IngredientsRosarin is a naturally occurring phenylpropanoid glycoside — specifically, a cinnamyl alcohol glycoside — isolated principally from the rhizomes and roots of Rhodiola rosea L., a perennial flowering plant belonging to the family Crassulaceae. Chemically, rosarin is known as (2E)-3-phenylprop-2-en-1-yl 6-O-α-L-arabinofuranosyl-β-D-glucopyranoside, with the molecular formula C₂₀H₂₈O₁₀ and a molecular weight of 428.4 g/mol. Its CAS registry number is 84954-93-8.
Rosarin belongs to a tightly related trio of phenylpropanoid glycosides collectively designated "rosavins," which also comprises rosavin and rosin. The three cinnamyl alcohol-vicianosides of Rhodiola rosea, commonly referred to as "rosavins," are rosin, and the structurally related disaccharide rosavin (the arabinose ester of rosin), and rosarin (the arabinofuranose ester of rosin). Thus, the three compounds share a common cinnamyl alcohol aglycone core and differ only in the nature of the carbohydrate units appended to it.
Other species of Rhodiola do not contain rosavins or have very low levels, making rosavins the characteristic constituents of Rhodiola rosea L. The three compounds of rosavins have similar chemical structures, with rosavin and rosarin sharing the same relative molecular weight.
The roots and rhizomes of Rhodiola rosea L. (Crassulaceae), which is widely growing in Northern Europe, North America, and Siberia, have been used since ancient times to alleviate stress, fatigue, and mental and physical disorders.
The cinnamyl alcohol glycosides rosin, rosavin, and rosarin occur in the context of Rhodiola species only in Rhodiola rosea. This botanical exclusivity makes rosarin a key chemotaxonomic marker. Rosavin production is specific to R. rosea and R. sachalinensis, and the biosynthesis of these glycosides occurs spontaneously in Rhodiola roots and rhizomes.
The production of rosavins increases in plants as they get older, and the amount of the cinnamyl alcohol glycosides depends on the place of origin of the plant. Accordingly, wild-harvested Rhodiola from high-altitude Arctic or mountainous regions tends to exhibit higher concentrations of rosavins and salidroside.
Cinnamyl alcohol glycosides are products of phenylpropanoid metabolism, derived from phenylalanine, which is produced from the shikimic-chorismic acid pathway. Phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) converts phenylalanine to cinnamic acid. From cinnamic acid, cinnamyl-CoA ester is formed through hydroxycinnamate: CoA ligase (4CL). This CoA ester is reduced to cinnamaldehyde by cinnamyl-CoA reductase (CCR). The cinnamaldehyde is further reduced by cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) to cinnamyl alcohol. The enzymes that take part in the subsequent formation of the glycosides of cinnamyl alcohol are not yet fully known.
Eight compounds — including rosarin, rosavin, rosin, salidroside, tyrosol, rhodionin, catechin, and gallic acid — have been suggested as reference markers for distinguishing Rhodiola species from other plants.
The latest edition of the European Pharmacopoeia (11th edition, 2023) emphasizes the quality assessment of R. rosea-based products by considering the content of marker compounds salidroside and rosavins in a ratio not lower than 1:3. The United States Pharmacopeia guidelines assess the quality mark for the raw material as containing not less than 0.3% of the phenylpropanoid glycosides rosarin, rosavin, and rosin (collectively referred to as "rosavins") calculated as rosavin, and not less than 0.08% of salidroside, calculated on a dry weight basis.
In practice, the phenylpropanoid glycosides rosarin, rosin, and rosavin — collectively called rosavins — are recommended as key biomarker molecules verified by HPLC-based analyses. For rosavins, measured concentrations in commercial products ranged from 0.01% to 3.08%, with rosavin contributing between half and two-thirds, rosarin between one-fifth and one-third, and rosin accounting for the remainder.
The medicinal properties of the woody root of Rhodiola rosea are first recorded in the five-volume encyclopaedia De Materia Medica written by the Ancient Greek botanist, pharmacologist, and physician Pedanius Dioscorides (circa 40–90 AD), who recommended rose root tea as a treatment for anxiety, depression, and stress. The name Rhodiola rosea was coined by Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1725, who prescribed the herb as a remedy for conditions such as headaches, hysteria, and hernias.
The roots and rhizomes have been used since ancient times in Northern Europe, North America, and Siberia to alleviate stress, fatigue, and mental and physical disorders. In Siberian folk culture, the plant was deeply embedded in daily life: many Siberians believe that drinking Rhodiola rosea tea helps people live long lives, and traditionally, newlyweds are given the herb in hopes that it will boost their fertility levels and encourage the birth of healthy children.
The emperors of ancient China sent expeditions to bring back the rose root for use in medicinal preparations to treat stress. The plant has a reputation in Eastern European and Asian traditional medical systems for stimulating the nervous system, decreasing depression, enhancing work performance, eliminating fatigue, and preventing high altitude sickness.
Rhodiola rosea belongs to the Crassulaceae family and has a long history of traditional use in folk medicine, particularly in regions with harsh climates, such as Siberia and Scandinavia. The Vikings depended on the herb to enhance their physical strength and endurance, while Chinese emperors sent expeditions to Siberia to bring back "the golden root" for medicinal preparations.
Between 1725 and 1960, various medicinal applications of R. rosea appeared in the scientific literature of Sweden, Norway, France, Germany, the Soviet Union, and Iceland.
Research initiated by the USSR on the standardization of R. rosea resulted in significant advancement, and in the 1970s, it was suggested that the glycoside from R. rosea (content ≥ 0.8%) served as an effective marker for its quality. However, in 1986, owing to the widespread prevalence of adulterated R. rosea, the specific active ingredients rosavin, rosarin, and rosin (referred to collectively as rosavins) were discovered in R. rosea for the first time.
Traditional preparation processes may include grinding and eating the herb, brewing tea, and, in more modern preparations, liquid supplements or capsules. The medicinal raw material (rhizome with roots) is employed in traditional European folk medicine, principally in Scandinavia and the Russian Federation. The tender shoots and leaves are eaten in China. The plant is considered emollient and vulnerary. It is considered astringent and bitter, but with a cool potency by Mongolian traditional medicine (WHO, 2013).
The main bioactive compounds of R. rosea are phenylpropanoids rosavin, rosarin, rosin, tyrosol glucoside salidroside, and tyrosol. Rosarin is one of the three compounds constituting the rosavin group. The phenylethanol analog salidroside and the phenylpropanol analog rosavin are the main active components, and the phenylpropanol analogs include rosavin, rosarin, and rosin — collectively referred to as rosavins.
Modern pharmaceutical research has identified more than 140 compounds isolated from Rhodiola species, including flavones, coumarins, volatiles, anthraquinone and organic acids. These include monoterpene alcohols and their glycosides, cyanogenic glycosides, arylglycosides, phenylethanoids, phenylpropanoids and their glycosides, flavonoids, flavonlignans, proanthocyanidins, and gallic acid derivatives. However, salidroside is present in all species of the Rhodiola genus, while rosavins (rosavin, rosin, rosarin) are specific compounds of Rhodiola rosea L.
Rhodiola rhizomes contain organic acids (oxalic, citric, malic, gallic, and succinic), essential oils, fats, waxes, phenolics including tannins, sterols, glycosides, and proteins. Although rosavin, rosarin, rosin, and salidroside are typically mentioned as specific to Rhodiola rosea extracts, rosea and other Rhodiola species contain many other constituent polyphenols, including proanthocyanidins, quercetin, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, and kaempferol.
Standardized extracts specify both rosavins and salidroside: a ratio of 3% rosavins to 1% salidroside is the ratio found naturally in the root and is used in most clinical trials. The chemical composition of raw material varies: the chemical composition of R. rosea can vary depending on factors such as the geographic origin, cultivation conditions, and extraction methods used.
Note: The mechanistic data below derive primarily from in vitro and animal studies. The extent to which these mechanisms translate directly to humans has not been fully established in clinical research, particularly for rosarin as an isolated compound.
Rosavins are a group of phenylpropanoid glycosides — rosavin, rosarin, and rosin — found almost exclusively in Rhodiola rosea among all Rhodiola species. They appear to contribute to rhodiola's adaptogenic, antidepressant, and cognitive effects, likely through interactions with monoaminergic neurotransmitter systems and HPA axis modulation — though their mechanisms remain less completely characterized than those of salidroside.
Rhodiola rosea exhibits modulatory effects on monoaminergic neurotransmission, enhances antioxidant defenses by upregulating enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and catalase, and improves mitochondrial function, leading to increased cellular energy production.
Data from animal and human studies suggest that R. rosea may have adaptogen properties via its modulation of central stress response mechanisms through its effect on central neurotransmission and neuroendocrine function. Specifically, R. rosea appears to have a positive impact on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis activity, which in turn modulates the central immune-response system. This action is thought to play a key role in modulating stress and the body's ability to adapt to it.
Rosarin is a naturally occurring cinnamyl alcohol glycoside found in Rhodiola rosea. It exhibits anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective activity by suppressing the expression of proinflammatory factors such as iNOS, IL-1β, and TNF-α.
Rosavin — the closely related compound sharing the rosavin framework with rosarin — has been found to have antimicrobial, antioxidant, neuroprotective effects against various neurodegenerative ailments such as mild cognitive disorders, neuropathic pain, depression, and stress, as well as gastroprotective, osteoprotective, pulmoprotective, and hepatoprotective activities. This protective effect is attributed to its capability to diminish inflammation and oxidative stress.
In vitro, rosavin inhibits osteoclastogenesis, disrupts F-actin ring formation, and reduces the expression of osteoclastogenesis-related genes such as cathepsin K, calcitonin receptor (CTR), tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), and matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9). It also impedes nuclear factor of activated T-cell cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1), c-Fos, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways and blocks phosphorylation processes crucial for bone resorption. Moreover, rosavin promotes osteogenesis and osteoblast differentiation and increases mouse runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) and osteocalcin (OCN) expression.
In vivo studies show the effectiveness of rosavin in enhancing bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) mice, restraining osteoclast maturation, and increasing the percentage of active osteoblasts in bone tissue.
Phenolic compounds — phenylpropanoids rosavin, rosarin, and rosin, tyrosol glucoside salidroside, and tyrosol — are responsible for the biological action of R. rosea, exerting antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anti-aging, and anti-fatigue activities. The antioxidant effects involve free radical scavenging and upregulation of endogenous antioxidant enzyme systems.
The absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) profiles of salidroside, rosavins, and other compounds are not fully characterized in humans. This gap hinders understanding of dosage optimization, onset and duration of action, and potential for drug interactions. Studies addressing the bioavailability of specific compounds, their metabolism in the liver and brain, and their transport across the blood-brain barrier are limited and require further exploration using modern analytical tools.
Important context: The vast majority of clinical evidence for efficacy involves whole Rhodiola rosea extracts standardized to defined levels of rosavins (including rosarin) plus salidroside. There are currently no published randomized controlled trials isolating rosarin as a single compound in human subjects. Claims about rosarin's individual clinical contribution are therefore inferred from its known presence in studied extracts and from preclinical investigations.
Clinical evidence (extract-level): A systematic review searched six electronic databases to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and controlled clinical trials (CCTs) evaluating the efficacy and safety of R. rosea for physical and mental fatigue. Of 206 articles identified in the search, 11 met inclusion criteria — 10 described as RCTs and one as a CCT.
Six studies examined the effect of R. rosea on physical performance and five assessed mental fatigue. None of the studies examining physical or mental fatigue measured outcomes consistently — no two studies reported the same outcomes. As such, meta-analysis could not be performed.
One of the most-cited individual trials: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical study measured the effect of a single dose of standardized SHR-5 Rhodiola rosea extract on capacity for mental work against a background of fatigue and stress. The study was carried out on a highly uniform population comprising 161 cadets aged 19 to 21 years. The study showed a pronounced antifatigue effect reflected in an antifatigue index (AFI).
Another study investigated the effects of chronic Rhodiola rosea supplementation on mental and physical performance, as well as hormonal and oxidative stress biomarkers. Twenty-six healthy male students received either R. rosea extract (600 mg/day) or placebo in a randomized double-blind trial. Prior to supplementation and following 4 weeks of supplementation, the students underwent psychomotor tests for simple and choice reaction time.
Evidence strength: Moderate and preliminary. Multiple RCTs consistently show signals of benefit for mental fatigue and stress-related performance, but small sample sizes, heterogeneous endpoints, and unclear risk of bias in many studies limit conclusions. The majority of studies have an "unclear" risk of bias in almost every domain due to how they were reported.
Edwards et al. demonstrated not only a clinically relevant improvement in subjects suffering from life-stress symptoms after administration of R. rosea extract but also the safety of the product. Other trials evaluating the effects of R. rosea extract in improving physical and mental performance under stressful conditions confirm and support these findings. Investigating the effects of R. rosea on burnout-related symptoms, Olsson et al. demonstrated the superiority of R. rosea extract over placebo in alleviating mental fatigue as measured by the Pines burnout scale. A German noninterventional study conducted in 128 general practitioner practices including 330 patients with two or more burnout indicator symptoms reported a considerable alleviation of these symptoms after the administration of R. rosea extract for 8 weeks.
According to the CGI rating in a clinical trial using 2 × 200 mg WS® 1375 extract, the vast majority of trial participants experienced a marked improvement of their fatigue symptoms after 8 weeks of treatment compared to baseline.
Evidence strength: Preliminary to moderate. Open-label and non-interventional designs dominate this area; properly controlled RCTs specifically in burnout populations are still needed.
A parallel-group randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial recruited 18–55 year-old students from the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta, participating in clinical rotations. Participants were randomized to take 364 mg of either R. rosea or identical placebo at the start of their wakeful period and up to one additional capsule within the following four hours on a daily basis over a 42-day period.
Research by Noreen et al. examined the efficacy of a 3 mg·kg⁻¹ body mass dose of R. rosea on 6-mile cycle time trial performance in 18 active women. They reported that R. rosea significantly decreased submaximal exercise heart rate, reduced RPE, and improved time trial performance time.
Evidence strength: Weak to preliminary. Results across physical performance trials are inconsistent. Sample sizes are small, and the exact contribution of rosarin versus other rosavins or salidroside cannot be determined from extract-level trials.
One RCT protocol was designed to examine the efficacy of R. rosea extract compared to sertraline or placebo as a complementary and alternative medicine treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD), the maximum tolerable dose, and the safety over a 12-week period. This study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health / National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM).
Evidence strength: Very preliminary. This area is actively under investigation, but large-scale, high-quality RCTs specifically for MDD remain limited. Some promising research suggests people may use rhodiola to improve mental and physical performance, reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, and reduce stress and stress-induced health conditions, but large studies confirming these benefits in humans are lacking.
A 2025 study aimed to evaluate the potential of rosarin — specifically as an isolated compound from the root of Rhodiola rosea — in treating diabetes mellitus using a zebrafish model and in exhibiting anthelmintic activity using the Indian earthworm (Pheretima posthuma). The study design utilized an experimental approach, incorporating both zebrafish (Danio rerio) and earthworms as subjects.
The anti-diabetic effect of rosarin was described as comparable with the standard drug metformin (50 mg/ml). In anthelmintic activity, rosarin at 75 mg/ml significantly decreased the length of the worm (9.5 ± 0.36 cm), time of paralysis (22 ± 0.76 minutes), and time of death (40 ± 0.76 minutes). The researchers concluded that rosarin significantly reduced blood glucose levels in zebrafish and decreased the time of paralysis and death in earthworms, suggesting antidiabetic and anthelmintic activity.
Evidence strength: Extremely preliminary; preclinical animal/invertebrate models only. No human data exist for these indications with rosarin as an isolated compound.
In a study investigating the effects of rosavin on RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis, the effects on osteoclastogenesis were assessed using TRAP staining of bone marrow monocyte cells (BMMCs) and RAW 264.7 cells, and ovariectomized mice were used to explore the effect on bone loss.
The hypothesis that rosavin may influence BMP-2 expression in human osteoblasts (HOBs) opens new therapeutic possibilities for the treatment of osteoporosis and other metabolic bone diseases. One 2025 study conducted the first-ever assessment of the effects of rosavin on BMP-2 expression in HOB cultures in vitro.
Evidence strength: Preclinical only. No human clinical trials exist for the bone-metabolism applications of rosavin or rosarin. The findings are hypothesis-generating.
Rosavin has also manifested anticancer properties against various cancers via exerting cytotoxicity, apoptotic cell death, arresting the different phases (G0/G1) of the cancerous cell cycle, inhibiting migration, and invading other organs. Recent studies indicate that R. rosea may be used to treat diabetes, cancer, and a variety of cardiovascular and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
Evidence strength: In vitro and animal studies only. No human clinical trial data exist supporting anticancer claims for rosarin or rosavin as isolated compounds.
Based on reviewed scientific literature, rosarin — as a component of Rhodiola rosea extracts and, to a lesser degree, as a studied isolated compound — is associated with the following body systems and health areas:
Rosarin is not commercially available as an isolated single-compound supplement for end consumers. It reaches users as a constituent of standardized Rhodiola rosea root and rhizome extracts. Rhodiola supplements are typically made from the root of the plant, which contains its active compounds such as rosavins and salidroside. These supplements are available in various forms, including capsules, powders, and tinctures.
In research and specialty chemistry, rosarin is available as a purified reference standard for analytical and preclinical use.
The following dosages were reported in specific clinical studies for standardized Rhodiola rosea extracts containing rosarin as part of the rosavin complex:
The updated EMA monograph (Revision 1, adopted 20 March 2024) states that Rhodiola rosea is recognized as a traditional herbal medicinal product for adults for the temporary relief of stress-related symptoms such as fatigue and weakness.
Most studies have reported no adverse effects with Rhodiola rosea supplementation. Any adverse effects are likely rare and mild. R. rosea has a very low level of toxicity in rats. The median lethal dose was calculated to be approximately 3.4 g/kg, equivalent to 235 g in a 70 kg person. R. rosea was reported to be safe in toxicity studies. Common reported side effects include dizziness, dry mouth, and excessive salivation.
A small clinical study (N=13 healthy volunteers) evaluated the effect of R. rosea on substrates of the CYP450 enzymes, reporting reduced CYP2C9 metabolic activity only. No effect on enzymes CYP1A2, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4 were noted.
Therefore, Rhodiola rosea could potentially affect the intracellular concentrations of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4 or CYP2C9 enzyme, particularly those with a narrow therapeutic index such as phenytoin and warfarin.
CYP2C9 is a part of the CYP2C family of enzymes, which accounts for about 20% of all P450 enzymes in the human liver. CYP2C9 metabolizes more than 20% of all therapeutic drugs, including drugs with a narrow therapeutic index such as phenytoin and warfarin.
Several studies utilizing Rhodiola rosea, which contains a complex mixture of phytochemicals, reported some positive drug-drug interaction (DDI) findings based on in vitro CYP450 enzyme inhibition, MAO-A and MAO-B inhibition, and preclinical pharmacokinetic studies in either rats or rabbits. There is limited research on possible interactions between Rhodiola rosea and conventional pharmaceuticals. Given its influence on monoaminergic systems and stress-related pathways, potential interactions with antidepressants, anxiolytics, or stimulants must be carefully evaluated.
There is currently a lack of evidence evaluating the safety of Rhodiola rosea during pregnancy and lactation. Avoidance is warranted. Specifically, the EMA monograph notes insufficient safety data for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and the EMA does not recommend use in children and adolescents under 18 years.
The EMA monograph notes that no clinically relevant interactions have been firmly established so far, but it also recognizes that available data are limited.
Rhodiola rosea supplements are prone to adulteration with different species of Rhodiola or other miscellaneous substances, which could affect their effectiveness and safety. Some supplements have also been reported to contain less of the active compounds (salidroside, rosavin) than indicated on the label.
A recent study found that nearly 60% of dietary supplements claiming to contain Rhodiola rosea did not contain the declared amount of roots or characteristic marker compounds associated with the species. Rosavin was detected in only 9 of 13 items analyzed, with four containing only trace amounts.
Research suggests that the risk of drug interactions with Rhodiola rosea could vary between supplements due to variations in the types and amounts of active compounds present in a given Rhodiola rosea supplement.
R. rosea is an important medicinal plant commonly used throughout Europe, Asia, and North America, that has been recognized as a botanical adaptogen by the European Medicines Agency.
Within the EU, Rhodiola is covered by the EMA's Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). The updated EMA monograph (Revision 1, adopted 20 March 2024) states that it is recognized as a traditional herbal medicinal product for adults for the temporary relief of stress-related symptoms such as fatigue and weakness.
The European Pharmacopoeia (11th edition, 2023) emphasizes the quality assessment of R. rosea-based products by considering the content of marker compounds, salidroside and rosavins, in a ratio not lower than 1:3. The United States Pharmacopeia guidelines assess the quality mark for the raw material as containing not less than 0.3% of the phenylpropanoid glycosides rosarin, rosavin, and rosin calculated as rosavin, and not less than 0.08% of salidroside, calculated on a dry weight basis.
The current state of evidence presents several important limitations:
Health conditions that Rosarin may help support.
Rosarin is one of the rosavin-family cinnamyl glycosides from Rhodiola rosea, constituting part of the ≥3% rosavin fraction specified in pharmacopeial monographs for authentic adaptogenic Rhodiola preparations. Clinical HPA axis and cortisol evidence from RCTs using rosavin-standardized extracts applies collectively to the rosavin group including rosarin.
Body systems that Rosarin may help support.
Go back