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Eleuthero improves lipid metabolism, physical
fitness, and immune function
A Polish study in healthy volunteers showed that eleuthero (Eleutherococcus
senticosus) was more effective than echinacea in improving
parameters of cardiovascular health, fitness, and immune function
after 30 days of treatment. The 50 study participants were randomly
divided into two groups and treated with the eleuthero preparation
Taigutan (a 1:1 ethanol extract at a dose of 25 drops three times
daily) or the echinacea product Echinacin Madaus (40 drops three
times daily) for 30 days. The eleuthero group had statistically
significant reductions in levels of total cholesterol, low density
lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, free fatty acids, triglycerides,
and glucose compared with the echinacea group. There was also
a statistically significant difference in immune system function
among those taking eleuthero, as demonstrated by tests of phagocytic
activity and spontaneous blastic transformation of lymphocytes,
but only insignificant changes in numbers of lymphocytes able
to stimulate cytokine production. In addition, spirometric tests
of physical fitness were performed on 20 randomly selected participants.
Those taking eleuthero showed statistically significant increases
in maximal oxygen uptake after 30 days of treatment, compared
with no change in the echinacea group. Szolomicki S, Samchowiec
L, Wójcicki, et al. The influence of active components
of Eleutherococcus on cellular defense and phyisical fitness
in man. Phytotherapy Research 2000; 14: 30-35.
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