Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.) Maxim. (Araliaceae) as an adaptogen: a closer look

The adaptogen concept is examined from an historical, biological, chemical, pharmacological and medical perspective using a wide variety of primary an d secondary literature. The definition of an adaptogen first proposed by So viet scientists in the late 1950s, namely that an adaptogen is any substanc e that exerts effects on both sick and healthy individuals by 'correcting' any dysfunction(s) without producing unwanted side effects, was used as a p oint of departure. We attempted to identify critically what an adaptogen su pposedly does and to determine whether the word embodies in and of itself a ny concept(s) acceptable to western conventional (allopathic) medicine. Spe cial attention was paid to the reported pharmacological effects of the 'ada ptogen-containing plant' Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.) Maxim. (Araliaceae), referred to by some as 'Siberian ginseng', and to its second ary chemical composition. We conclude that so Far as specific pharmacologic al activities are concerned there are a number of valid arguments for equat ing the action of so-called adaptogens with those of medicinal agents that have activities as anti-oxidants, and/or anti-cancerogenic, immunomodulator y and hypocholesteroletic as well as hypoglycemic and choleretic action. Ho wever, 'adaptogens' and 'anti-oxidants' etc. also show significant dissimil arities and these are discussed. Significantly, the classical definition of an adaptogen has much in common with views currently being invoked to desc ribe and explain the 'placebo effect'. Nevertheless, the chemistry of the s econdary compounds of Eleutherococcus isolated thus far and their pharmacol ogical effects support our hypothesis that the reported beneficial effects of adaptogens derive from their capacity to exert protective and/or inhibit ory action against free radicals. An inventory of the secondary substances contained in Eleutherococcus discloses a potential for a wide range of acti vities reported from work on cultured cell lines, small laboratory animals and human subjects. Much of the cited work (although not all) has been publ ished in peer-reviewed journals. Six compounds show various levels of activ ity as anti-oxidants, foul show anti-cancer action, three show hypocholeste rolemic activity, two show immunostimulatory effects, one has choleretic ac tivity and one has the ability to decrease/moderate insulin levels, one has activity as a radioprotectant, one shows anti-inflammatory and anti-pyreti c activities and yet another has shown activity as an antibacterial agent. Some of the compounds show more than one pharmacological effect and some sh ow similar effects although they belong to different chemical classes. Clea rly, Eleutherococcus contains pharmacologically active compounds but one wi shes that the term adaptogen could be dropped from the literature because i t is vague and conveys no insights into the mechanism(s) of action. If a pr ecise action can be attributed to it, then the exact term for said action s hould obviously be used; if not, we strongly urge that generalities be avoi ded. Also, comparison of Eleutherococcus with the more familiar Panax ginse ng C.A. Meyer (Araliaceae), 'true ginseng' has underscored that they differ considerably chemically and pharmacologically and cannot be justifiably co nsidered as mutually interchangeable. Accordingly, we recommend that the de signation 'Siberian ginseng' be: dropped and be replaced with 'Eleutherococ cus'. In the case of both Eleutherococcus and true ginseng, problems inhere nt in herbal preparation use include inconsistencies not only in terms of i ndications for use, but in the nomenclature of constituent chemical compoun ds, standardization, dosage and product labeling. Finally, our re-examination and fresh interpretation of the literature on E leutherococcus and comparison with true ginseng shows that the potential fo r a scientifically more complete and defensible exploitation of these plant s will be better served by investigating and considering them in a context that consciously ignores the fact that the word 'adaptogen' was ever invent ed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.