-2 diabetes within mice due to high oxidative stress. 

“In diabetic db/db and high-fat diet-induced mice, we found salidroside ameliorated hyperglycemia and relieved oxidative stress. 

More importantly, salidroside increased β-cell mass and β-cell replication in diabetic mice. 

Mechanism study in Min6 cells revealed that, under diabetic stimuli, salidroside suppressed reactive oxygen species production and restored mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) via reducing NOX2 expression and inhibiting JNK–caspase 3 apoptotic cascade subsequently to protect β-cell survival. 

Simultaneously, diabetes-associated oxidative stress also activated FOXO1 and triggered nuclear exclusion of PDX1 which resulted in β-cell dysfunction. 

This deleterious result was reversed by salidroside by activating AMPK-AKT to inhibit FOXO1 and recover PDX1 nuclear localization. 

The efficacy of salidroside in improving β-cell survival and function was further confirmed in isolated cultured mouse islets. 

Moreover, the protective effects of salidroside on β-cells against diabetic stimuli can be abolished by an AMPK inhibitor compound C, which indicated functions of salidroside on β-cells were AMPK activation dependent.

These results confirmed the beneficial metabolic effects of salidroside and identified a novel role for salidroside in preventing β-cell failure via AMPK activation. Our finding highlights the potential value of Rhodiola rosea as a dietary supplement for diabetes control.”

Anti-Inflammatory Activity

Salidroside can help manage inflammation-driven diseases such as ulcerative colitis due to its anti-inflammatory properties. 

In a study with mice, subjects given Salidroside had alleviated excessive inflammation that helped treat their ulcerative colitis (i.e. inflammation of the colon’s inner lining). 

It works by reversing TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-10 protein levels that trigger the inflammation. 

“Salidroside (Sal), as a major glycoside extracted from Rhodiola rosea L., has exhibited its mighty anti-aging, anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammation, and neuroprotective effects in many diseases. 

Recently, it has shown its protective effect in colitis mice by activating the SIRT1/FoxOs pathway. 

Whereas, it is not known whether Sal has other protective mechanisms on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. 

In this study, we investigated the protective effects and mechanisms of Sal on DSS-induced colitis in mice. 

The results demonstrated Sal was a competent candidate in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). 

Sal remitted DSS-induced disease activity index (DAI), colon length shortening, and colonic pathological damage.

Simultaneously, Sal alleviated excessive inflammation by reversing the IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-10 protein levels in DSS-treated mice. 

Western blot analysis revealed that Sal inhibited p65 and p38 activation together with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARγ) up-regulation. 

In addition, Sal skewed the imbalanced activation of nucleotide oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 inflammasomes and autophagy contributing to colitis recovery. 

The damaged intestinal barrier induced by DSS was also alleviated along with plasma lipopolysaccharides (LPS) reduction after Sal treatment. In vitro, Sal showed a PPARγ-dependent anti-inflammatory effect in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. 

In summary, our results demonstrated that Sal might be an effective factor for UC treatment and its pharmacological value deserved further development.”

Cardioprotective Potential

Salidroside has heart health benefits that are manifested in the form of increased blood flow, decreased blood pressure, and improved overall cardiovascular health. 

In another study in the Journal of Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, mice given Salidroside saw lowered excessive blood lipids in the body, resulting in improved blood flow and immunity after 21 days of treatment. 

It also prevented atherosclerotic plaque formation and myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury while protecting cardiomyocytes from oxidative injury:

“Salidroside (SAL) is the major ingredient of Rhodiola rosea, and has been traditionally used in Chinese medicine for decades. Numerous studies have demonstrated the protective effects of SAL for myocardial ischemia. 

However, it is yet to be deciphered whether SAL has cardioprotective effects after myocardial infarction (MI) in vivo. 

In the present study, we established a mouse MI model via coronary artery ligation. 

The aim was to investigate whether SAL treatment could reduce mortality, improve cardiac function and attenuate myocardial remodeling in MI mice. 

Post-surgery, mice were randomly administered SAL or normal saline. 

After 21 days, SAL was found to significantly reduce mortality, improve cardiac function, and reduce fibrosis and infarct size compared to normal saline. 

In addition, oral administration of SAL could attenuate myocardial inflammation and apoptosis and promote angiogenesis. SAL down-regulated the expression levels of TNF-α, TGF-β1, IL-1β, Bax and up-regulate the expression of Bcl-2, VEGF, Akt and eNOS. 

These results indicated that SAL could alleviate the pathological processes of myocardial remodeling in MI mice, and may be a potentially effective therapeutic approach for the management of clinical ischemic cardiovascular diseases.”

Possible Anti-Cancer Properties

Finally, Salidroside has also demonstrated potential anti-cancer properties.

A cellular study in the European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Science showed that Salidroside played an important role in the treatment of tumors, including suppressing tumor growth that can result in breast, liver, and gastric cancer:

“The normal cells must have a complete cell cycle to proliferate. The cell cycle usually accompanies the downregulation of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), cyclin D1, and the upregulation of p27 (Kip1) and p21 (Cip1). 

These molecules participate in the regulation of G1-S-G2-M progression. 

However, when some stimulators interfere with cell division, the cell cannot pass through the G1/S and G2/M checkpoints. The cell proliferation has to be terminated. 

Cancer cell growth also depends on the continuous progression of the cell cycle. During this process, cyclins and CDK are the most important key checkpoints. 

Therefore, arresting the cell cycle is an important way to suppress cancer cell growth. 

The study found that salidroside inhibited the proliferation of gastric cancer SGC-7901 in the G2/M checkpoints by down-regulating the expression of cyclin B110. 

Similarly, salidroside could suppress the growth of breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-435 and MCF-7. The expression of cyclin B1 and Cdc2 was downregulated in the G1 phase, and the cell cycle was blocked in the G2 phase. 

The proliferation of breast cancer cells was inhibited11. Besides, salidroside can block the liver cancer cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase and demonstrate the effective anti-cancer function12.

Salidroside can also inhibit cancer by regulating multiple signaling pathways. The study showed that salidroside decreased MMP2 expression by downregulating the EGFR/JAK2/ STAT3 signal transduction pathways in breast cancer cells, MDA-MB 231. 

Therefore, the migration, invasion, and angiogenesis of the breast cancer cells were suppressed. 

Salidroside induced apoptosis of human colon cancer cells by inhibiting PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and promoted the expression of LC3-II and becline 1 to induce autophagy. 

The research found that salidroside could inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion of colon cancer cell SW116. 

The mechanism is likely to be related to the downregulation of VEGF, VEGFR-2, MMP-2, and MMP-9 expression. 

Salidroside also suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of gastric cancer BGC. 

Multiple mechanisms of salidroside on anti-tumor effects 5351 823 cells by downregulating the activation of ROS-mediated Src-related signal pathways and decreasing the expression of HSP704.”

Is Salidroside Safe?

Salidroside is considered safe for human consumption when used in appropriate amounts. 

It is well-tolerated by most users and has not been associated with any serious adverse effects. 

However, as with any supplement, it’s important to use Salidroside in moderation and follow the recommended dosage guidelines to avoid potential issues.

(i.e. 300-600 mg of a standardized Rhodiola rosea extract containing 4 mg of Salidroside per 144 mg)

In rare cases, some individuals may experience mild side effects that include:

• Digestive upset (i.e. nausea, stomach cramps, or diarrhea)
• Headaches
• Insomnia, as Salidroside has stimulatory effects that may disrupt sleep patterns (especially if taken later in the day)

Salidroside may also interact with certain medications, such as blood thinners and anti-depressants, which could affect its safety profile.

With this in mind, always consult your doctor before starting Salidroside and disclose any medications you are taking. 

Jay’s Closing Thoughts

One of my first companies Optimized Life Nutrition (which I was bought out of ) had a supplement with Rhodiola rosea in it (Energy Memory Focus (EMF))

My recommendation is to start at the lowest dose, evaluate all its positive and negative effects, and titrate up slowly to the point of diminishing returns.

If you truly feel this compound made a significant difference in your physical or mental well-being, hit me up!

It may or may not be worth my time should more compelling data emerge in the future.

Conclusion: Is Salidroside Superior to Rosavin?

The question of whether to use Rosavin or Salidroside from Rhodiola rosea extracts depends on your current needs. 

Salidroside is great for reducing inflammation and boosting brain function, even in small amounts.

Rosavin, on the other hand, is better for improving mood and reducing stress but works best in higher amounts.

Both compounds work well together in balanced extracts, hence why Rhodiola rosea is known for providing a wide range of health benefits. 

Always follow the recommended dosage guidelines and consult your doctor before taking either compound, especially if you take any other medications, to avoid unwanted side effects or interactions.

Moreover, be sure to only use standardized extracts to ensure consistent quality, just like the Salidroside you can find at BioLongevity Labs.

I trust BioLongevity Labs because they are one of the biohacking industry’s only reliable vendors for 3rd-party tested research products.

They have the best formulations of experimental compounds available, and no other vendor comes close to offering them at ultra-high levels of purity for reasonable prices.

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