Roseroot, Rhodiola rosea L. has been used in the traditional Asian, Scandinavian and Eastern European medicine for centuries as remedies for improvement of physical condition, treatment of anemia, depression, asthenia, impotence, gastro-intestinal and nervous system disorders and also as a immunostimulant and anti-inflammatory agent. This valuable plant grows naturally in Himalayas, Altai, Alps and the Carpatian mountains. Roseroot raw material contains phenylethanoids (salidroside and p-tyrosol) and cinnamic glycosides known as phenylpropanoids (rosin, rosavin and rosarin), that are considered the most important active substances identified in raw material. The objective of this experiment was to compare the content of phenolic compounds (salidroside, p-tyrosol) and cinnamic glycosides (rosarin, rosavin and rosin) determined by HPLC method, from particular morphological parts (roots, rhizomes, and for the first time – tips and above ground parts) of the raw material of R. rosea cultivated in Poland through seven following vegetation periods. In this study we found that significantly yearly increases in total phenylethanoids and phenylpropanoids concentrations occur with R. rosea grown in Poland. Rhizomes were characterized by highest amount of phenylpropanoids and phenylethanoids studied, in comparison to the other morphological parts of plants at the same age, whereas a certain amount of active substances were also found in the stems and leaves of Rhodiola rosea (on an average as twice as lower than in the under ground parts of plants). Thus, above ground parts of roseroot could be a potential source of phenylethanoids and phenylpropanoids for pharmacy. Roseroot harvested after only 3 year of vegetation contained significantly lower amounts of phenylethanoids and phenylpropanoids in under ground parts of plants than harvested after 4, 5 or 6 year. Since these phenolics and glycosides are the major active constituents of Rhodiola rosea, this change to an earlier harvest (before fourth or in appropriate cases in third year) may have an effect on the quality of the harvested raw material.

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