Salidroside

 

Why is salidroside produced through biotechnology? Let’s first introduce Rhodiola to better understand this.

 

Rhodiola is an adaptogenic plant found throughout Eurasia. It is generally recommended for people experiencing emotional disturbances, but it can also serve as an energizer or concentration aid. High-dose extracts are almost psychedelic—though that’s quite a subjective notion.

 

It only accumulates active compounds when grown above 2500 meters, as it requires ultraviolet light available at high altitude to develop them.

 

Add to this that the active principles are mainly found in the roots—so the plant must be killed to obtain them—that Rhodiola is a rare, protected, and slow-growing species...

 

Given all this, conditions were ideal for humans to seek another way to obtain Rhodiola’s active compounds.

 

About fifteen years ago, researchers began isolating the genes responsible for salidroside production and inserting them into bacteria cultivated in bioreactors.

 

We can now produce pure salidroside through biotechnology.

 

However, salidroside alone has different properties from Rhodiola, which contains many active compounds.

 

Therapeutic indications

 

Salidroside (nasal spray)** is currently being tested by a few individuals.

 

In nasal spray form, it allows for a rapid drop in cortisol levels, which decisively helps initiate a phase of rest and recovery.

 

We are currently improving our understanding of its pharmacological properties and refining its formulation.

 

We already share information about this extremely interesting compound to prepare for its potential wider use.

 

Salidroside likely has better tolerability than Rhodiola, notably because it is less stimulating and its action is more targeted.

 

It is an interesting molecule for the following areas:

 

- Concentration for studying, or for short-term memory issues related to aging  

- Endurance and muscle recovery  

- Neuroprotection: clinical studies are underway, but it is a good candidate for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, among others.  

 

This list is incomplete—it has many other interesting properties.

 

AlturLab and Salidroside

 

AlturLab aims to optimize the route of administration:

 

To modulate nervous system activity, it is often useful to find administration routes that act rapidly and for a short duration. For salidroside, we are evaluating its use as a nasal spray, which seems particularly promising for initiating a state of rest. Indeed, with age and our often hectic lives, many people struggle to calm down after days overloaded with information processing and cortisol secretion. The rapid cortisol reduction caused by salidroside is well documented. However, its use in nasal spray form is virtually unheard of—in fact, to our knowledge, we are the only ones testing it in this way.

 

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Rhodiola versus Salidroside

 

Rhodiola rosea (whole extract)

 

**Advantages:**

 

– Synergistic effect thanks to several active compounds (salidroside, rosavin, etc.), offering broad adaptogenic action, anti-fatigue benefits, and improvements in cognition and physical performance [1].

 

– Tradition and well-established safety for chronic stress management and aging prevention .

 

**Limitations:**

 

– Composition varies depending on origin, altitude, and growing conditions .  

– Extraction is destructive for the plant—Rhodiola is a rare and protected resource .  

– Potentially unwanted stimulating or excitatory effects in some individuals .

 

Salidroside (isolated molecule)

 

**Advantages:**

 

– Targeted effect; reproducibility and purity ensured via biotechnology .  

– Rapid action against acute stress, cortisol reduction, good tolerability, minimal central stimulation .  

– Suitable for precise needs (temporary neuroprotection, recovery, emergency situations) .

 

**Limitations:**

 

– Less “broad-spectrum” effect than the whole plant; lacks synergy from other compounds .  

– Fewer long-term clinical data compared to traditional Rhodiola preparations .

 

In summary, Rhodiola is preferred for a broad, long-term adaptogenic effect, whereas isolated salidroside targets rapid and precise actions with better tolerance for specific uses 

 

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TYROSOL INSTEAD OF SALIDROSIDE ?

It s,a reaserch trend

 the idea comes from the fact that salidroside is  immediately hydrolyzed into tyrosol and glucose and that it is therefore the tyrosol which is activeI 

 

I am a dancer

I have "discovered" a new use for a plant, totally legal and not considered a drug, with which something very special happens when I dance. It’s an experience I would like to share.

 

Is my personal experience reproducible?

My perception may be very personal: when I dance after taking high doses of Rhodiola, I feel an intense bodily presence, a multiplied vitality. Every movement becomes right, precise, and harmonious. I consider it an experience bordering on the psychedelic.

 

To my knowledge, no one uses this plant for “festive” purposes.

 

It is a purely cerebral stimulant: it doesn’t really have a direct influence on heart rate. So there is no cardiovascular risk even at high doses.

 

Rhodiola, an unprecedented use

Rhodiola is a stimulating plant, generally used to improve concentration at work or to support people with emotional disorders. It is usually recommended in low, regular doses for people with asthenia. It contains no caffeine but many alkaloids that act on sites corresponding to several major neurotransmitters.

Abstract

High-Dose Rhodiola rosea as a Catalyst for Flow StatesIn this exploratory project, I investigate the potential of high-dose Rhodiola rosea administration as a biological facilitator of the Flow state—a psychological condition in which action and consciousness merge, producing deep concentration, fluid performance, and intrinsic motivation.Drawing on personal experimentation combinations of 2–3 g of standardized Rhodiola extract with immersive creative activity such as contact improvisation dance, I hypothesize that the plant’s neurochemical and endocrine modulation may support the psychophysiological dynamics of Flow.Rhodiola appears to regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis by lowering cortisol, enhance dopaminergic and serotonergic activity through mild MAO inhibition, and promote antioxidant and neurotrophic processes, including increased BDNF and mitochondrial ATP synthesis. These combined effects sustain alertness, mental clarity, and adaptability—foundations of high-performance Flow states.The project seeks to examine Flow not only as an individual phenomenon but also as a collective dynamic emerging in group contexts such as dance, drawing, martial arts, or cooperative creative sessions. My goal is to explore Rhodiola as a safe, natural means to experimentally modulate consciousness toward sustained focus, cohesion, and emotional well-being.

 

More details

 

Rhodiola rosea and the Induction of Flow States

 

Rhodiola rosea is an adaptogenic plant traditionally used in cold regions of Asia and Europe to enhance both physical and mental resilience. Its principal active compounds—rosavins and salidroside—act on hormonal, neurochemical, and cellular antioxidant pathways. Distinct from conventional stimulants, Rhodiola does not alter cardiovascular parameters and remains remarkably safe even at high doses.In standard use, daily supplementation between 200 and 600 mg of standardized extract improves endurance, attention, and resistance to chronic stress. However, through personal experimentation with higher doses (2–3 g) combined with immersive creative activity—specifically dance improvisation—I have developed the hypothesis that Rhodiola may serve as a biological catalyst for the induction of Flow, the state of unity between action and consciousness.Pharmacological RationaleRegulation of Stress Hormones

 Rhodiola modulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, leading to decreased cortisol levels and a faster return to physiological balance after stress exposure. This modulation supports a state of poised alertness associated with the Flow experience—energized but without anxiety.Monoaminergic Modulation

Its active constituents appear to slow the degradation of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin through partial inhibition of monoamine oxidases. I interpret this as contributing to enhanced motivation, emotional equilibrium, and sustained attentional focus. Salidroside may additionally support cholinergic transmission, fostering mental clarity and fluid cognition—conditions central to the Flow process.Antioxidant, Neurotrophic, and Energetic Effects

Rhodiola activates antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, reduces oxidative stress, stimulates BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), and favors mitochondrial ATP synthesis. These effects collectively enhance neural plasticity and cognitive durability—physiological foundations for the sustained focus and adaptability characteristic of high-performance Flow states.Experimental FrameworkMy experimental approach aims to examine Flow as a psychophysiological interface where biology, psychology, and collective experience intersect. I propose that high-dose Rhodiola administration can help facilitate access to this state when paired with activities demanding focused engagement—such as contact improvisation dance, drawing, martial arts, or cooperative games with a team-building intent.I seek to collaborate with psychologists, dancers, psychiatrists, coaches, therapists, and facilitators to organize group sessions exploring Flow induction through guided movement or creative interaction. My working assumption is that any activity requiring sustained concentration acts as a behavioral catalyst for the merging of action and awareness, which defines Flow.Cultivating such states collectively may yield tangible psychological and social benefits: enhanced emotional stability, cohesion, creativity, and a shared sense of purpose.