Effects of a Rhodiola rosea extract on mental resource allocation and attention: An event‐related potential dual task study

Abstract

Rhodiola rosea extract is widely used to alleviate stress and improve cognition and mental resources. A total of 50 adult participants were treated with 2 × 200 mg R. rosea extract (Rosalin®, WS® 1,375) for 12 weeks and were subjected to a neuropsychological test battery as well as an event-related brain potential measurement in a dual task paradigm prior to administration, after 6 weeks and after 12 weeks. The study followed a single-arm open-label design. Reaction times improved for the attention network task (ANT), the Go/Nogo task, and the divided attention task. Moreover, the orienting effect and the executive effect in the ANT showed an improvement. The P3 component in a dual task paradigm was increased in amplitude. The results of this pilot study show an improvement of mental speed and moreover, suggest improved mental resources. As the current study is single-armed these findings need to be replicated in a double-blind placebo controlled study.

State-of-the-Art Review on Botanical Hybrid Preparations in Phytomedicine and Phytotherapy Research: Background and Perspectives

“…Mg-Teadiola ® was effective in relieving stress on days 14 and 28 in chronic stress and may diminish pain perception, underlining its potential benefits for patients suffering from pain, in whom comorbidities such as stress and sleep disorders are frequent [ 42 ]. Supplementation with Mg-Teadiola ® reduced stress on D28 in chronically stressed but otherwise healthy individuals and modulated the stress and pain cerebral matrices during stressful thermal stimulus [ 53 ].…”

“…The magnesium and caffeine content in green tea was uncontrolled and not specified [ 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 ]; therefore, there is no guarantee that the effect of Mg-Teadiola will consistently provide reproducible efficacy.…”

“…In this context, stern concerns occur regarding the rationale for including caffeine or green tea containing caffeine in the formulation of the safe adaptogenic BHP supplement Mg-Teadiole [ 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 ]. Addiction to caffeine and other undesired effects of regular caffeine supplementation are well known.…”

“…The authors declare the labeled amount of active ingredients [ 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 ] but do not adhere to Extensions of the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials Statement for Herbal Medicinal Interventions (CONSORT) regarding the quality of the product. Mg-Teadiole was not adequately characterized for several factors, including extraction solvents, the dry herb: dry native extract ratio (DER), the content of active markers (caffeine, theanine, Mg +2 , salidroside, rosavin, etc.…”

“…During the last two decades, more than 1200 studies, including 33 clinical and 910 pre-clinical studies, were conducted in Europe, America, and China, providing results of preclinical and clinical efficacy, safety, and quality of R. rosea preparations in various stress-induced disorders, including fatigue syndrome, cognitive deficiencies, mild/moderate depression, anxiety, and burnout symptoms, as well as in healthy subjects under stress ( Figure 4 ) [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 ].…”