Molecular Chaperones as Mediators of Stress Protective Effect of Plant Adaptogens

Abstract

The ability of plant adaptogens to enhance the "state of non-specific resistance" of an organism to stress by augmenting resistance to physical, biological, chemical and psychological stresses, and increasing concentration, performance and endurance during fatigue have placed it in a unique position among medicinal plants. However, the molecular mechanism by which plant adaptogens exerts its beneficial effects is thus far incompletely understood. This chapter focuses on recent advances in the understanding the molecular mechanism exerted by ADAPT-232 forte, a plant adaptogens consisting of a fixed combination of three extracts of Eleutherococcus senticocus, Schisandra chinensis and Rhodiola rosea. Our studies suggest that ADAPT-232 exerts its beneficial effect, in part, by a mechanism dependent on the upregulation of Hsp70 expression. A concise discussion of the effect of adaptogens on endurance and a comparison of hormetins and adaptogens will also be discussed