Using the SalidroPRO-branded ingredient from NutriScience Innovations, researchers report that a dose-dependent effect was observed in the six-week study, with the higher dose (20 mg salidroside + 30 mg L-malic acid) producing greater effects.
“These findings are consistent with proposed mechanisms involving modulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and monoaminergic pathways,” wrote scientists from NutriScience Innovations and Conley Labs in the journal Nutraceuticals.
“SalidroPRO may represent a promising non-pharmacological approach for supporting stress management and psychological well-being.”
Salidroside and Rhodiola
Salidroside is a bioactive glycoside found in Rhodiola, a perennial herb that mostly grows at high altitudes in arctic areas of Europe and Asia. Forms of the herb in trade include dry extracts in solid dosage forms such as capsules and tablets, liquid extracts, cut, dried rhizome and root and powdered rhizome and root.
It has traditionally been used to manage stress, mental and physical fatigue and depression and to boost energy.
The rhodiola plant was added to the Appendix II portion of the CITES list in 2022, which indicates a potential concern about the wild populations. There are sources in trade that are sourced from cultivated plants.
NutriScience Innovations recently announced the launch of SalidroPRO, a novel patent-pending complex of salidroside produced by precision fermentation, and L-malic acid.
L-malic acid is reported to exert neuroactive and antioxidant effects and may boost absorption of certain compounds in the gut. By combining salidroside and L-malic acid, it was hypothesized to boost bioavailability and promote synergistic effects on stress-related pathways.
“Our goal wasn’t simply to develop another adaptogen,” explained Edward Dosz, Ph.D NutriScience Chief Science Officer and co-author on the new paper. “We wanted to develop an ingredient with compelling human data, formulation flexibility, and a sustainable production platform so our customers can formulate with greater confidence. SalidroPRO represents what we believe is the future of evidence-based adaptogenic ingredients.”
Study details
The decentralized randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study was conducted by California-based Radicle Science and included 674 people with a mean age of 44 years. The participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: Placebo, low dose (10 mg of salidroside and 40 mg of L-malic acid) or high dose (20 mg of salidroside and 30 mg of L-malic acid) for six weeks.
Results showed that participants in the high-dose group were 1.63 times more likely to achieve a clinically meaningful improvement in the frequency and severity of stress-related experiences, according to the Perceived Stress Scale.
Additionally, 25% more participants in the high-dose group experienced clinically meaningful improvements in perceived stress, compared to placebo, said the researchers.
“Of the high-dose participants who achieved a clinically meaningful improvement in perceived stress, 69.4% also achieved a clinically meaningful improvement in anxiety, indicating substantial correlations between stress and anxiety responder populations compared to only 56.2% of placebo participants,” they added.
“Clinically meaningful benefits were observed, particularly in the high-dose group, with effects emerging early and sustained over the 6-week intervention while the low-dose group showed lesser effects, suggesting a dose-dependent response.”
Source: Nutraceuticals 2026, 6(3), 43; doi: 10.3390/nutraceuticals6030043. “An Innovative Dietary Ingredient Complex with Salidroside and L-Malic Acid Improves Markers of Perceived Stress and Anxiety in Adults: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Study”. Authors: V. Nathan, et al.
