Rhaponticum carthamoides (Maral Root)

Overview

Rhaponticum carthamoides (Mar al Root or Russian ginseng) is a perennial herb native to Siberian and Alpine regions. Its underground rhizome and root contain a unique blend of ecdysteroids, phenolics, and flavonoids that are harvested for use as a dietary supplement aimed at supporting physical performance, recovery, and overall vitality.

Benefits

Muscle strength & endurance: Standardized extracts (≈10 % 20‑hydroxyecdysone) can increase maximal voluntary contraction and reduce fatigue during resistance training, as shown in controlled trials in athletes and untrained subjects.
Cognitive resilience: Acute dosing (200 mg) improves short‑term memory and mental alertness in laboratory tests, likely via modulation of neuro‑trophic pathways.
Recovery & anti‑catabolic activity: Ecdysteroid‑rich extracts attenuate biomarkers of muscle damage (creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase) after high‑intensity exercise and support protein synthesis.
Metabolic support: Pre‑clinical work suggests enhancement of glucose uptake in skeletal muscle via AMPK activation, with modest reductions in fasting glucose observed in small human cohorts.
Adaptogenic & stress‑modulating: Limited data indicate reductions in perceived stress and cortisol levels after 4‑week supplementation in healthy adults.

How It Works

Primary Bioactive Agents: Ecdysteroids (predominantly 20‑hydroxyecdysone) bind to the intracellular ecdysone receptor (EcR) homologs present in mammalian cells.
Protein Synthesis: This binding triggers a cascade that activates the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, stimulating protein synthesis and inhibiting proteolysis.
Metabolic Enhancement: Ecdysteroids stimulate AMP‑activated protein kinase (AMPK), enhancing glucose uptake through GLUT4 translocation and improving mitochondrial biogenesis.
Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Effects: The flavonoid fraction (e.g., quercetin‑glycosides) contributes antioxidant activity and modulates the NF‑κB pathway, reducing inflammatory cytokine release.
Overall Effects: These actions improve muscle anabolic signaling, enhance energetic metabolism, and provide neuroprotective effects through up-regulation of brain‑derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and modulation of GABAergic transmission.

Dosage

Standard extract (≈10 % 20‑hydroxyecdysone): 200–400 mg per day, divided into two doses (morning and pre‑exercise).
Higher‑strength product (≈20 % 20‑hydroxyecdysone): 100–250 mg per day, taken 30–60 min before training for performance‑oriented protocols.
Adaptogenic/ cognitive use: 100–200 mg once daily, preferably with food to improve absorption of lipophilic compounds.
Loading phase (optional for athletes): 400 mg daily for 7 days, followed by a maintenance dose of 200 mg daily.
Special populations: Elderly or sedentary individuals should start at the low end (100 mg) and titrate up based on tolerance. No clear benefit is observed beyond 400 mg/day; higher doses have not shown additional efficacy.

Safety & Side Effects

General Tolerance: Rhaponticum carthamoides is generally well‑tolerated, with mild, transient side‑effects reported in <5 % of users (e.g., gastrointestinal discomfort, mild headache).
Contraindications: Pregnancy, lactation, and individuals with hormone‑sensitive conditions (e.g., breast, prostate, or ovarian cancers) due to the weak estrogenic activity of ecdysteroids.
Drug Interactions: Potential additive effect with anticoagulants (warfarin, DOACs) and with antihypertensives (possible additive hypotension).
Cautions: Caution is advised for patients on immunosuppressants or with thyroid dysfunction, as ecdysteroids may influence steroid hormone metabolism.
Avoidance: Children under 12 years, individuals with severe liver or kidney disease, and individuals taking hormonal therapy should avoid supplementation unless medically supervised.

Chemistry

Principal Bioactive: 20‑hydroxyecdysone, a polyhydroxylated sterol.
Molecular Formula: C₂₇H₄₄O₇
Molar Mass: 480.6 g mol⁻¹
IUPAC Name: (2S,3R,5S,7S,9R,10S,13R,14S,17R)-2,3,5,7,9,10,13,14‑octahydro‑1‑[2‑(hydroxymethyl)‑1‑oxo‑2‑(p‑hydroxy‑phenyl)‑1‑(3‑hydroxy‑4‑oxo‑dihydro‑pyran‑2‑yl)‑2‑hydroxy‑2‑(hydroxy‑4‑methylhex‑5‑en‑3‑yl)‑3‑hydroxy‑2‑oxo‑2‑(2‑hydroxy‑4‑methyl‑p‑hydroxy‑phenyl)‑1‑p‑hydroxy‑2‑oxo‑2‑(hydroxy‑4‑methyl‑p‑hydroxy‑phenyl)‑1‑p‑hydroxy‑2‑oxo‑2‑(hydroxy‑4‑methyl‑p‑hydroxy‑phenyl)‑1‑p‑hydroxy‑2‑oxo‑2‑(hydroxy‑4‑methyl‑p‑hydroxy‑phenyl)‑1‑p‑hydroxy‑2‑oxo‑2‑(hydroxy‑4‑methyl‑p‑hydroxy‑phenyl)‑1‑p‑hydroxy‑2‑oxo‑2‑(hydroxy‑4‑methyl‑p‑hydroxy‑phenyl)‑1‑p‑hydroxy‑2‑oxo‑2‑(hydroxy‑4‑methyl‑p‑hydroxy‑phenyl)‑1‑p‑hydroxy‑2‑oxo‑2‑(hydroxy‑p‑hydroxy‑phenyl)‑1‑p‑hydroxy‑2‑oxo‑2‑(hydroxy‑p‑hydroxy‑phenyl)‑1‑p‑hydroxy‑1‑p‑hydroxy‑p‑hydroxy‑p‑hydroxy‑p‑hydroxy‑p‑hydroxy (simplified for readability).
Key Structural Features: A polyhydroxylated cyclohexene ring, a keto‑function at C‑20, and multiple hydroxyl groups (C‑2, C‑3, C‑14, C‑20) that confer high polarity and enable receptor binding.
Other Components: The extract also contains flavonoid glycosides (e.g., quercetin‑3‑O‑glucoside) and phenolic acids (caffeic, chlorogenic) contributing to antioxidant capacity.

Sources & Quality

Harvest Location: Maral root is harvested from wild populations in the Altai, Siberian, and Mongolian high‑altitude steppes, where plants grow at 1 500–3 500 m elevation.
Harvesting Process: Commercially, the rhizome is harvested in autumn, washed, and freeze‑dried to preserve ecdysteroid content.
Extraction: Extraction typically uses 70 % ethanol or super‑critical CO₂, followed by spray‑drying to yield a standardized powder (10–20 % 20‑hydroxyecdysone).
Quality Control: Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facilities employ HPLC‑UV or LC‑MS verification to ensure consistent ecdysteroid concentrations and to limit contaminants (heavy metals, pesticide residues).
Sustainable Sourcing: Reputable suppliers use certified wild‑harvest or cultivated crops with traceability certificates and third‑party testing (e.g., USP, ISO 17025) to guarantee potency and purity.