Standardized Plant Extract - TITREX®

Eleuthero

Siberian Ginseng: Taiga root, adaptogen for extreme conditions

Latin name

Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.) Maxim.

Family

Araliaceae

History & Botany

Eleuthero grows in the mixed and mountainous forests of the Far East (Siberia, Northern China, Korea, Japan) in some of the harshest climatic conditions on the planet. It is precisely this adaptation to extremes that forges its medicinal properties: the low winter temperatures stimulate the synthesis of its active compounds in the roots. Siberian hunters chewed the root before their long expeditions; Chinese soldiers used it to increase their strength and endurance in combat.

In 1947, Russian toxicologist Nikolai Lazarev created the concept of an adaptogen in part thanks to Eleuthero. In the 1950s-1960s, Soviet researchers subjected it to intensive studies: it was administered to Olympic athletes, cosmonauts, and submarine divers to enhance their performance under extreme conditions. More than 1,000 scientific studies have been dedicated to it. Listed in the Russian and Chinese pharmacopoeias, it is one of the best-documented medicinal plants in the world.

Morphology

Thorny shrub, 2 to 3 meters tall, with stems covered in fine, slanted thorns. Palmate leaves with 5 toothed leaflets, bright green in season. Flowers in yellow and purple umbels. Persistent black berries resembling ivy, same Araliaceae family as Korean ginseng.

Part used & extraction

The root and root bark, harvested in autumn from plants at least 3 to 4 years old. Dried and then subjected to hydro-alcoholic extraction. The dry extract is standardized in eleutherosides B and E (minimum 0.8%). Mainly harvested in Eastern Siberia, Northern China, and Korea.

Eleutherococcus senticosus

Thorny stems and characteristic black berries of the taiga

Active Principles & Biochemistry

Organoleptic Properties

Appearance

Dry root

Root is grayish-brown to dark brown, fibrous, with thick and leathery bark. Powder is beige-brown to gray-brown, fine, slightly fibrous.

Color

Dry extract / liquid

Powder: ochre-brown to dark brown. Liquid extract: amber-brown to reddish-brown, translucent. Coloration similar to ginseng, slightly lighter.

Odor

Dry root & extract

Slightly aromatic and earthy, reminiscent of ginseng but milder and less pungent. Woody and slightly sweet notes. No strong or unpleasant odor.

Taste

Extract in solution

Slightly bitter and mildly pungent, significantly less intense than Korean ginseng. Woody and slightly astringent notes. Mild and lingering aftertaste. Generally well-tolerated taste.

Solubility

Dry extract

Fine powder, good solubility in hydroalcoholic solutions and hot water. Eleutherosides are water-soluble. Slightly hygroscopic; store away from moisture and heat.

Medicinal Properties & Traditional Use

Adaptogen & Anti-Fatigue

Proven to increase physical endurance and mental performance in cases of mild to moderate fatigue. Normalizes biological constants more quickly after intense effort. Increases resistance to physical, thermal, and chemical stress. Gradual effect over 2 to 4 weeks.

Immunostimulant & Antiviral

Stimulates cellular immunity (T lymphocytes, NK) and humoral immunity (immunoglobulins). Reduces the frequency and duration of winter respiratory infections. Documented antiviral activity. Promotes hematopoiesis for better tissue oxygenation.

Cognitive Tone & Cerebral Circulation

Improves cerebral microcirculation, reactivity, concentration, and working memory. Recommended for students, seniors, and professionals exposed to intense intellectual workloads. Supports synaptic transmission and protects neurons.

Cardioprotective & Adrenal

Sterols and saponins support adrenal function, regulate cholesterol levels, and exert a cardioprotective effect. Normalizes blood pressure and improves cardiovascular effort tolerance under difficult conditions.