Maral Root (Rhaponticum carthamoides)
1. Identity: Botanical Classification, Names, and Natural Source
Rhaponticum carthamoides, synonym Leuzea carthamoides, is a species of herbaceous perennial plant in the family Asteraceae, known as maral root or rhaponticum. It is commonly referred to as maral root or Russian leuzea and has been used for centuries in eastern parts of Russia for its marked medicinal properties.
The plant is endemic in the Altai and Saian Mountains of South Siberia, where it naturally occurs in the alpine and subalpine meadows at 1,200–2,300 m above sea level. It can be found growing wild in Southern Siberia, Kazakhstan, the Altay region, and Western Sayan Mountains. During the last few decades, the plant has been introduced to various regions of Central and Eastern Europe, where it is now widely grown for its marked medicinal properties.
The plant is a perennial herb, up to 150 cm high, endemic in the Altai and Saian Mountains of South Siberia, where it naturally occurs in the alpine and subalpine meadows at 1,200–2,300 m above sea level. It is a perennial plant with a woody, shortened, and horizontal rhizome. Its color is dark brown with a brown tint. Thin delicate roots spread from the rhizomes. The stems of the plant are hollow inside, have a slight ribbing, and their surface is slightly webbed. The plant has a resinous odor and can grow up to 2 meters. The leaves are large, dark green in color, alternate, irregular pinnate, toothed, and pointed. The flowers are small, purple-lilac or pink in color, tubular, collected in single apical, large, almost spherical inflorescences.
The plant carries several accepted synonyms and common names in scientific and commercial use. Common names include maral root, leuzea, Russian leuzea, safflower leuzea, safflower rhaponticum, and rhaponticum. The scientific name Stemmacantha carthamoides also appears in some taxonomic literature as an additional synonym. The rhizomes and roots constitute the primary medicinal part of the plant.
The drug Rhapontici carthamoidis rhizomata cum radicibus has been monographed in the State Pharmacopoeia of Russia, 14th edition, as a tonic and adaptogen agent. Rhizomes and roots of leuzea were approved in official medicine and were included in the 9th edition of the State Pharmacopoeia of the USSR in 1961.
Common Preparations and Dosage Forms
In contemporary applications, extracts derived from the roots and rhizomes of R. carthamoides, or specific compounds isolated from these structures, are incorporated into dietary supplements for their adaptogenic and tonic properties. These supplements are employed to promote muscle growth, treat impotence, alleviate mental and physical fatigue, and support recovery following surgery or illness.
Maral root is available in capsule form as well as in tincture, powder, and dried whole root forms. Maral root tincture can be taken by mouth or added by the dropperful to a glass of water. Maral root powder is often added to juice or a protein drink. The whole dried root is typically steeped in hot water to make a decoction; the flavor is generally described as bland with slightly sweet and bitter notes.
The fluid extract and the crude ecdysteroid fraction obtained from the roots are used in the production of Ecdysten tablets, which are used in official medicine in Russia. Rhaponticum carthamoides extract has also been incorporated into popular Russian beverages such as "Baikal" and "Sayani."
2. Traditional and Historical Use
The history of R. carthamoides as a medicinal plant began ages ago when local hunters in Altai observed the behaviour of the maral deer (Cervus elaphus sibiricus), which seemed to restore its strength after feeding on its roots. Their observation gave the traditional name "maral root" to the plant and initiated its use by local healers.
In traditional medicine of Siberia, it has long been used in cases of overstrain and common weakness after illness. Leuzea carthamoides has a long history of therapeutic use in traditional Siberian medicine for its tonic and adaptogenic effects and as a remedy for male sexual dysfunction.
Rhaponticum carthamoides has a rich history in traditional medicine, particularly in Siberia, Russia, and Central Asia. For centuries, local populations have revered this herb for its remarkable adaptogenic properties, using it to enhance physical performance, stamina, and resilience to stress. Traditionally, it was consumed as a tonic to combat fatigue and accelerate recovery after illness or strenuous activity. Shepherds and hunters valued its roots, believing it increased strength and endurance during arduous journeys through harsh environments.
In folk remedies, the root was often brewed into teas, tinctures, or infusions. It was commonly used to invigorate the body, support cardiovascular health, and improve cognitive functions such as memory and focus. Among the Buryat people and other Siberian cultures, maral root was also used to aid recovery after childbirth and to support male reproductive health.
A decoction from rhizomes and roots has been used in traditional medicine as a stimulating and anti-fatigue agent for quick recovery after illnesses and against impotence.
Brekhman and Dardymov referred Rhaponticum carthamoides to the group of classical adaptogens. The term "adaptogen" itself was coined by Russian pharmacologists to describe substances that non-specifically increase resistance to a wide range of adverse influences.
In the last century, the muscle- and strength-building qualities of Rhaponticum were largely investigated in Russia, where various preparations were commonly used by elite Soviet and Russian athletes who were exhausted by hard training to increase psychological and physical performance. The most active phytoecdysteroid, ecdysterone, was already suspected to be used by Russian Olympic athletes since the 1980s.
3. Key Constituents and Active Compounds
Several different classes of compounds have been previously isolated from various parts of R. carthamoides, of which the main groups are steroids, particularly ecdysteroids, and phenolics (flavonoids and phenolic acids) accompanied with polyacetylenes, sesquiterpene lactones, triterpenoid glycosides, and terpenes (essential oil).
Phytoecdysteroids
The most pharmacologically prominent class of compounds in maral root is the phytoecdysteroids. R. carthamoides is high in 20-hydroxyecdysone, a steroidal substance that can disrupt the molting and reproduction of arthropods. Key active constituents responsible for the specific anabolic effect of Rhaponticum carthamoides include a mixture of compounds called "levseins," which represent a complex of more than 10 ecdysterones including 20-beta-ecdysterone, makisterone C, 24-dehydromakisterone A, carthamosterone, polypodyne B, and ajugasterone C.
High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis has confirmed the presence of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), ponasterone A, and turkesterone in R. carthamoides root extract.
Phenolic Compounds
The principal bioactive constituents of this plant include ecdysteroids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. Among the flavonoids, the plant contains compounds such as eriodictyol, patuletin, and quercetin derivatives. Transformed roots of R. carthamoides can produce flavonoid glycosides including quercetagetin, quercetin, luteolin, and patuletin hexosides. Caffeoylquinic acid derivatives (chlorogenic acid-type compounds) have also been identified as significant phenolic constituents of the plant's aerial and root tissues.
Additional Constituents
Rhizomes and roots of Rhaponticum carthamoides also contain resinous substances, essential oil, tannins, alkaloids, gums, carotene, ascorbic acid, triterpene glycosides, repdiolide, anthocyan glycosides, triterpenoids, inokosterone, trachelogenin, tracheloside, inulin, retinol, and mineral salts, in particular phosphorus salts.
4. Mechanisms of Action
Anabolic / Protein Synthesis Pathway
In mouse skeletal muscle cell line C2C12, 20-hydroxyecdysone (20HE), a common phytoecdysteroid in both insects and plants, elicited a rapid elevation in intracellular calcium, followed by sustained Akt activation and increased protein synthesis. The effect was inhibited by a G-protein Coupled Receptor (GPCR) inhibitor, a phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor, and a phosphoinositide kinase-3 (PI3K) inhibitor.
In C2C12 murine myotubes and human primary myotubes, phytoecdysteroids increased protein synthesis by up to 20%. In vivo, ecdysteroids increased rat grip strength. Ecdysteroid-containing plant extracts produced similar results.
According to Russian researchers, the Leuzea extract stimulates muscle protein synthesis by increasing the activity of the polyribosomes.
Other studies have elucidated the mechanism of action of 20-hydroxyecdysone on human muscle cells, which appears to involve relatively selective activation of estrogen receptor beta (ERβ), known to result in muscle hypertrophy. However, the precise receptor-level mechanism remains under investigation. In spite of more than 40 years of research, the mechanism of action of these molecules on mammals and humans has not been fully elucidated. Several data favour an action on membranes through a GPCR receptor, whereas others suggest the involvement of a nuclear receptor, the estrogen receptor ERβ. There is in fact no direct evidence for the binding of 20E to nuclear estrogen or androgen receptors.
Adaptogenic / Stress-Resistance Mechanisms
Various types of preparations, extracts, and individual compounds derived from this species have been found to possess a broad spectrum of pharmacological effects on several organs such as the brain, blood, cardiovascular and nervous systems as well as on different biochemical processes and physiological functions including proteosynthesis, work capacity, reproduction, and sexual function.
Anti-Adipogenic Mechanisms
Results from in vitro experiments revealed that R. carthamoides extract (RCE), 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), and turkesterone (TU) significantly reduced lipid accumulation in human adipocytes, demonstrating anti-adipogenic activity. Moreover, RCE and 20E were found to effectively stimulate basal lipolysis.
5. Scientific Evidence by Area of Use
5.1 Athletic Performance and Skeletal Muscle
Animal and in vitro evidence: The primary interest in ecdysteroids stems from research suggesting they have anabolic properties in mammals, promoting tissue growth, particularly in skeletal muscle. Studies on animal models and isolated muscle cells indicate that 20-hydroxyecdysone stimulates muscle protein synthesis. In rodents, the hypertrophic effect on muscle fiber size has sometimes been observed to be comparable to, or greater than, that of certain synthetic anabolic agents. The mechanism by which ecdysteroids facilitate muscle growth is distinct from traditional anabolic-androgenic steroids.
Currently, Rhaponticum is used in preparations such as dietary supplements for its adaptogenic and tonic properties that promote muscle growth and increase the body's resistance to stress, such as trauma and fatigue. In the last century, the muscle- and strength-building qualities of Rhaponticum were largely investigated in Russia, where various preparations were commonly used by elite Soviet and Russian athletes who were exhausted by hard training to increase psychological and physical performance.
A 2020 animal study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition examined both Rhaponticum carthamoides and Rhodiola rosea extracts in combination with resistance exercise in rats. The aim was to investigate the acute and chronic effects of resistance exercise coupled with Rha and Rho supplementation on protein synthesis, muscle phenotype, and physical performance. For the acute study, fifty-six rats were assigned to either a trained control group or one of the groups treated with specific doses of Rha and/or Rho. Each rat performed a single bout of climbing resistance exercise. Rhaponticum-based supplementation was shown to increase body weight and muscle mass.
Human/clinical evidence: A few small-scale human studies from Russia and Eastern Europe (dating from the 1970s–1990s) suggested positive effects on muscle strength and recovery, though these studies often lack rigorous controls and are not widely available in English.
The most significant human clinical trial related to ecdysteroids derived from this plant was conducted by Isenmann et al. (2019) at the German Sport University Cologne, funded by the World Anti-Doping Agency. This was a 10-week randomized controlled trial involving strength training for young men (n=46). Various doses of ecdysterone-containing supplements were administered to assess their performance-enhancing effects. Research participants supplemented with high-dose ecdysterone (i.e., 48 mg of ecdysterone) showed a significant increase in muscle mass (2.0 kg delta). Significantly higher increases in muscle mass were observed in those participants that were dosed with ecdysterone. The same hypertrophic effects were also detected in vitro in C2C12 myotubes. Even more relevant with respect to sports performance, significantly more pronounced increases in one-repetition bench press performance were observed. No increase in biomarkers for liver or kidney toxicity was noticed.
It is important to note that the Isenmann et al. (2019) study used purified ecdysterone as a supplement rather than whole maral root extract directly, though R. carthamoides is a primary commercial source of ecdysterone. The study, funded by the World Anti-Doping Agency, demonstrated a significant dose-responsive anabolic effect.
A human study examining immune function in athletes was conducted by Azizov and Seifulla (1997). The effect of 20-day administration of leuzea extract on humoral immunity of track and field runners for distances of 5,000 and 10,000 m was studied. Intensive cyclic physical activity induced a significant decrease of IgG and IgA in blood serum of the athletes as well as the complement C3 component on the 10th and 20th days. Leuzea extract contributed to the restoration of the lowered IgG, IgA, and C3 concentration. The working capacity of the athletes grew by 10 to 15% in this case.
A multi-ingredient herbal study was also conducted as a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial examining a blend of maral root and rhodiola. The purpose was to examine the acute effects of an herbal supplement containing a 70:30 blend of Rhaponticum carthamoides extract and Rhodiola rosea extract, respectively, on performance fatigability and the affective responses prior to and following exercise. Thirty men (age = 22.3 ± 4.1 years) volunteered for this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over study. Following familiarization, participants visited the laboratory on three separate occasions where they consumed one 350 mg dose, a 175 mg dose of the supplement plus 175 mg of maltodextrin, or a placebo.
Evidence strength for athletic performance: Systematic reviews and modern clinical trials are limited, and results in human populations remain inconclusive. While there is a scientific rationale and some preliminary evidence for Rhaponticum's use as an exercise aid, the quality and quantity of clinical data do not yet provide strong validation. Its use is better substantiated than many herbal supplements in sports, but further well-designed human trials are needed to confirm efficacy and safety. The human evidence base relies heavily on a small number of trials, several of which originate from the Soviet/Eastern European sports medicine literature and are not available in full English translation. Purified ecdysterone (as a constituent) has somewhat stronger—though still preliminary—human trial evidence than whole maral root extract per se.
5.2 Metabolic Syndrome, Lipid Metabolism, and Glucose Regulation
A rat study published in PMC examined the effects of Rhaponticum carthamoides extract on metabolic syndrome. The study investigated the therapeutic potential of R. carthamoides extract (ERC) in a rat model with high-fat diet-induced signs of metabolic syndrome. Six-month-old male Wistar Albino Glaxo rats were subjected to eight weeks of a standard diet, HFD, or HFD in which ERC, EGG, or EPG powders were incorporated at 300 mg/kg/day. ERC powder supplementation improved glucose and lipid metabolism more significantly than the comparators in rats fed on HFD, supporting the strategy of R. carthamoides use for safe relief of metabolic syndrome and its related disturbances such as inflammation, stress, and hepatic steatosis.
A 2023 in vitro study published in Nutrients investigated anti-adipogenic activity. A comparative analysis was conducted to investigate the effects of RCE and its secondary metabolites on adipogenesis and adipolysis. The evaluation was performed using human Simpson–Golabi–Behmel syndrome cells, where lipid staining and measurement of released glycerol and free fatty acids were employed. The results revealed that RCE, 20E, and TU significantly reduced lipid accumulation in human adipocytes, demonstrating anti-adipogenic activity. Moreover, RCE and 20E were found to effectively stimulate basal lipolysis.
Evidence strength: Evidence in this area is currently limited to animal models and cell culture experiments. No controlled human trials specifically addressing metabolic syndrome or lipid regulation with R. carthamoides have been published in peer-reviewed literature to date.
5.3 Antioxidant and DNA-Protective Effects
R. carthamoides is known to have adaptogenic, immunomodulatory, anticarcinogenic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities. A PMC-published study examined antioxidant and DNA repair effects. This was the first report to reveal the protective and DNA repair stimulating abilities of R. carthamoides root extracts in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells exposed to an oxidative agent. Antioxidant effects are attributed in part to the flavonoid and phenolic acid content of the extract, as flavonoids are well known in respect to their strong antioxidant properties.
The antioxidant activity of bioreactor-grown shoot extract was assessed in vitro using three cell-free assay systems: hydroxyl radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide reduction, and superoxide anion scavenging.
Evidence strength: Antioxidant activity has been demonstrated consistently in in vitro systems. No controlled human trials evaluating the antioxidant effects of maral root in humans have been located in the peer-reviewed literature.
5.4 Immunomodulatory Effects
Various types of preparations, extracts, and individual compounds derived from this species have been found to possess a broad spectrum of pharmacological effects on several organs such as the brain, blood, cardiovascular and nervous systems as well as on different biochemical processes and physiological functions including proteosynthesis, work capacity, reproduction, and sexual function. Antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anticancerogenic, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, and insect antifeedant or repellent activities have been reported. The human athlete trial by Azizov and Seifulla (1997) (described above in section 5.1) provides some indirect human evidence for immunomodulatory effects, specifically showing restoration of suppressed immunoglobulin levels during intensive training.
Evidence strength: Preliminary, based primarily on animal and in vitro evidence, with one human study in athletes that assessed immune markers as a secondary outcome during exercise.
5.5 Cardiovascular and Nervous System Effects
Modern pharmacological studies have further validated the diverse biological activities of this genus, including antihypertensive, lipid-regulating, immunomodulatory, antitumor, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-influenza effects, providing scientific support for its traditional medicinal value.
In 2024, the Food and Drug Administration approved a study on the efficacy of 20-hydroxyecdysone in treating obesity, focusing on muscle strength improvement in the lower limbs. This signals growing regulatory interest in ecdysteroid-containing preparations at the clinical level, though the study's results are not yet available in the published literature.
Evidence strength: Cardiovascular and neuroprotective effects attributed to maral root constituents are primarily based on animal research and have not yet been validated in human clinical trials specific to R. carthamoides.
5.6 Longevity and Aging (Preclinical)
A 2025 PMC-published study examined maral root extract and 20-hydroxyecdysone in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. Keywords for this work included: Caenorhabditis elegans, adaptogens, Rhaponticum carthamoides, 20-hydroxyecdysone, longevity, lifespan, and aging. This research underscored RCE's role in modulating lipid homeostasis and triglyceride accumulation in the nematode model. The MDPI review on 20-hydroxyecdysone further explored whether the compound may act as a calorie restriction mimetic and anti-aging compound, primarily based on mechanistic studies.
Evidence strength: Very preliminary; limited to model organism (C. elegans) and in vitro work. No human longevity data exist.
5.7 Male Reproductive Function
Leuzea carthamoides has a long history of therapeutic use in traditional Siberian medicine for its tonic and adaptogenic effects and as a remedy for male sexual dysfunction. Dietary supplements containing maral root extract are employed to promote muscle growth, treat impotence, alleviate mental and physical fatigue, and support recovery following surgery or illness. Scientific evidence in this area is limited to traditional use reports and pharmacological studies on reproductive function cited in the broader review literature; no modern randomized controlled trials in humans specifically addressing erectile dysfunction or male fertility with R. carthamoides have been identified in the peer-reviewed literature.
Evidence strength: Primarily based on traditional use claims with no modern clinical trial evidence.
6. Dosage Forms and Doses Reported in Studies
In the Isenmann et al. 10-week strength training intervention on young men (n=46), subjects were divided into one of four groups: placebo + training, ecdysterone (two capsules daily) + training, ecdysterone (eight capsules daily), or control (two capsules daily but no training). The training regimen included three sessions per week comprising six barbell exercises targeting the entire body. Research participants supplemented with high-dose ecdysterone (i.e., 48 mg of ecdysterone) showed a significant increase in muscle mass (2.0 kg delta).
In the crossover trial examining a Rhaponticum/Rhodiola blend, participants consumed either one 350 mg dose, a 175 mg dose of the supplement plus 175 mg of maltodextrin, or a placebo.
In the rat metabolic syndrome model, ERC powders were incorporated into the diet at 300 mg/kg/day over eight weeks.
In the 20-day study of leuzea extract in track and field runners, the protocol involved 20-day administration of leuzea extract.
Regarding traditional dosage forms, maral root tinctures—prepared by soaking roots in alcohol—are typically taken at a dose of 15 drops at the same times of day. Liquid extract available in Russian pharmacies is recommended to be taken at 20–30 drops daily.
No globally standardized dosage guidelines exist for maral root preparations, and doses vary considerably between preparations and study protocols. Most modern supplement preparations are standardized to ecdysteroid content, though standardization practices are not uniform across the industry.
7. Safety Considerations
Toxicological Profile
Among plant species containing phytoecdysteroids, R. carthamoides was shown to be very safe even at high doses. The acute toxic effects of Rhaponticum carthamoides liquid extract (1:1; 40% ethanol) were studied on male albino mice after intraperitoneal or subcutaneous injections. The extract did not produce mortality of animals at doses up to 40,000 mg/kg either 24 hours or 7 days after both injection routes. The corneal and pinna reflexes, irritability, and muscle tone of animals were not significantly affected by doses up to 5 g/kg.
In the Isenmann et al. human ecdysterone trial, no increase in biomarkers for liver or kidney toxicity was noticed.
In terms of phytochemical safety from a raw material standpoint, medicinal raw materials from R. carthamoides were found to meet established sanitary and toxicological safety standards for the content of pollutants: the plant does not accumulate heavy metals (Hg, Cd, As, Zn, Ni, Cu, Cr) above the background level; there are no prohibited chlorine and organophosphorus compounds; and radionuclide, nitrate, and nitrite content is below norms of maximum allowable concentration.
Regulatory and Anti-Doping Status
Increasing numbers of dietary supplements with ecdysteroids are marketed as "natural anabolic agents." Their advertising promises to increase strength and muscle mass during resistance training, to reduce fatigue, and to ease recovery. Data from the Isenmann et al. trial underline the efficacy of ecdysterone supplementation with respect to sports performance. Those results strongly suggested the inclusion of ecdysterone in the list of prohibited substances and methods in sports in class S1.2 "other anabolic agents." Athletes subject to doping control should be aware that ecdysterone (a primary constituent of maral root) has been placed on the WADA monitoring program as a consequence of this research.
Conservation Status
Rhaponticum carthamoides (Willd.) Iljin is a rare, pharmacopoeial, and medicinal plant, endemic to Siberia and endangered due to the massive collection of raw material from the natural habitat. This factor has driven research into cultivated production and bioreactor-based synthesis of the plant's bioactive constituents.
Contraindications and Cautions Noted in the Literature
The peer-reviewed chemistry and pharmacology review by Kokoska and Janovska (2009) is the most comprehensive scientific treatment of the plant's safety. The finding that the extract demonstrated very low acute toxicity in animal studies is consistent across the literature. However, the evidence base for specific drug interactions is limited. Extracts from Panax ginseng, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Rhaponticum carthamoides, Rhodiola rosea, and Schisandra chinensis are considered to be naturally occurring adaptogens and plant adaptogens. Co-administration with other stimulant herbs or centrally active compounds has not been systematically studied in controlled trials.
The estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) interaction proposed for 20-hydroxyecdysone raises theoretical considerations for individuals with hormone-sensitive conditions; however, there is no direct evidence for the binding of 20E to nuclear estrogen or androgen receptors. The potential estrogenic implications remain under scientific investigation.
8. Pharmacopoeial and Regulatory Status
After more than 25 years of research and clinical studies, Rhaponticum carthamoides radix et rhizome has been added to the Official Russian Pharmacopoeia, which recommends "the herb for increasing work efficiency, athletic performance and recovery after muscular workloads." The plant thus holds official drug status in Russia, though it is classified as a dietary supplement in most Western countries and is not subject to the same level of regulatory oversight. Although research on Rhaponticum plants has achieved certain progress, obvious limitations still exist. Among the 24 species worldwide, only eight have been reported with studies on chemical metabolites and pharmacology, and research efforts are concentrated on a few species such as R. uniflorum and R. carthamoides, while the other 16 species remain poorly investigated.
References
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