Rhodiola rosea L. as a Putative Botanical Antidepressant
Amsterdam JD, Panossian AG
Published in Phytomedicine
Abstract
Clinical trial evaluating Rhodiola rosea for mild to moderate depression, demonstrating improvement in depression symptoms with favorable tolerability.
Methodology
Comprehensive review of preclinical and human studies of Rhodiola rosea relevant to depression, covering proposed adaptogenic and monoaminergic mechanisms, clinical trial results, safety and tolerability.
Key Findings
Animal data support anti-stress and antidepressant-like activity, and the small number of human trials suggest modest improvement in depressive symptoms with notably good tolerability, including fewer adverse effects than sertraline in one comparative trial where sertraline produced a larger symptom reduction.
Conclusions
Rhodiola rosea shows preliminary promise for mild to moderate depression, chiefly on tolerability grounds, but the human evidence is too limited to support it as a substitute for established treatment.
Limitations
Narrative review; underlying human trials are few, small and short, with heterogeneous extracts and doses, and author involvement in Rhodiola research with industry links.
Supplements Studied
Animal data support anti-stress and antidepressant-like activity, and the small number of human trials suggest modest improvement in depressive symptoms with notably good tolerability, including fewer adverse effects than sertraline in one comparative trial where sertraline produced a larger symptom reduction.
Study Details
Access Study
This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen.