golden root

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• goldenroot
• king's crown
• roseroot
• roseroot stonecrop
• rosewort
• king's-crown
• Arctic root

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Tolmachevia krivochizhinii
• Rhodiola rosea var. vulgaris
• Sedum rosea var. tachiroei
• Sedum rhodiola var. scopolii
• Sedum rosea subsp. arcticum
• Sedum arcticum
• Rhodiola rosea subsp. arctica
• Rhodiola telephioides
• Sedum suboppositum var. telephioides
• Sedum roanense
• Sedum rhodiola var. linifolia
• Sedum rhodiola var. vulgare
• Sedum elongatum var. majus
• Rhodiola iremelica
• Sedum rhodiola var. elongatum
• Rhodiola minor
• Sedum rosea
• Rhodiola maxima
• Sedum rosea var. elongatum
• Rhodiola rosea subsp. elongata
• Sedum rhodiola var. latifolium
• Rhodiola roanensis
• Rhodiola rosea var. alpina
• Sedum rosea var. oblongum
• Rhodiola rosea subsp. krivochizhinii
• Sedum rhodiola var. oblongum
• Rhodiola krivochizhinii
• Sedum elongatum var. minus
• Rhodiola odora
• Sedum rhodiola var. viride
• Rhodiola odorata
• Sedum rhodiola var. crispum
• Rhodiola elongata
• Sedum rhodiola var. tachiroei
• Rhodiola hideoi
• Sedum rhodiola var. pumilum
• Rhodiola rosea subsp. roanensis
• Rhodiola sibirica
• Sedum rhodiola var. dentatum
• Rhodiola scopolii
• Tetradium odoratum
• Rhodiola rosea var. oblonga
• Rhodiola rosea var. scopolii
• Rhodiola rosea f. cuneiformis
• Rhodiola rosea var. subalpina
• Rhodiola rosea subsp. tachiroei
• Rhodiola rosea f. subcordata
• Rhodiola tachiroei
• Rhodiola rosea var. microphylla
• Rhodiola rosea f. purpurascens
• Sedum rosea subvar. continentale
• Sedum rosea var. microphyllum
• Rhodia officinarum
• Sedum rhodiola subvar. continentale
• Rhodiola arctica
• Sedum rosea var. vulgare
• Sedum rosea var. roanense
• Sedum caerulans
• Sedum elongatum
• Sedum altaicum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae in the order Saxifragales, specifically within the family Crassulaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Rhodiola.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several regions within Northern Europe. Specifically, it can be found growing in the rugged landscapes of Finland. Its presence extends to the remote islands of Føroyaar and Iceland. Additionally, the species is native to the territories of Great Britain and Ireland. Together, these locations represent the key northern habitats for this medicinal species.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Rhodiola rosea is defined by its remarkable ability to thrive in diverse and often harsh environmental conditions across various high-latitude and high-altitude landscapes. This resilient species is found occupying a wide range of niches, including the specialized environments of coastal dunes and sandy terrains, as well as more stabilized landscapes such as forests and riverbanks. It demonstrates significant adaptability by colonizing stony places and rocky outcrops, where it must contend with thin soils and limited nutrients. Furthermore, the plant is well-adapted to extreme climatic zones, ranging from the moisture-rich areas of mountain slopes to the frigid, treeless expanses of the tundra, allowing it to persist in habitats characterized by intense UV exposure and significant temperature fluctuations.

Habitat :

dunes, forest, mountains, rivers, sand, stony places, tundra

Life history

The life history of Rhodiola rosea is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to endure through multiple growing seasons in its harsh, high-altitude habitats. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by the substrate or leaf litter, which facilitates its survival during extreme environmental shifts. This plant exhibits a deciduous growth habit, shedding its leaves in response to seasonal changes and cold temperatures to conserve energy and moisture. This combination of a long-lived lifecycle, a specialized hemicryptophytic life form, and deciduousness enables it to adapt effectively to the rigorous climatic conditions of its natural environment.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Rhodiola rosea is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically categorized as a forb. This plant is a self-supporting organism, lacking any climbing or vining tendencies, and functions as an independent species without parasitic behavior. As a terrestrial plant, it does not exhibit aquatic or epiphytic lifestyles. In terms of stature, it is a relatively low-growing species with a plant height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.05 m to a maximum of 0.6 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.2 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.6 m

Plant height mean:

0.2 m

Plant height min:

0.05 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Rhodiola rosea is characterized by distinct morphological and metabolic adaptations suited to its environment, particularly regarding its carbon fixation and leaf architecture. The plant utilizes a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which is typical for many high-altitude species, though it must manage gas exchange efficiently under varying environmental stresses. Morphologically, the plant exhibits relatively small foliage, with a mean leaf size of approximately 1.1399 cm². This compact leaf structure is further defined by a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 237.83 cm²/g, a value that reflects the leaf's structural density and its strategy for balancing light interception with water conservation and resource allocation in its native habitat.

Leaf size mean:

1.1399 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

CAM

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

237.83 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Rhodiola rosea is characterized by a sexual reproductive strategy that is dioecious, meaning individual plants are either male or female. The flowering period typically commences in June and extends through August. The plant produces very small seeds, with a minimum seed mass of 0.0001543 g, a mean mass of approximately 0.000232322333333333 g, and a maximum mass reaching 0.00033 g. Regarding its dispersal mechanism, the species utilizes an autochorous syndrome, where seeds are dispersed by the plant itself.

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Aug

Reproduction sexual :

dioecious

Seed mass max:

0.00033 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000232322333333333 g

Seed mass min:

0.0001543 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Rhodiola rosea has 2 reported plant parts identified across 23 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, rhizome.

Root

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
2. Planta medica
3. The Journal of experimental biology
4. Journal of dairy science
5. Biomolecules

Rhizome

1. Artificial cells, nanomedicine, and biotechnology
2. Food technology and biotechnology
3. Frontiers in pharmacology
4. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Rhodiola rosea has 45 reported phytochemicals identified across 23 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Salidroside, rosavin, Tyrosol, ROSIN, Flavonoids.

Salidroside

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Sexually transmitted diseases
3. Frontiers in pharmacology
4. Molecular plant
5. Mediators of inflammation

rosavin

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Sexually transmitted diseases
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
5. Metabolic engineering

Tyrosol

1. Molecular plant
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Food chemistry
4. Natural product communications
5. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

ROSIN

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Sheng wu gong cheng xue bao = Chinese journal of biotechnology

Flavonoids

1. Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine : AAEM
2. Artificial cells, nanomedicine, and biotechnology
3. Natural product communications

Rosavins

1. Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine : AAEM
2. Fitoterapia
3. Comprehensive reviews in food science and food safety

Rhodionin

1. Biomeditsinskaia khimiia
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

cinnamyl alcohol

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Natural product communications

p-Tyrosol

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
2. Comprehensive reviews in food science and food safety

2-(3,4-Dimethoxyphenyl)-5,7-dimethoxychroman-4-one

1. Biomolecules

Activities

Rhodiola rosea has 21 reported activities identified across 23 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Adaptogenic, Antioxidant, Adaptogen, Anticancer, Neuroprotective.

Adaptogenic

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Brain, behavior, and immunity
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Food technology and biotechnology
5. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Food technology and biotechnology
3. Biomolecules
4. Journal of dietary supplements
5. Journal of molecular neuroscience : MN

Adaptogen

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme
3. Eksperimental'naia i klinicheskaia farmakologiia
4. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
5. Comprehensive reviews in food science and food safety

Anticancer

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Journal of food and drug analysis

Neuroprotective

1. Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine : AAEM
2. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences
3. Journal of dietary supplements
4. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antidepressant

1. CNS & neurological disorders drug targets
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of food and drug analysis

Antitumor

1. Eksperimental'naia i klinicheskaia farmakologiia
2. Biomolecules
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antimutagenic

1. TSitologiia i genetika
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cardioprotective

1. Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine : AAEM
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiaging

1. Theriogenology

Conditions

Rhodiola rosea has 71 reported investigations on conditions identified across 23 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include depression, cancer, anxiety, neurodegenerative diseases, oxidative stress.

Depression

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Planta medica
4. Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment
5. CNS & neurological disorders drug targets

Cancer

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry
3. Pharmacological research
4. TheScientificWorldJournal
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anxiety

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Planta medica
3. Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment
4. Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD

Neurodegenerative diseases

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Cellular and molecular neurobiology
3. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
4. Neurochemistry international

Oxidative stress

1. Blood
2. International journal of molecular sciences
3. Theriogenology
4. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antidepressants

1. Polish journal of veterinary sciences
2. Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine : AAEM
3. Journal of food and drug analysis

Fatigue

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. Comprehensive reviews in food science and food safety

Inflammation

1. Brain, behavior, and immunity
2. Vascular pharmacology
3. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences

Parkinson's disease

1. Journal of dietary supplements
2. Parkinson's disease

Antioxidant

1. Biomolecules
2. Journal of food and drug analysis

Preparations

Rhodiola rosea has 44 reported preparations identified across 23 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Salidroside, extracts, herbal medicinal product, rhizome extracts, salidroside.

Salidroside

1. Vascular pharmacology
2. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences
3. Frontiers in pharmacology

Extracts

1. Analytica chimica acta
2. Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Herbal medicinal product

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Pharmacology

Rhizome extracts

1. Artificial cells, nanomedicine, and biotechnology
2. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Salidroside

1. Molecular and cellular biochemistry
2. Experimental and therapeutic medicine

50% hydro-alcoholic (rra) extracts

1. Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine : AAEM

Extracts

1. Nutrients

Extracts of the roots

1. Comprehensive reviews in food science and food safety

Kar1

1. Scientific reports

Rhps

1. International journal of biological macromolecules