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Elt3.5
Eleuthero Research
Too few graded studies
26 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Too few graded studies
Eleuthero doesn't have enough studies with structured effect-size data yet to pool a verdict. Browse the studies below for individual findings.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 1986–2022 with a typical study size of 50 participants.
Based on 26 studies · 1 meta-analysis · 16 RCTs · 512 total participants
Confidence
Moderate confidence
What the studies found
1helped· 25 more without graded effect data
By outcome
Therapeutic & clinical
Mostly mechanism / observational5 studies
Endurance & exercise performanceA systematic review of rigorous trials found no endurance advantage · 4-8 weeks
Too few graded studies4 studies
Energy & fatigueTraditionally used for fatigue and energy, but controlled trials have not demonstrated benefit · 2-8 weeks
Too few graded studies3 studies
Heart & blood pressure
Too few graded studies3 studies
Women's health
Too few graded studies3 studies
Cognitive function
Too few graded studies2 studies
Anxiety & stressTraditional adaptogen for stress, but human HPA-axis effects remain unclear in trials · 2-4 weeks · Adaptogenic stress claims are unproven in controlled human trials · 4-8 weeks
Too few graded studies1 study
Immune supportImmunomodulatory activity seen in vitro; human clinical benefit not established · 4-8 weeks
Too few graded studies1 study
Safety profile
Too few graded studies1 study
By the numbers
Pulled from 8 studies with measurable effects
Likely real effects
100%
across studies
People studied
512
typical study: 50 people
Strongest designs
17
1 pooled, 16 randomised
Showed benefit
100%
1/1 studies
Populations Studied
Humans1
Cancer patients1
General population1
Hypertensive patients1
Slowing down
Only 2 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2009
198620042022
1ReviewCited 61×2021
In plain English: The data from the meta-analysis showed that plant adaptogens could provide a number of benefits in the treatment of chronic fatigue, cognitive impairment, and immune protection.
Todorova V et al. · Nutrients (2021)
Extracts from Panax ginseng, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Rhaponticum carthamoides, Rhodiola rosea, and Schisandra chinensis are considered to be naturally occurring adaptogens and, in particular, plant adaptogens.
About 50 years ago, plant adaptogens were first used in professional sports due to their high potential to increase the body's resistance to stress and to improve physical endurance.
Although now many people take plant adaptogens, the clinical trials on human are limited.
In plain English: For most phytonutrients, the effects of supplementation on HPA-axis activity in humans is unclear.
Lopresti AL et al. · Nutritional neuroscience (2022)
Systematic review of 52 randomised controlled human trials of single plants or phytonutrients, Siberian ginseng among them, measuring cortisol, cortisone, CRH or ACTH.
Because the trial designs varied so much, the effect of these plants on HPA-axis activity was unclear for most of them.
The most consistent finding was a morning cortisol-lowering effect of ashwagandha, not Siberian ginseng.
In plain English: A. senticosus has been found to have inhibitory effects on malignant tumors, such as those in the lung and liver, suggesting that A. senticosus has potential to be developed as an effective anticancer drug.
Li T et al. · The American journal of Chinese medicine (2016)
In the past decades, researchers worldwide have conducted systematic investigations on this herb, from chemistry to pharmacology, and a large number of chemical components have been characterized for their significant pharmacological effects.
However, reports about the anticancer effects of this plant had been rare until recently, when considerable pharmacological experiments both in vitro and in vivo were conducted to study the anticancer effects of this herb.
A. senticosus has been found to have inhibitory effects on malignant tumors, such as those in the lung and liver, suggesting that A. senticosus has potential to be developed as an effective anticancer drug.
5Pharmacological activities of Acanthopanax senticosusReviewCited 120×2011
In plain English: The present review is an up-to-date and comprehensive analysis of the botany, chemistry, pharmacology, toxicity and clinical trials of AS.
Huang L et al. · Die Pharmazie (2011)
In recent decades, a great number of chemical, pharmacological, and clinical studies on AS have been carried out worldwide.
Several kinds of chemical compounds have been reported, including triterpenoid saponins, lignans, coumarins, and flavones, among which, phenolic compounds such as syringin and eleutheroside E, were considered to be the most active components.
Considerable pharmacological experiments both in vitro and in vivo have persuasively demonstrated that AS possessed anti-stress, antiulcer, anti-irradiation, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities, etc.
6Blood pressure effects of dietary supplementsReviewCited 32×2012
In plain English: The goals and objectives of this review are to discuss the regulation of DS, evaluate the efficacy of particular DS in the treatment of hypertension, and highlight DS that may potentially increase blood pressure.
Rasmussen CB et al. · Journal of clinical hypertension (Greenwich, Conn.) (2012)
Patients with hypertension often choose to use these products either in addition to or instead of pharmacologic antihypertensive agents.
Because of the frequent use of DS, both consumers and health care providers should be aware of the considerable issues surrounding these products and factors influencing both efficacy and safety.
The goals and objectives of this review are to discuss the regulation of DS, evaluate the efficacy of particular DS in the treatment of hypertension, and highlight DS that may potentially increase blood pressure.
7Complementary medicine efficacy for genital herpesReviewCited 9×2005
In plain English: It is hoped that future clinical trials will be conducted with sufficient rigour to provide guidance to the patients using these products.
Perfect MM et al. · Herpes : the journal of the IHMF (2005)
We have reviewed available scientific data on six commonly used treatments (echinacea, eleuthero, L-lysine, zinc, bee products and aloe).
In addition, information about a number of other products is presented in tabular form.
Currently, there are insufficient clinical data to be confident of the efficacy and safety of any of these products for the treatment of genital herpes.
8Systematic ReviewCited 19×2005
In plain English: It is therefore concluded that ES supplementation (up to 1000 to 1200 mg/d for 1 to 6 wk) offers no advantage during exercise ranging in duration from 6 to 120 min.
Goulet ED et al. · International journal of sport nutrition and exercise metabolism (2005)
This article reviews the studies that evaluated the effects of ES during endurance exercise, three of which suggest that ES substantially improves CF, FAM, and EP.
However, each of these reports contains severe methodological flaws, which seriously threaten their internal validity, thereby rendering hazardous the generalization of the results.
On the other hand, 5 studies that used rigorous research protocols show no benefit of ES on CF, FAM, and EP.
In plain English: Although our study could not find additional benefits for the vitamin E and ginseng supplement over placebo in enhancing sexual function overall, the supplement worked better in enhancing sexual desire and satisfaction.
Ghamari K et al. · Women & health (2020)
Changes in the FSFI total score and its domain scores were significant during the trial course within each group.
However, the supplement only ameliorated desire and satisfaction domains superior to the placebo.
Although our study could not find additional benefits for the vitamin E and ginseng supplement over placebo in enhancing sexual function overall, the supplement worked better in enhancing sexual desire and satisfaction.