Gastrodia elata | Supplementopedia

Overview

Gastrodia elata (family Orchidaceae) is a leaf‑less, myco‑heterotrophic orchid native to East Asia, cultivated primarily for its rhizome (often called “tian ma”). The dried rhizome has been used for centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as a neuro‑protective and anti‑inflammatory agent, and modern supplements aim to harness these properties for modern health‑support applications.

Benefits

Neuro‑cognitive support: Randomized trials in patients with migraine, anxiety, and mild cognitive impairment have shown that standardized G. elata extracts can reduce headache frequency (≈30 % reduction) and improve scores on the Mini‑Mental State Examination (≈1‑2‑point gain) versus placebo.
Antioxidant & anti‑inflammatory activity: In vivo rodent models demonstrate reduced oxidative stress markers (MDA ↓, SOD ↑) and lower pro‑inflammatory cytokines (TNF‑α, IL-6) after oral administration of 300 mg/day for 8 weeks.
Neuro‑protective in ischemia: Pre‑clinical studies indicate reduced infarct volume and improved motor function in rats subjected to cerebral ischemia when treated with 150 mg/kg of gastrodin (the main active constituent).
Sleep & mood regulation: Small human studies report improved sleep quality (PSQI score ↓ 1.5) and decreased scores on the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale in participants receiving 200 mg/day of standardized extract for 4 weeks.
Overall, evidence points to benefits in neurological health, oxidative stress mitigation, and mood regulation.

How It Works

The principal bioactive is gastrodin (4‑hydroxy‑benzyl‑β‑D‑glucoside), which readily crosses the blood–brain barrier.
Gastrodin is de‑glycosylated to p‑hydroxybenzyl alcohol in the brain, where it modulates several pathways:
- GABAergic modulation: Gastrodin enhances GABA‑A receptor function, increasing inhibitory neurotransmission, which underlies anxiolytic and anti‑seizure effects.
- Nrf2/ARE activation: This leads to up‑regulation of antioxidant enzymes (HO‑1, NQO1), reducing ROS production.
- PI3K/Akt and MAPK inhibition: These actions attenuate neuronal apoptosis and inflammation after ischemic injury.
- Monoamine regulation: Gastrodin reduces serotonin and dopamine turnover, contributing to mood stabilization.
Collectively, these mechanisms explain the neuro‑protective, anti‑oxidative, and anxiolytic actions observed in human and animal studies.

Dosage

Clinical studies have used standardized extracts containing 10–20 % gastrodin.
Typical daily doses range from 150 mg to 300 mg of gastrodin‑equivalent (often delivered as 300–600 mg of raw G. elata rhizome powder).
Cognitive/neurological uses: 200–300 mg/day (divided into two doses with meals) for 4–12 weeks.
Acute migraine or anxiety relief: 150 mg taken 30 min before a stressor or onset of headache, repeated up to three times per day.
Sleep support: 150 mg in the evening is common.
Higher doses (up to 600 mg/day) have been studied in animal models without adverse effects, but human data are limited.
Adjust dosage for body weight (≈2 mg/kg) when treating children or smaller adults, and consult a healthcare professional before combining with other CNS‑active agents.

Safety & Side Effects

Gastrodia elata is generally well‑tolerated; reported adverse events include mild gastrointestinal upset (nausea, mild diarrhea) and occasional transient dizziness.
Contraindications: Pregnant or lactating women, because animal data suggest possible uterine stimulation at high doses; thus it is usually avoided.
Drug interactions: Gastrodin may potentiate the sedation of GABA‑ergic drugs (benzodiazepines, barbiturates) and may affect the metabolism of CYP3A4 substrates (e.g., statins) through modest enzyme inhibition; caution is advised.
Special populations: Patients with liver impairment should use ≤150 mg/day due to limited hepatic clearance data.
Allergies: Rare, but patients with orchid‑family sensitization should avoid.
Overall, safety profile is favorable when used at recommended doses for ≤6 months; long‑term safety beyond 1 year remains unstudied.

Chemistry

The primary active compound is gastrodin (IUPAC: 4‑hydroxy‑benzyl β‑D‑glucoside, C₁₃H₁₈O⁶, molecular weight 258.27 g·mol⁻¹).
It is a phenolic glucoside featuring a β‑D‑glucose moiety attached to a p‑hydroxy‑benzyl core via a glycosidic bond.
The rhizome also contains p‑hydroxybenzyl alcohol, vanillin, and various polysaccharides.
Gastrodin is water‑soluble (≈ 30 mg mL⁻¹ at 25 °C) and stable under acidic conditions, but hydrolyzes to p‑hydroxybenzyl alcohol in alkaline environments.
The extract’s “standardized” form typically contains 10–20 % gastrodin, measured by HPLC with a detection limit of 0.1 % w/w.
Other minor constituents include p‑hydroxybenzaldehyde, saponins, and polysaccharides (β‑glucans), which contribute to immunomodulatory activity.

Sources & Quality

Wild G. elata grows in temperate forests of China (Sichuan, Yunnan), Japan, Korea, and parts of Russia.
Commercial production relies on cultivated, mycorrhizal‑grown plants in controlled greenhouse settings to ensure consistent gastrodin levels.
The rhizome is harvested, cleaned, and dried at ≤45 °C to preserve heat‑labile constituents.
Extraction typically uses aqueous‑ethanol (70 %) extraction followed by spray‑drying, yielding a powder standardized to 10–20 % gastrodin.
High‑quality supplements confirm identity via DNA barcoding and HPLC‑UV or LC‑MS fingerprinting.
Quality markers include gastrodin content, absence of heavy metals (<5 ppm Pb, As, Cd), and microbial limits (≤10³ CFU/g total aerobic count).
Look for third‑party certifications (USP, GMP) to ensure authenticity and minimal contamination.