Evolution of the adaptogenic concept from traditional use to medical systems: Pharmacology of stress‐ and aging‐related diseases

Abstract

Adaptogens comprise a category of herbal medicinal and nutritional products promoting adaptability, resilience, and survival of living organisms in stress. The aim of this review was to summarize the growing knowledge about common adaptogenic plants used in various traditional medical systems (TMS) and conventional medicine and to provide a modern rationale for their use in the treatment of stress‐induced and aging‐related disorders. Adaptogens have pharmacologically pleiotropic effects on the neuroendocrine‐immune system, which explain their traditional use for the treatment of a wide range of conditions. They exhibit a biphasic dose‐effect response: at low doses they function as mild stress‐mimetics, which activate the adaptive stress‐response signaling pathways to cope with severe stress. That is in line with their traditional use for preventing premature aging and to maintain good health and vitality. However, the potential of adaptogens remains poorly explored. Treatment of stress and aging‐related diseases require novel approaches. Some combinations of adaptogenic plants provide unique effects due to their synergistic interactions in organisms not obtainable by any ingredient independently. Further progress in this field needs to focus on discovering new combinations of adaptogens based on traditional medical concepts. Robust and rigorous approaches including network pharmacology and systems pharmacology could help in analyzing potential synergistic effects and, more broadly, future uses of adaptogens. In conclusion, the evolution of the adaptogenic concept has led back to basics of TMS and a new level of understanding of holistic approach. It provides a rationale for their use in stress‐induced and aging‐related diseases.

Chinese Herbal Medicine for the Treatment of Depression: Effects on the Neuroendocrine-Immune Network

“…It has often been reported that a CHM herbal constituent exhibits multiple effects in the pathogenesis of depression [ 200 , 201 , 202 ]. Several representative CHM constituents that have been shown to exert multiple actions on the neuroendocrine-immune network are shown in Figure 4 .…”

Medical Species Used in Russia for the Management of Diabetes and Related Disorders

“…It is noteworthy that several adaptogenic plants have been used in medical species. Besides the common properties of promoting the adaptability, resilience, and survival of living organisms under stress ( Panossian et al, 2021 ), each adaptogen has some specific activity. In particular, Oplopanax elatus (Nakai) Nakai lowered blood glucose and increased insulin levels in vivo ( Molokovskii et al, 2002 ).…”

Deciphering the Formulation Secret Underlying Chinese Huo-Clearing Herbal Drink

“…The rationality of mixing different herbs with a certain ratio was also verified with statistical significance in vitro and in vivo. The synergy principles for herbal mixtures are common for adaptogens (Panossian et al, 2021) and traditional Indian systems of medicine (Mukherjee et al, 2018).…”

“…Along with the increase in urbanization and industrialization, the rapid pace of living and a high-pressure society have placed more and more people in extended periods of anxiety, tension, insomnia, and melancholy. These signs are characteristic of a state of decreased resistance to stress, which could be ameliorated by adaptogens (Panossian et al, 2021). These symptoms of suboptimal health are also commonly associated with the above Shang-huo indicators of TCM, which are actually similar to the phenomena of topical inflammation in immunology (Pan et al, 2020).…”