Salidroside
[CAS# 10338-51-9]

Identification

• Classification: Biochemical >> Natural biochemical product
• Name: Salidroside
• Synonyms: Rhodioloside
• Molecular Formula: C₁₄H₂₀O₇
• Molecular Weight: 300.31
• CAS Registry Number: 10338-51-9
• EC Number: 695-621-2
• SMILES: C1=CC(=CC=C1CCO[C@H]2[C@@H]([C@H]([C@@H]([C@H](O2)CO)O)O)O)O

Properties

• Density: 1.5±0.1 g/cm³ Calc.^*
• Boiling point: 549.5±50.0 °C 760 mmHg (Calc.)^*
• Flash point: 286.2±30.1 °C (Calc.)^*
• Index of refraction: 1.629 (Calc.)^*

^* Calculated using Advanced Chemistry Development (ACD/Labs) Software.

Safety Data

• Hazard Symbols: GHS07 Warning
• Risk Statements: H319
• Safety Statements: P264+P265-P280-P305+P351+P338-P337+P317

Hazard Classification

Hazard	Class	Category Code	Hazard Statement
Eye irritation	Eye Irrit.	2	H319

Discovery and Applications

Salidroside is a phenylethanoid glycoside most commonly encountered as the principal bioactive constituent of Rhodiola species. Its chemical name is 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl β-D-glucopyranoside and its molecular formula is C₁₄H₂₀O₇. Historically, preparations of Rhodiola (notably R. rosea and several Asian Rhodiola spp.) have been used as adaptogens in traditional medicine, and salidroside has long been identified as one of the compounds responsible for many of the plant’s reported effects.

The compound has been isolated and characterized by standard phytochemical methods; it is biosynthetically derived from l-tyrosine via a sequence that furnishes 4-hydroxyphenylacetaldehyde (4-HPAA), reduction to tyrosol, and subsequent O-glycosylation to give salidroside. Modern molecular studies have elucidated the enzymatic steps in Rhodiola, including a pyridoxal phosphate-dependent 4-HPAA synthase and a regioselective UDP-glucosyltransferase that installs the β-D-glucose moiety. Elucidation of this pathway has enabled heterologous production of salidroside in microbial and plant expression systems, addressing sustainability concerns arising from high demand for wild-harvested Rhodiola.

Beyond natural extraction, chemical and biotechnological production methods have been developed. Early chemical syntheses and scale-up processes provided routes to multi-kilogram quantities, while tissue-culture and cell-culture approaches have been used to enhance yields in vitro. More recently, metabolic engineering in microorganisms such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli has been reported to produce salidroside from simple carbon sources by introducing the Rhodiola pathway enzymes, enabling more controllable and scalable production strategies.

Pharmacologically, salidroside has been investigated across a broad range of preclinical models. The compound exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, and numerous studies have reported neuroprotective effects in models of ischemia, Parkinsonian toxins, and other neuronal stresses. Salidroside modulates signaling pathways implicated in cell survival, oxidative stress responses (including Nrf2-related mechanisms), apoptosis, and neuroinflammation. It has also been reported to exert cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, anti-fatigue, and metabolic benefits in animal models. These diverse activities have driven interest in salidroside both as a lead natural product for drug discovery and as a marker compound in standardized botanical extracts.

Clinical application to date is limited relative to the preclinical literature. Commercial Rhodiola extracts are marketed as dietary supplements and standardized preparations commonly report salidroside content alongside other marker constituents. Regulatory frameworks for such products vary by jurisdiction; rigorous, large-scale clinical trials of isolated salidroside in human disease remain sparse. Pharmacokinetic studies indicate that salidroside is metabolized to tyrosol and related phenolic metabolites, and bioavailability considerations have motivated formulation and delivery research.

Safety evaluations from animal studies report low acute toxicity at doses widely above those typical for nutritional or supplemental use, though systematic long-term clinical safety data are limited. As with many plant-derived glycosides, product quality, species identity, and standardized content are important determinants of reproducibility in both research and commercial contexts. Ongoing research focuses on defining molecular targets, improving production methods, optimizing formulations to enhance bioavailability, and conducting appropriately powered clinical evaluations for selected indications.

Overall, salidroside represents a well characterized natural glycoside with a defined biosynthetic origin, demonstrable pharmacological activities in preclinical systems, and practical applications in nutraceutical preparations. Continued advances in biosynthetic engineering and pharmacological characterization are expanding both the means of access to salidroside and the rigor of investigations into its therapeutic potential.

References

Torrens-Spence MP, Pluskal T, Li F-S, Carballo V, Weng J-K (2018) Complete pathway elucidation and heterologous reconstitution of Rhodiola salidroside biosynthesis. Molecular Plant 11(1) 205–217 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2017.12.007

Grech-Baran M, Sykłowska-Baranek K, Pietrosiuk A (2014) Biotechnological approaches to enhance salidroside, rosin and its derivatives production in selected Rhodiola spp. in vitro cultures. Phytochemistry Reviews 14(4) 657–674 DOI: 10.1007/s11101-014-9368-y

Zhong Z, Han J, Zhang J, Xiao Q, Hu J, Chen L (2018) Pharmacological activities, mechanisms of action, and safety of salidroside in the central nervous system. Drug Design, Development and Therapy 12 1479–1489 DOI: 10.2147/DDDT.S160776