Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
aDaPtOGENS
Adaptogens are substances, usually of plant origin, that help the body to adapt to arduous envi-
ronmental conditions by normalizing physiological processes in times of increased stress and could
induce a state of nonspecific increase of resistance to effect internal homeostasis. Although the term
has not yet been widely accepted in medicine, the properties of a typical adaptogen are well known.
Brekhman and Dardymov
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have, in a series of studies, reported that some plant-derived compounds,
named adaptogens, show a demonstrable ability to improve the human response to physical, chemical,
and psychological stress. Adaptogens can be viewed as tonics and are prescribed to enhance vitality;
they are indicated when stress levels are high, during convalescence after or at difficult events in life.
These drugs either reduce stress reactions in the alarm phase or retard/prevent the exhaustion phase
and thus provide a certain degree of protection against long-term stress. Adaptogenic drugs are often
difficult to differentiate from immunostimulators, anabolic drugs, nootropic drugs, and tonics since
they also increase concentration, performance, and endurance during fatigue.
The following definition has been suggested to characterize adaptogens:
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a. The adaptogenic effect is nonspecific in that the adaptogen increases resistance to a very broad
spectrum of harmful factors (“stressors”) of different physical, chemical, and biological natures;
b. An adaptogen is to have a normalizing effect, that is, it counteracts or prevents disturbances brought
about by stressors; and
c. An adaptogen must be innocuous to have a broad range of therapeutic effects without causing any
disturbance (other than very marginally) to the normal functioning of the organism.
It has now been established that stress and stress-related disorders are a significant cause of dis-
ease in modern times, with an estimated 75% of all illnesses modulated by stress.
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Stress has been
postulated to be involved in the etiopathogenesis of a diverse variety of diseases, including from
psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression; immunosuppression; endocrine disorders,
including diabetes mellitus; male sexual dysfunction; cognitive dysfunctions; peptic ulcer; hyper-
tension; and ulcerative colitis.
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Apart from influencing activities of the pituitary-adrenal axis and
inducing stress proteins, many adaptogens also possess immunomodulatory or anabolic activities.
A small number of plant drugs have been reported with proven antistress activities; they include
Ginseng, Eleutherococcus, Withania, Ocimum, Rhodiola
, and
Codonopsis
. Some African plants
used in the traditional management of physiological stress and broad-spectrum biodynamic activi-
ties have also been shown by laboratory studies to possess adaptogenic properties. The major ones
include the following:
Alchornea cordifolia
Allium sativum
Asparagus africanus
Cocos nucifera
(virgin coconut oil [VCO] and tender coconut water)
Ganoderma lucidium
(fungus on oil palm tree)
Garcinia kola
Mondia whitei
Morinda lucida
Moringa oleifera
Ocimum gratissimum
Trigonella foenum-graecum
seeds
Withania somnifera
The molecular mechanisms of action of adaptogens have not been well mapped out, but it is
believed that they are partially associated with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, a
