Hypolipidemic activity of Rhodiola rosea L. root extract

Rhodiola rosea L. (“golden root”), a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Crassulaceae family, has been used for centuries in Russian folk medicine. Recently R. rosea became popular in western countries, mainly for its properties of adaptogen and anabolic. The total phenolic content of Rhodiola rosea L. root hydro-alcoholic extract (269 mg/g) was evaluated by the Folin-Ciocalteau method. The radical scavenging activity of the extract was assayed by the DPPH method (IC50=9.59 μg/ml). Moreover, the hypolipidemic activity of R. rosea (100 mg/kg, os) was evaluated by diet-induced hypercholesterolemia in rat; during all the experiment the food intake and growth rates were monitored. It was not observed a significative difference in food consumption in all groups throughout the experiment; however, the group administered with R. rosea extract did not show any increase in body weight versus hypercholesterolemic controls. The administration of R. rosea extract for 15 days provokes a reduction in plasma levels of cholesterol (52.63%), LDL (59.11%), triglycerides (20.04%), and an increase in HDL levels (83.30%). The hypolipidemic activity of Rhodiola rosea L. root extract could be related to the free radical scavenging properties of polyphenol compounds contained in high concentration in the extract.