Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Salidroside is a primary bioactive compound found in Rhodiola rosea, a plant traditionally used in Eastern European and Asian medicine for stress and fatigue. While its use for anxiety has traditional roots, several preclinical and a few clinical studies provide some scientific support for its anxiolytic effects. Animal studies have demonstrated that salidroside can modulate neurotransmitter systems, particularly serotonin and dopamine, and can reduce behavioral signs of anxiety in rodents exposed to stress. The mechanism is thought to involve antioxidant effects, regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and anti-inflammatory pathways.

In humans, the evidence is more limited. Small-scale clinical trials using Rhodiola extracts (which contain salidroside among other compounds) have reported improvements in stress-induced anxiety and fatigue, but rarely isolate the effects of salidroside alone. A 2015 pilot trial (Cropley et al.) suggested potential benefits of Rhodiola extract for mild anxiety, but larger, well-controlled studies are lacking. Overall, while there is a plausible biological rationale and promising preclinical data, the direct clinical evidence supporting salidroside’s use for anxiety is currently limited and of low quality, leading to a moderate-low evidence rating.

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