Rhaponticum
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Background and Traditional Use of Rhaponticum
Rhaponticum carthamoides , also known as Leuzea carthamoides and/or Maral root, is an herbal perennial that grows only on the mountain slopes of southern Siberia. Because of its rarity in nature and because the plant grows slowly, the harvesting of wild-growing Rhaponticum is restricted and controlled by the Russian government.
The usage of Rhaponticum as a medicinal plant came about as the result of observations made by local hunters who became fascinated by the behavior of a breed of deer known as Marals. During mating season, when male deer fight each other, they could be seen digging out and eating the Rhaponticum root, (known at that time as Leuzea root), in order to restore their strength. Acting upon this information, local healers started using the root and learned that men who ingested dried Leuzea root would recover from the effects of fatigue and, as an added benefit, experienced an increase in sexual potency. From that point on, Leuzea was called Maral root, which has since been adopted as the official common name. Modern research done in Russia and Eastern Europe has shown that Maral Root may in fact be of benefit in cases of impotence, lead to improvements in memory and learning capacity, increase working capacity of tired skeletal muscles, and possess anabolic and adaptogenic properties.
In 1993, following the amazing success of Chinese endurance athletes, it came to light that coach Ma Junren was secretly using adaptogens, specifically, Cordyceps, Rhodiola rosea, Eleuthero, and Leuzea carthamoides, a legal herbal alternative to anabolic steroids.
Benefits of Rhaponticum
Improves muscular performance, endurance, strength, and coordination
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Speeds up recovery time following mental, physical, or sexual exertion
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Helps resist effects of stress on the body
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Increases restoration rate of ATP
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Aids in increasing muscle mass
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Improves ability to focus and concentrate on mental tasks while mentally fatigued (men)
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Increases resistance to the common cold
Active Compounds in Rhanponticum
Key active constituents responsible for specific anabolic effect of Rhaponticum carthamoides is a mixture of compounds called, "levseins". Levseins represents a complex of more than 10 ecdysterones including 20-beta-ecdysterone, makisterone C, 24-dehydromakisterone A, carthamosterone, polypodyne B and ajugasterone C.
Ecdysteroids are hormones controlling cell proliferation, growth and the development. Ecdysteroids are accumulated to high levels in leaves and roots of Rhanponticum and have medicinal values. A pharmacological preparation from this plant, "Ekdisten”, is already available as a commercial preparation for its anabolic, tonic and other physiological effects.
Rhanponticum Enhanced Sport Performance
According to Russian researchers the Rhanponticum extract stimulates muscle protein synthesis by increasing the activity of the polyribosomes. Polyribosomes are the cellular compartments where the actual protein synthesis takes place. Researchers extracted and purified various ecdysteroids from Leuzea and found that the ecdysteroids increased the mass of the developing quails in a dose-dependent manner, with the rate of increase proportional to the ecdysteroids content. It was evident that the plethora of growth-promoting, vitamin-like effects induced by Leuzea is mediated by ecdysteroids. However it is important to point out that the mixture of ecdysterones was found to be responsible for enhancement of muscle protein synthesis. The research indicated that the whole extract of Rhaponticum carthamoides containing mixture of levseins possess much superior physiological activity compared with the activity of purified individual constituents. Results indicated that 0.5mg/kg body weight is the optimal dosage of 20-beta-ecdysterone in any sport and performance formula.
Rhanponticum- Natural Anabolic
Rhanponticum is a natural anabolic that had a long history of use by Soviet sports teams. Rhaponticum extract induce endurance and muscle cell growth. Beta-ecdysterone, goes directly to the ribosome and accelerates translation, or direct protein synthesis. Levseins doubles the rate of translation and is very safe. Aside from increasing the rate of muscle growth, this same plant sterol strengthens kidney and liver function.
Rhanponticum Lowered IgG, IgA, and C3 Concentration
The effect of 20-day administration of Leuzea extract on humoral immunity of track and field runners for distances of 5,000 and 10,000 m was studied. Intensive cyclic physical activity induced a significant decrease of IgG and IgA in blood serum of the athletes as well as the complement C3 component on the 10th and 20th days. Leuzea extract contributed to restoration of the lowered IgG, IgA, and C3 concentration. The working capacity of the athletes grew by 10 to 15% in this case. Leuzea extract in combination with L-Carnitine and Acetyl-L-Carnitine when used for 10 days significantly increased the maximum running speed and endurance, whereas L-Carnitine alone failed.
Leuzea extract considerably increases the working capacity of tired skeletal muscles and increases their content of glycogen, ATP and Creatine Phosphate. Rhanponticum is traditionally combined with Rhodiola rosea and is not only used by professional athletes, but is also widely used as an everyday health tonic for increasing mental and physical health, reduce fatigue, and improve memory.
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