63 Extract of Rhodiola rosea Radix Reduces the Level of C-Reactive Protein and Creatinine Kinase in the Blood M. Abidov, S. Grachev, R. D. Seifulla, and T. N. Ziegenfuss Translated from Byulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 138, No. 7, pp. 73-75, July, 2004 Original article submitted December 19, 2003 The effects of extracts of Rhodiola rosea radix on blood levels of inflammatory C-reactive protein and creatinine kinase were studied in healthy untrained volunteers before and after exhausting exercise. Rhodiola rosea extract exhibited an antiinflammatory effect and protec- ted muscle tissue during exercise. Key Words: C-reactive protein; creatinine kinase; Rhodiola rosea; muscle protection; adaptogen Center of Modern Medicine, Ministry of Defense Industry of Rus- sian Federation; I. M. Setchenov Moscow Medical Academy; Rus- sian Center for Physical Culture Improvement, Moscow; Pinnacle Institute of Health and Human Performance, Wadsworth Medical Center, Wadsworth. Address for correspondence: Address for correspondence: Address for correspondence: Address for correspondence: Address for correspondence: info@abidov.ru. Abidov M.; tziegenfuss@wadsnet.com. Ziegenfuss T. N. Professional athletes effectively use Rhodiola rosea (“golden radix”) extract as a safe nonsteroid food ad- ditive improving endurance and rapid recovery of muscles during several decades [7]. Rhodiola rosea extract improves muscle work due to mobilization and more economic expenditure of energy resources of muscles [1]. The use of adaptogens including R. rosea improved physical endurance of male athletes, redu- cing blood lactate level and accelerating recovery after exhausting exercise [2,6,7]. Muscle injury involves inflammation (increase in blood IL-6 level) and increases the risk of myocardial infarction in subjects with latent cardiovascular dis- eases (particularly in those neglecting regular exerci- ses) [9]. The inflammatory process plays an important role in the etiology of coronary disease. The relation- ship between increased blood concentrations of C-re- active protein (CRP) and creatinine kinase (CK) and muscle injuries in untrained subjects after exhausting physical exercise was demonstrated [12]. Here the effect of regular treatment with R. rosea extract and plasma levels of CRP and CK in untrained subjects before and after maximum exercise was eva- luated in a double-blind placebo-controlled study. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was carried out in 36 healthy untrained volunteers aged 21-24 years. All were non-smokers without symptoms of cardiovascular diseases for 12 months preceding the study and took no antiinflamma- tory drugs for 6 months before the study. Caffeine or ethanol-containing drinks were prohibited during the study. VO 2 max, weight, fat percentage (by Moreno’s method [13]), and initial blood levels of CRP and CK were measured before the study, after which the vo- lunteers were randomly divided into 3 groups. The test for normal distribution and analysis of dispersions showed no appreciable differences between the groups. Group 1 (n=12) received 340 mg RHODAX (pre- paration containing 30 mg active substances of R. ro- sea extract) twice a day (in the morning and evening) and group 2 (n=12) received 340 mg placebo for 30 days before and 6 days after exhausting physical exer- cise. Group 3 (n=12) served as the control. Exhausting physical exercise test was carried out on a computer- aided bicycle ergometer. The initial exercise of 20 W was gradually increased by 10 W/min. The test was discontinued after attaining physical exhaustion, when the volunteer could no longer rotate the pedals at a rate of 60 cycle/min. Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, No. 7, 2004 PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY 0007-4888/04/1381-0063 © 2004 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.