The scientific journal Medicinal Research Reviews published a review which provides a synopsis of herbs and other botanical ingredients considered to be adaptogens, and their use in modernity. Entitled “Evolution of the adaptogenic concept from traditional sue to medical systems: Pharmacology of stress- and aging-related diseases,” this paper was written by a multinational group of 11 medicinal plant experts based in various regions of Asia and Europe, and comes at a time when herbal adaptogens are becoming more widely used, with physical and mental stress serving as the primary drivers motivating consumption.
 
While many adaptogens have been utilized in traditional forms of medicine across the globe for millennia, the concept of adaptogenic herbs in the modern sense was established in World War II in Russia, the authors report. Since then, the concept that herbs can provide resilience to environmental and mental stressors has gained increased acceptance, as evidenced by the market success of herbs such as ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Asian Ginseng (Panax ginseng), eleuthero (eleutherococcus senticosus), and rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea).
 
The publication is 74 pages long, citing 628 references. An important aspect of the paper is an analysis of the definition of the word adaptogen, which has varied among authors over the 60-year history of the word’s use. Given the current trendiness of the word, and the propensity of some marketers to use the word incorrectly, consumers likely have varied impressions of what adaptogens accomplish on a generalized level. The authors discuss traditional medicine systems which first utilized adaptogenic herbs in both Asia and Europe, and provide a list of 109 plant species that are listed in the literature as adaptogenic or anti-stress herbs.
 
Much of the review focuses on the physiological mechanisms that underly adaptogenic effects, and which signaling pathways in the human body are impacted by the adaptogenic response. This large body of evidence is contrasted by a comparatively short paragraph summarizing the results of clinical studies involving the adaptogens Andrographis (Andrographis paniculata), ashwagandha, Asian ginseng, eleuthero, rhodiola, and Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis).
 
“The key to understanding adaptogens is their role in establishing and maintaining adaptive homeostasis by building the body’s natural resistance to stressors, which may be physical, chemical, biological, and psychological in nature. Adaptogens function like stress vaccines to activate the body’s defense system and metabolic rate, reversing the negative physical effects of stress and restoring the body’s balance and health,” the authors concluded.
 
They believe that the body of literature spanning adaptogens’ history provides evidence that certain adaptogenic compounds modulate the human immune response beneficially, that it appears they may be able to mitigate the risk of developing a wide host of age-related chronic diseases.
 
“In conclusion, the evolution of the adaptogenic concept has led back to basics of traditional medicinal systems and a new level of understanding of holistic approach. It provides a rationale for their use in stress-induced and aging-related diseases.