Rosavins found in the herb rhodiola rosea

Evaluation of biologically active compounds in roots and rhizomes of Rhodiola rosea cultivated in Lithuania.
Medicina 2007. Kucinskaite A, Sznitowska M, Savickas A, Briedis V. Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Social Pharmacy, Kaunas University of Medicine, A. Mickeviciaus 9, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Salidroside and rosavins (rosavin, rosarin, and rosin), biologically active compounds of Rhodiola rosea L., were analyzed in dried roots and rhizomes of the plants cultivated in Lithuania and naturally growing in Altai geographical region in Russian Federation. The quantitative analysis of the aqueous-ethanolic extracts prepared by percolation was performed employing solid-phase extraction and thin-layer chromatography followed by densitometric determination. Similar amounts of salidroside were found in the extracts (1.35-1.62 mg/mL), irrespective of the origin of the crude plant; however, the differences in the profile of rosavins were substantial with higher content of total rosavins in the extracts obtained from the plant cultivated in Lithuania (7.4 vs. 4.2 mg/mL). It was demonstrated that extracts prepared with 70% (v/v) ethanol contained low concentration of salidroside (0.16-0.17 mg/mL), while the extraction of rosavins with 70% (v/v) ethanol was more efficient compared to 40% (v/v) ethanol.