Article Safety of a Sustainably Produced, Bioengineered, Nature-Identical Salidroside Compound

Abstract

Bioactive phytochemicals such as salidroside have been studied to understand the beneficial effects of Rhodiola rosea, an herbaceous plant used in traditional medicine to increase energy and treat a variety of health issues. However, Rhodiola plants are often slow-growing, and many are endangered in their native habitats. Thus, there is a need for safe, alternative supplies of key phytochemicals from Rhodiola. The salidroside subject of this safety study is a synthetic biology product from fermentation of a bioengineered E. coli that produces salidroside. Here, we present comprehensive test results that support the safety of salidroside manufactured via a patented sustainable bioengineering manufacturing process. In vitro bacterial reverse mutation assays with the bioengineered salidroside show no mutagenicity in any of the concentrations tested. In vivo toxicity studies in rats show no adverse effects from the salidroside product. Based on the results of these studies, we conclude that the bioengineered salidroside discussed here is not genotoxic and demonstrates a no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) at least 2000 mg/kg bw/day in male and female Sprague–Dawley rats. This study supports that the salidroside compound produced using bioengineered E. coli is a viable alternative to salidroside produced from harvested Rhodiola plants for use as a dietary supplement, food ingredient, or potentially as a pharmaceutical product.