Home Ingredients SalidroPure™ (Pure Salidroside)
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SalidroPure™ (Pure Salidroside)

Rhodiola crenulata
Evidence Level
Limited
2 Clinical Trials
4 Documented Benefits
2/5 Evidence Score

SalidroPure™ is NNB Nutrition's fermentation-produced pure salidroside, one of several active compounds found in Rhodiola. Rhodiola's studied anti-fatigue and stress effects come from whole standardized extracts that also contain rosavins, tyrosol, and other compounds, so how much of that effect salidroside alone delivers is not established. Rhodiola crenulata was listed under CITES in 2023, which is part of the stated rationale for making salidroside by fermentation. Note that the human adaptogen evidence is for Rhodiola rosea extract, a different species from the R. crenulata named here.

Studied Dose No human trial has tested the 3 to 5 mg label dose; trials of pure salidroside used 60 mg/day or 600 mg/day.
Active Compound Salidroside (p-hydroxyphenethyl β-D-glucopyranoside). NNB Nutrition states SalidroPure™ is at least 98% salidroside made by fermentation; that purity is a manufacturer specification and was not independently verified.

Benefits

Anti-fatigue and endurance

In one exploratory trial of pure salidroside (60 mg/day for 16 days, n=50), the salidroside group held its time-to-exhaustion performance and reported less rise in fatigue while the placebo group declined. A single acute dose of whole Rhodiola rosea extract raised endurance slightly in one study, but four weeks of daily use did not. The effects are modest and the pure-compound human data are limited to that one small study.

Supported by Trial 2, Trial 1

Neuroprotection and longevity signaling

These signals come only from cell and animal studies: in the lab salidroside promotes neuronal survival, lowers neuroinflammation markers, activates AMPK, SIRT1, and Nrf2 pathways, and extends lifespan in short-lived model organisms. None of this has been tested in humans, and laboratory longevity signals rarely translate to people.

Supported by Trial 2

Gut health and microbiome support

This rests on a single mouse study in which Rhodiola crenulata whole extract, not isolated salidroside, reduced chemically induced colitis and shifted the gut microbiome. There is no human gut-health trial of salidroside, and the effect was shown for whole extract rather than the pure compound.

Supported by Trial 1, Trial 2

Stress hormone regulation

Whole Rhodiola rosea extract lowered the cortisol response to waking stress in one trial of people with burnout. MAO-A and MAO-B inhibition and catecholamine effects come from laboratory studies, not human trials, and were shown for extract or high concentrations. How much isolated salidroside changes human stress hormones is not established.

Supported by Trial 1

Mechanism of action

1

AMPK and SIRT1 activation

Salidroside activates AMPK and SIRT1 signaling pathways — the same longevity-associated pathways targeted by resveratrol and caloric restriction — promoting mitochondrial biogenesis, cellular stress resistance, and metabolic efficiency.

2

MAO inhibition and monoamine modulation

Salidroside inhibits monoamine oxidase enzymes (MAO-A and MAO-B), reducing catecholamine breakdown and increasing the availability of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine in brain regions governing mood and motivation.

3

Nrf2 antioxidant pathway

Salidroside activates the Nrf2-Keap1 antioxidant response pathway, inducing expression of cytoprotective enzymes (HO-1, NQO1, GSH) that protect neurons and other cells from oxidative and inflammatory damage.

Clinical trials

1
Whole Rhodiola rosea Extract (SHR-5) for Mental Fatigue in Physicians (not isolated salidroside)
PubMed

Clinical trial of Rhodiola rosea extract (standardized for salidroside and rosavins) vs placebo in physicians during night-shift duty. Outcomes: mental fatigue, associative thinking, short-term memory, concentration. (Phytomedicine)

Physicians on night-duty shifts.

Rhodiola modestly improved total mental fatigue score, particularly associative thinking, short-term memory, concentration, audio-visual perception. Critical caveat: rhodiola whole extract trial — does not isolate salidroside-specific contribution. SalidroPure™ markets pure salidroside but the foundational evidence is for whole-plant extracts containing salidroside + rosavins + tyrosol + other compounds together.

2
Pure (Biosynthetic) Salidroside and Exercise Performance: Exploratory RCT
PubMed

Exploratory randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of pure biosynthetic salidroside at 60 mg/day for 16 days in 50 healthy active young adults. Outcomes: oxygen uptake during high-intensity exercise, time-to-exhaustion, mood (POMS), and muscle-damage markers. (J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2024)

Healthy active young adults (n=50).

Pure salidroside improved percent-predicted oxygen uptake during high-intensity intermittent exercise and blunted the post-exercise rise in muscle-damage markers; the salidroside group held its time-to-exhaustion performance and mood while the placebo group declined. Caveats: exploratory and small (n=50), short (16 days), 60 mg/day rather than the 3 to 5 mg on this label, industry-connected, and tested a competitor's biosynthetic salidroside, not this product. It remains the only human trial of isolated salidroside relevant to these claims.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Very well tolerated at 3–5 mg/day pure salidroside doses
Stimulant-like effects at high doses — avoid taking in the evening
Mild dizziness or agitation in sensitive individuals

Important Drug interactions

MAO inhibitors — additive monoamine effects; avoid concurrent use
Antidepressants (SSRIs) — theoretical serotonin syndrome risk at high doses; use cautiously
Stimulant medications — may have additive CNS stimulant effects

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Frequently asked questions about SalidroPure™ (Pure Salidroside)

What is SalidroPure?

SalidroPure™ is NNB Nutrition's fermentation-produced pure salidroside, one of several active compounds found in Rhodiola. Rhodiola's studied anti-fatigue and stress effects come from whole standardized extracts that also contain rosavins, tyrosol, and other compounds, so how much of that effect salidroside alone deliv…

What is SalidroPure used for?

SalidroPure is researched primarily for Energy, Athletic Performance, and Stress & Anxiety. In one exploratory trial of pure salidroside (60 mg/day for 16 days, n=50), the salidroside group held its time-to-exhaustion performance and reported less rise in fatigue while the placebo group declined.

What is the recommended dosage of SalidroPure?

The clinically studied dose is No human trial has tested the 3 to 5 mg label dose; trials of pure salidroside used 60 mg/day or 600 mg/day. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is SalidroPure safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, SalidroPure is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Very well tolerated at 3–5 mg/day pure salidroside doses Stimulant-like effects at high doses — avoid taking in the evening It may also interact with some medications. SalidroPure is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does SalidroPure interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: MAO inhibitors — additive monoamine effects; avoid concurrent use Antidepressants (SSRIs) — theoretical serotonin syndrome risk at high doses; use cautiously If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for SalidroPure?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for SalidroPure as Limited (2 out of 5). It is backed by 2 clinical trials and 5 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(5 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. De Bock K, Eijnde BO, Ramaekers M, Hespel P. Acute Rhodiola rosea intake can improve endurance exercise performance. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2004;14(3):298-307. doi: 10.1123/ijsnem.14.3.298.PubMedUsed to support: Double-blind crossover RCT (n=24) of whole Rhodiola rosea extract (200 mg containing about 2 mg salidroside plus 6 mg rosavin), not isolated salidroside. A single acute dose raised time-to-exhaustion slightly (16.8 to 17.2 minutes) and VO2peak, but taking the extract daily for four weeks produced no change on any measure. The gain is small and comes from the whole extract, so it does not establish what isolated salidroside does.
  2. Olsson EM, von Schéele B, Panossian AG. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study of the standardised extract shr-5 of the roots of Rhodiola rosea in the treatment of subjects with stress-related fatigue. Planta Med. 2009;75(2):105-12. doi: 10.1055/s-0028-1088346.PubMedUsed to support: RCT (n=60, 28 days) of standardized whole Rhodiola rosea extract SHR-5 at 576 mg/day in adults with stress-related fatigue, not isolated salidroside. Both the extract and placebo groups improved (a marked placebo effect), with the extract beating placebo on the Pines burnout scale and some attention indices and lowering the cortisol response to waking stress. The evidence is for the whole extract, not the pure compound.
  3. Hung SK, Perry R, Ernst E. The effectiveness and efficacy of Rhodiola rosea L.: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Phytomedicine. 2011;18(4):235-44. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2010.08.014.PubMedUsed to support: Systematic review of 11 placebo-controlled RCTs of whole Rhodiola rosea extract. It found possible benefits for physical and mental performance and some mental-health conditions but stressed a lack of independent replication. All trials used whole extract, not isolated salidroside, and the review did not assess neuroprotection.
  4. Wang Y, Tao H, Huang H, Xiao Y, Wu X, Li M, et al. The dietary supplement Rhodiola crenulata extract alleviates dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice through anti-inflammation, mediating gut barrier integrity and reshaping the gut microbiome. Food Funct. 2021;12(7):3142-3158. doi: 10.1039/d0fo03061a.PubMedUsed to support: Mouse study: Rhodiola crenulata whole extract (salidroside 1.81%, rosavin 0.034%), not isolated salidroside, reduced chemically induced colitis, supported the gut barrier, and shifted the gut microbiome. This is animal, whole-extract evidence, with no human gut-health data for salidroside.
  5. Schwarz NA, Stratton MT, Colquhoun RJ, Manganti AM, Sherbourne M, Mourey F, et al. Salidroside and exercise performance in healthy active young adults - an exploratory, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2024;21(1):2433744. doi: 10.1080/15502783.2024.2433744.PubMedUsed to support: Exploratory randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (n=50 healthy active young adults) of pure biosynthetic salidroside at 60 mg/day for 16 days. The salidroside group held its time-to-exhaustion performance and mood and showed a smaller post-exercise rise in muscle-damage markers, while the placebo group declined; percent-predicted oxygen uptake during high-intensity exercise improved. This is the only human trial of isolated salidroside relevant to these claims: it is small and preliminary, used 60 mg/day rather than the 3 to 5 mg on this label, was industry-connected, and tested a competitor's biosynthetic salidroside, not this product.