INTRUDUCTION

Eleutherococcus senticosus belongs to the same family as Panax ginseng, or “true ginseng”. The geographical distribution of the eleutherococcus shrub is adjacent to the distribution of P. ginseng. Eleutherococcus is found in forests at elevations of up to 800 m or more above sea level. Male plants produce violet flowers, while female plants have yellowish flowers; the fruits are black, oval berries. Most commonly, the root is used in herbal medicine. However, it was found that leaves and berries also have medical value. Because it grows abundantly in areas such as Russia and China, it has become a popular substitute for ginseng.

 

USES

Eleutherococcus is similar to common ginseng in its properties and alleged effects; however, documentation is limited. Extracts of the root have been used for a wide variety of therapeutic purposes and are said to have an adaptogenic effect. It exhibits cardiovascular as well as mood- and energy-enhancing effects.

 

Traditional/Ethnobotanical uses

Eleutherococcus has been studied extensively in Russia. It is used as a health food in China, but Asian folk medicine largely has ignored eleutherococcus in favor of its relative, ginseng. As with ginseng, root extracts of the plant have been promoted as “adaptogens” that aid the body in responding to external (eg, environmental) and internal (eg, a disease) stress. The plant extracts have been used to normalize high or low blood pressure, to stimulate the immune system, and to increase work capacity. Reputed effects include increasing body energy levels, protection from motion sickness and against toxins, control of alloxan-induced diabetes, reduction of tumors, and control of atherosclerosis.