Adaptogenic plants

Grażyna Obidowska

grazyna_obidowska@sggw.pl
Zespół Ekotoksykologii KGHiBR, Szkoła Główna Gospodarstwa Wiejskiego, Warszawa (Poland)

Ala Sadowska


Zespół Ekotoksykologii KGHiBR, Szkoła Główna Gospodarstwa Wiejskiego, Warszawa (Poland)

Abstract

The term adaptogen was coined in 1947 by a soviet scientist N.V. Lazarev. Adaptogens are a group of pharmacologically active compounds eliciting in an organism a state of raised non-specific resistance, showing antistress activity, increasing perseverance in organisms subjected to great physical effort. Currently, a drug classified as an adaptogen must fulfill the following criteria: cause immunostimulatory effect, influence the central nervous system; show sedative and antidepressant properties, enhance brain functions — learning and memorizing, enhance physical performance in an organism subjected to physical strain and show antioxidative properties. According to some authors, hepatoprotective and anticancerogenic activity should also be present, as well as hypocholesterolemic and hypoglycemic action. Certain properties of adaptogenic drugs (hepatoprotective, antioxidative, immunostimulatory) are now coming into prominence, because of the accelerating process of environmental pollution. The accumulation of toxins, especially in liver cells, leads to numerous diseases. A detoxifying and stimulating treatment, could keep the organism in form in spite of the increasing environmental pressure. This article is a review of latest literature reports concerning adaptogenic plants and their biological activity.


Keywords:

Adaptogen, Eleutherococcus, Panax, Rhaponticum, Rhodiola, Schisandra, Withania

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Published
2004-09-30

Cited by

Obidowska, G. and Sadowska, A. (2004) “Adaptogenic plants”, Bulletin of Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute, (233), pp. 163–171. doi: 10.37317/biul-2004-0045.

Authors

Grażyna Obidowska 
grazyna_obidowska@sggw.pl
Zespół Ekotoksykologii KGHiBR, Szkoła Główna Gospodarstwa Wiejskiego, Warszawa Poland

Authors

Ala Sadowska 

Zespół Ekotoksykologii KGHiBR, Szkoła Główna Gospodarstwa Wiejskiego, Warszawa Poland

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