Eleutherococcus senticosus

Eleutherococcus senticosus is a species of small, woody shrub in the family Araliaceae native to Northeastern Asia. It was formerly classified as Acanthopanax senticosis. In Chinese medicine it is known as Ci wu jia. It is commonly called eleuthero and when it came to the United States was initially marketed as Siberian ginseng, because its herbal properties are similar to those of Panax ginseng. However, it belongs to a different genus in the family Araliaceae. It is illegal to refer to Eleuthero as Siberian Ginseng in the United States at this time as "ginseng" only refers to Panax species.

The herb grows in mixed and coniferous mountain forests, forming low undergrowth or is found in groups in thickets and edges. Eleutherococcus is sometimes found in oak groves at the foot of cliffs, very rarely in high forest riparian woodland. It's native habitat is East Asia, China, Japan and Russia. Eleutherococcus is broadly tolerant of soils, growing in sandy, loamy and heavy clay soils with acid, neutral or alkaline chemistry and including soils of low nutritional value. It can tolerate sun or dappled shade and some degree of pollution. Eleutherococcus is a decidious shrub growing to 2m at a slow rate. It is hardy to zone 3. It flowers in July in most habitats. The flowers are hermaphrodite and are pollinated by insects.

Eleutherococcus is a new addition to Western natural medicine, but has quickly gained a reputation similar to that of the better known and more expensive Chinese Ginseng. Though the chemical make-up of the two herbs differs, their effects seem to be similar. An extensive list of research on Eleutherococcus with links to PubMed is shown at Herbmed.org

The herb is an adaptogen, is anticholesteremic, is mildly anti-inflammatory, is antioxidant, is a nervine and an immune tonic. It is useful when the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is depleted. Symptoms of this condition include fatigue, stress, neurasthenia and sore muscles associated with the hypofunctioning of the endocrine system, and adrenal exhaustion indicated by a quivering tongue, dark circles under the eyes, and dilating/contracting pupils. Eleuthero may alleviate these symptoms.

Ethnomedical use
Eleutherococcus is an adaptogen which has a wide range of health benefits attributed to its use. Currently, most of the research to support the medicinal use of Eleutherococcus is in Russian or Korean. Eleutherococcus contains eleutherosides, triterpenoid saponins which are lipophilic and which can fit into hormone receptors. Supporters of Eleutherococcus as medicine claim it possesses a variety of medicinal properties, such as:


 * increased endurance
 * memory improvement
 * anti-inflammatory
 * immunogenic
 * chemoprotective
 * radiological protection

Eleutherococcus senticosis,is less tonifying than the true Ginsengs (Panax sp.). It is neutral energetically and so is appropriate for daily use. Taken regularly, it enhances immune function, reduces cortisol levels and inflammatory response, and it promotes improved cognitive and physical performance. In human studies Eleuthero has been successfully used to treat bone marrow suppression caused by chemotherapy or radiation, angina, hypercholesterolemia, and neurasthenia with headache, insomnia, and poor appetite

The major constituents of Eleutherococcus are Ciwujianoside A-E, Eleutheroside B (Syringin), Eleutherosides A-M, Friedelin and Isofraxidin. Most of the active constituents in Eleutherococcus are triterpenoid saponins. Though all terpenoid compounds have bioactivity in mammals, it is the triterpenes that are most important to the adaptogenic effect. The majority of known triterpenoid compounds in Eleutherococcus are found as saponin glycosides which refers to the attachment of various sugar molecules to the triterpene unit. These sugars are usually cleaved off in the gut by bacteria, allowing the aglycone (triterpene) to be absorbed. Saponin glycosides have the characteristic of reducing surface tension of water and will strip the lipids. This allows them insert into cell membranes (Attele et al., 1999) and modify the composition, influence membrane fluidity, and potentially affect signaling by many ligands and cofactors.

Interactions and side effects

 * People with medicated high blood pressure should consult their doctor before taking Eleutherococcus as it may reduce their need for medication.
 * Eleutherococcus may cause light sleep in some people, principally those who are "wired". Users are recommended not to take it in the evening.
 * Eleutherococcus will enhance the effectiveness of micene class antibiotics.
 * Eleutherococcus when purchased from non GMP sources has occasionally been adulterated with Periploca which can potentiate digoxin or similar drugs, however this is not an interaction of Eleutherococcus.

References and external links

 * Brunner, R., Tabachnik, B. (1990). Soviet Training and Recovery Methods, pp.217-21. Sport Focus Publishing.
 * Bohn, B., Nebe, C.T. and Birr, C. (1987). Flow Cytometric Studies with Eleutherococcus senticosus extract as an Immunomodulating Agent. Drug Res. 37(10): 1193-1196.
 * Siberian ginseng article
 * Eleuthero article
 * http://dmd.aspetjournals.org/cgi/content/full/31/5/519
 * University of Maryland Alternative Medicine Reference
 * Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus)
 * Effects of various Eleutherococcus senticosus cortex on swimming time, natural killer activity and corticosterone level in forced swimming stressed mice.
 * Saleeby, J. P. "Wonder Herbs: A Guide to Three Adaptogens", Xlibris, 2006. (The second chapter is dedicated to Eleuthero.)
 * Winston, David & Maimes, Steven. “ADAPTOGENS: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief,” Healing Arts Press, 2007. Contains Russian research on Eleutherococcus and a monograph on the herb.