In the years following Brekhman’s research, attention has been paid to the phytochemistry of
adaptogens. Like with many botanical drugs, researchers have searched for the silver bullet
behind the botanical drugs’ effect. Research has revealed not one phytochemical group as being
responsible for the adaptogenic effect, but rather a series of chemical groups that exhibit the
adaptogenic effect. For example, members of the Araliaceae family are made active by a
collection of saponins (1–2); Schizandra sinensis is made active by a lignan (Gomisin) (3);
Withania somnifera by phytosterols and alkaloids (4, 5);Rhodiola rosea is made active by a
collection of phenylpropanoids, phenylethanol derivatives, flavonoids, monoterpenes,
triterpenes, and phenolic acids. (6)
Indeed, reviewing the 44 new adaptogens from a phytochemical perspective is revealing.
Brekhman had demonstrated that the adaptogens he identified contained saponins. Many of the
Eclectic tonics also contained saponins. However, there were several other recurring
compounds amongst the Eclectic tonics including alkaloids, phenols, isoflavones, and tannins.
Here is the result of such a review.

Saponins
Sixteen of the drugs contain saponins. The list includes Alnus rugosa, Avena sativa, Arctium
lappa, Calendula officinalis, Chimaphylla umbellata, Chionanthus virginicus, Euonymus
atropurpeus, Guaiacum officinalis, Iris versicolor, Myrica cerifera, Phytollaca americana, Smilax
species, Solanum dulcamara, Trifolium pratense, Sambucus canadensis, and Urtica dioica. The
saponins contained in these drugs have not been reviewed for adaptogenic activity.

Alkaloids
Eleven of the drugs contain alkaloids. The list includes Calendula officinalis, Cinchona rubra,
Corydalis formosa, Hydrastis canadensis, Mahonia aquifolium, Phytolacca americanum,
Podophyllum peltatum, Sanguinaria canadensis, Sassafras officinalis, Solanum dulcamara,
Xanthoxylem americanum. (3)
Six of these alkaloid?bearing drugs contain the alkaloid Berberine. The berberine containing
plants include Corydalis formosa, Hydrastis canadensis, Mahonia aquifolium, Podophyllum
peltatum, Sanguinaria canadensis, and Xanthoxylem americanum. (3)
Berberine has exhibited adaptogenic activity consistent with Brekhman’s first criteria of an
adaptogen. In addition, the compound raises resistance to bacterial infection. It has
demonstrated antiseptic, antibacterial, and antibiotic activity and is active against Cholera,
Chlamydia, Conjunctivitis, Escherichia, Gonorrhoea, Pneumonia, Shigella, Salmonella,
Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Syphilis, and Tuberculosis. Berberine has demonstrated
antiendotoxic, antienterotoxic, and anticariogenic activity.
Berberine also raises resistance to fungal infection and it has demonstrated anti?fungal activity
(candidacide, fungicide). In addition, the compound raises resistance to parasites and has
demonstrated an anti?parasitic activity (vermifuge, vibriofuge, and protisticide). It is also active
against Amoebas, Giardia, Leishmania, malaria, Plasmodium, and Trypanosome.
Berberine raises resistance to viral infection; it has demonstrated antiviral activity (antiherpetic).
Berberine also raises resistance to cancer; it has demonstrated anticancer, antineoplastic, and
antitumour (brain) activity. The compound also raises resistance to liver damage and has
demonstrated anticirrhotic, antihepatomic, and antihepatotic activity. (3)
Finally, Berberine has been shown to normalise a host of physiological abnormalities. It acts as
an anticonvulsant, antiglaucomic, inotropic, adrenolytic, analgesic, anesthetic,
antiacetylcholinesterase, antiacne, antiadrenergic, antiaggregant; antialzheimeran, antiamnesic,
antiarrhythmic, antiarthritic, antidiarrheic, antidysenteric antiedemic, antihistaminic,
antiinflammatory, antiischemic, antilipogenic, antimitotic, antimuscarinic, antimyalgic,
antimycotic, antinephritic, antiperistaltic, antipharyngitic, antiphotooxidative, antipyretic,
antisecretory, antispasmodic, antiulcer, astringent, bilirubinolytic, calcium?Antagonist,
cardiodepressant, cardiotonic,carminative, cholagogue, cholekinetic, choleretic, collyrium,
cOX?2?Inhibitor, cyclooxygenase?Inhibitor, cytotoxic,digestive, diuretic, emetic, hemomostat,
hypocholesterolemic, hypoglycemic, hypotensive, immunostimulant, lachrymatory,
leucocytogenic, lipase?Inhibitor, lipoxygenase?Inhibitor, mydriatic, myocardiodepressant,
myorelaxant, prostostaglandin?Synthesis?Inhibitor, respiradepressant, reverse?Transcriptase?
Inhibitor, RNA?Depressant, sedative, stomachic, topoisomerase?II?Inhibitor, vagostimulant,
vasoconstrictor, and vasodilator. (3)

Sugars
As is true of all plants, the 44 tonic drugs contain sugars. However, five of the drugs contain
Inulin. This list includes Arctium lappa, Arnica montana, Calendula officinalis, Echinacea
angustifolia, Gentiana lutea. (3) Inulin has demonstrated adaptogenic properties. Specifically,
inulin raises resistance to alcohol poisoning, cancer, and infection. (3) Inulin also normalises
diabetes, diarrhoea, obesity, osteoporosis, congestion, inactive gastric function,
hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycaemia, immune suppression, and constipation. (3)

Phenols
Phenolic compounds are characterised by the presence of a phenol ring. Phenolic compounds
displaying adaptogenic activity include salicylic acid, isoflavones, and tannins. 26 of the drugs
contained phenol compounds including Alnus rugosa, Avena sativa, Baptisia tinctorum,
Chimaphylla umbellata, Cimicifuga racemose, Cinchona rubra, Cornus florida, Eucalyptus
globulus, Euonymus atropurpeus, Eupatorium perfolatum, Gaultheria procumbens, Guaiacum
officinalis, Iris versicolor, Hydrastis canadensis, Myrica cerifera, Phytolacca americana, Populus
tremuloides, Quercus alba, Rhus glabra, Rhus toxicodendron, Salix alba, Sambucus canadensis,
Sassafras officinalis, Trifolium pratense, Thuja occidentalis, and Xanthoxylum americanum.

Salicylic acid
Nine of the drugs contained Salicylic acid, its precursors, and metabolites. The list includes Avena
sativa, Calendula officinalis, Chimaphylla umbellata, Cimicifuga racemose, Gaultheria
procumbens, Iris versicolor, Populus tremuloides, Trifolium pratense, and Salix alba. (3) This
compound exhibits adaptogenic activity.
For example, Salicylic acid has demonstrated antibacterial, antioxidant, antiperiodic, antiseptic,
antitumour, cancer preventive, fungicide, and tineacide activity. (3) Salicin, a related compound
also found in many of these plants, has been determined to have anti?periodic activity. (3)
In addition, Salicylic acid has demonstrated analgesic, antiarthritic, antidandruff,
antidermatotic, antieczematic, antiinflammatory, antineuralgic, antipsoriac, antipyretic,
antirheumatic, antiseborrheic, antitympanitic, cox?2 inhibitor, hypoglycemic, and thermogenic
activity. (3) Salicin has also demonstrated analgesic, antiaggregant, antiinflammatory,
antineuralgic, antipyretic, antirheumatic, sedative, stomachic, and tonic activity. (3)

Isoflavones
Several of the drugs have been shown to contain related isoflavones (Baptisia tinctorum/biochanin
A, genistein), Cimicifuga racemose (formonetin), and Trifolium pratense (biochanin?A, genistein,
daidzein, and formonetin). (3) Again, these related compounds have demonstrated adaptogenic
activity. Specifically:
Biochanin?A has demonstrated antialcoholic, anticarcinogenic, antimutagenic, antitumor (GI,
lung), cancer preventive, chemopreventive, fungicide, and fungistat activity. The compound
has also demonstrated anticephalagic, antiprostatadenomic, antiprostatitic, oestrogen agonist,
estrogenic, hypocholesterolemic, and hypolipidemic activity.
Daidzen has demonstrated antialcoholic, anticancer, antidipsomaniac, antileukemic,
antimelanomic, antimicrobial, antimutagenic, antioxidant, antiradicular, antitumor promoter,
antiviral, cancer preventive, and fungicide activity. In addition, Daidzen has demonstrated
antiarrythmic, anticephalagic, antiestrogenic, antihemolytic, antinflammatory,
antiosteroporotic, antiproliferative, antispamsodic, coronary dilator, estrogen agonist,
estrogenic, and hypotensive activity.
Formononetin has demonstrated cancer preventive activity. Formononetin has also
demonstrated anticephalagic, antiulcer, estrogenic, hypocholesterolemic, hypolipidemic, and
myorelexant activity
Genistein has demonstrated anticancer, anticarciomic, anticlimacteric, antiendocytotic,
antiischemic, antimelanomic, antimicrobial, antimutagenic, antioxidant, antitumor (breast,
ovary, prostate, stomach), antiviral, apoptotic, cancer preventative, fungicide, and fungistat
activity. (3) In addition, Genistein has demonstrated antiaggregant, antiangiogenic,
antiatherosclerotic, antiestrogenic, antihemolytic, antiinflammatory, antileukemic,
antileukotriene, antilymphomic, antimitogenic, antiosteoporotic, antiproliferative,
antiprostatadenomic, antiprostatititic, antispasmodic, antiulcer, calcium agaonist,
cardioprotectant, dopominase inhibitor, estrogen agonist, estrogenic, hypocholesterolemic, and
pituitary senstitizing activity. (3)

Tannins
22 of the new adaptogens contained tannin including Alnus rugosa, Chimaphylla umbellata,
Cimicifuga racemose, Cinchona rubra, Cornus florida, Eucalyptus globulus, Eponymous
atropurpeus, Eupatorium perfolatum, Gaultheria procumbens, Guaiacum officinalis, Iris versicolor,
Hydrastis canadensis, Myrica cerifera, Phytolacca americana, Quercus alba, Rhus glabra, Rhus
toxicodendron, Salix alba, Sambucus canadensis, Sassafras officinalis, Thuja occidentalis, and
Xanthoxylum americanum. (3) Like the previous phytochemicals, tannin has also been shown to
exhibit adaptogenic activity.
Tannin has demonstrated anthelmintic, antibacterial, anticancer, anticariogenic, antihepatotoxic,
anti?HIV, antioxidant, antiradicular, antitumor, antitumor promoter, antiviral, cancer
preventative, and hepatoprotectant activity. (3) In addition, tannin has demonstrated
antidiarrheic, antidysenteric, antihypertensive, antilipolytic, antinephritic, antirheumatic,
antiulcer, chelator, and immunosupressant activity. (3)

Conclusion
Brekhman determined that saponins, and their genin building blocks, displayed the
adaptogenic effect. In fact, reading contemporary literature, one might conclude the
adaptogenic effect is largely due to saponins and their genins. Not surprisingly, many of the 44
adaptogens identified by this project contain saponins.
What is surprising is that the 44 adaptogens also contained many other repetitive classes of
compounds which display an adaptogenic effect, including alkaloids, phenols, and tannins.
Even more interesting, of the newly identified adaptogens, more of the drugs contained
adaptogenic phenols and adaptogenic tannins than adaptogenic saponins. Here is an example
of an alkaloid, Berberine, displaying the adaptogenic effect. It suggests the adaptogenic effect is
due to a wider spectrum of chemical compounds than was originally demonstrated.