# Eleutherococcus (Eleutherococcus senticosus)

**Eleutherococcus senticosus*; in pharmacy *Eleutherococci radix**

**Known today as.** *Eleutherococcus senticosus*, of the family Araliaceae, whose root is the medicine. The European assessment report notes that more than 35 compounds have been identified in the root and that “the search for active substances is not finished yet.”

Kind: Plant

> **Caution.** Not for children under twelve, for want of data. Insomnia, irritability, a racing heart, and headache may occur.

## What was it used for?

A modern tonic for fatigue and weakness. It has no history in the European herbals read for this entry.

## What does modern science say?

The European Medicines Agency’s herbal committee accepts the root as a traditional herbal medicine, “exclusively based upon long-standing use,” for symptoms of asthenia such as fatigue and weakness (monograph of 2014). Its assessment report lists phenylpropanoids, among them eleutheroside B, also called syringin, at about 0.5 per cent, coumarins such as isofraxidin, triterpene saponins, lignans, and a little essential oil. No trial of the root was among the sources read for this entry.

## Pharmacognosy and toxicology

- **eleutheroside B**: a phenylpropanoid, also called syringin, about 0.5 per cent
- **isofraxidin**: a coumarin
- **triterpenoidal saponins**: pentacyclic and tetracyclic
- **lignans**: 

**Mechanism.** Not established in the sources read for this entry.

**Standing.** European Union herbal monograph (2014): traditional use, “exclusively based upon long-standing use,” for symptoms of asthenia such as fatigue and weakness.

## Sources

- European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products. *European Union herbal monograph on Eleutherococci radix (Eleutherococcus)*. EMA/HMPC/680618/2013, 25 March 2014.
- European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products. *Assessment report on Eleutherococci radix*. EMA/HMPC/680615/2013, 25 March 2014.
- European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products. *European Union herbal monograph on Eleutherococci radix (Eleutherococcus)*. EMA/HMPC/680618/2013, 25 March 2014.
- European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products. *Assessment report on Eleutherococci radix*. EMA/HMPC/680615/2013, 25 March 2014.

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*Eleutherococcus.* In *Materia Medica*, edited by B. C. P. Statema. Version 1, revised 2026-10-16. The Thinking Press. https://thethinkingpress.org/materia-medica/eleutherococcus

Historical description, not medical advice.