r/anhedonia

Rhodiola rosea

• 
• Acts as a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor, particularly MAO-A.
• Interacts with the HPA axis, reducing cortisol levels under stressful conditions.
• Exhibits antioxidant properties through compounds like salidroside, p-tyrosol, and rosavins, which neutralize free radicals, reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS), and up-regulate enzymes like glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and thioredoxin (Trx).
• Cytotoxic on tumor cells, induces apoptosis, and inhibits angiogenesis, with salidroside showing growth inhibition at 1–32 µg/ml and effects on breast cancer at 5–80 µm.
• Inhibits influenza (H1N1, H9N2, EC50 30.2 µM, 18.5 µM) and coxsackievirus B3, protecting myocardial cells, with compounds like kaempferol and salidroside playing roles, as per the same source.
• Reduces blood glucose, increases GLUT4, and enhances antioxidant levels, with Rhodiola-water extract up-regulating GPx, catalase, and SOD, detailed in the aforementioned study.
• Protects against homocysteine-induced endothelial dysfunction and neuroinflammation, with salidroside inhibiting NO production and modulating microglia.
• Reduces inflammation and extends lifespan by 10–20% in C. elegans at 10–25 µg/ml, depending on diet, with salidroside and rosavins inducing DAF-16 translocation.

• Table of Pharmacological Actions and Mechanisms

• Action
• Mechanism
• Clinical Evidence
• Key Compounds


• MAO Inhibition
• Inhibits MAO-A, increases serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine
• Significant in depression, 170 mg/day SHR-5, 6 weeks
• Salidroside, Rosavins


• HPA Axis Modulation
• Reduces cortisol, enhances stress resilience
• Anti-fatigue, burnout reduction
• Salidroside


• Antioxidant Activity
• Neutralizes ROS, up-regulates GPx, Trx
• Protects against oxidative stress


• Anticancer Activity
• Induces apoptosis, inhibits angiogenesis
• Cytotoxic at 1–32 µg/ml
• Polyphenols, Salidroside


• Antiviral Activity
• Inhibits influenza, protects myocardial cells
• EC50 30.2 µM for H1N1
• Kaempferol, Salidroside