Table 4.

Rhaponticum carthamoides animal studies.

Study Objectives	Study Design	Main Results	References
Evaluating Rhaponticum carthamoides effects—growth, increased body weight, and behaviour on rats.	For study, 60 rats were used, divided into 10 groups with six rats in group. Females were fed with 5% Raponticum hay meal, males were fed with 10–20% Raponticum hay meal. Period of study—21 days.	Increased growth and body weight.	[65]
Evaluating Rhaponticum carthamoides effects on lipid profile on rats with cerebral ischemia.	For the study, 18 rats were used and received 150 mg/kg Rhaponticum carthamoides extract or placebo. Period of study—5 days.	Decreased lysophospholipids in erythrocyte membrane. Increased total lipids and phospholipids.	[66]
Examine ecdysterone neuroprotective mechanism of action.	For the study, 35 rats were used, aged 6–8 weeks. They were divided into seven groups: non-operated, two controlled groups, and three experimental groups. In the experimental groups, the rats were administrated ecdysterone in 5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg. Period of study—7 days.	Removed glutamatergic excitotoxicity. Neuroprotective effect.	[67]
Examine the anti-obesity effect of 20-hydroxyecdysone.	For the study, 60 rats were used, aged 3 months. They were divided into 12 rats in each group and three of the groups were treated with 18, 56, and 116 mg per day 20-hydroxyedysone. Period of study—3 months.	Decreased LDL. Increased muscle mass. No changes in thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), tetraiodothyronine (T4), and triiodothyronine (T3).	[68]
Examine anabolic effects of Leuzea carthamoides in quails.	For the study, 1000 quails were used. They were divided into six groups—the control group, four groups that had received a standard diet combined with Leuzea seed 0.2—5%, and the other two groups. Period of study—50 days.	Increased body mass and growth.	[69]
Examine anabolic effects of 20-hydroxyecdysone in quails.	For the study, 200 quails were used; 160 were in the control group. There were 10 that received 20 mg/kg, 10 that received 100 mg/kg, and 10 that received 500 mg/kg 20-hydroxyecdysone isolated from Leuzea carthamoides. Period of study—4 weeks.	Increased growth. Anabolic effect.	[70]
Examine the improving memory effect of 20-hydroxyecdysone.	For the study, 80 rats were used, divided into two groups: 10 were in the control group, 70 in the experimental group. They received 1, 10, and 100 mg/kg 20-hydroxyecdysone per day. Period of study—12 weeks.	Induced superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and glutathione reductase (GR). Decreased glucose levels, nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB).	[71]
Examine the effects of Rhapoticum carthamoides, Rhodiola rosea, and their combination on resistance exercise and mechanical power.	For the study, 56 rats were used. Rats were divided into seven groups, eight rats in each group: control group, a group that received only Rhodiola rosea extract, a group that received only Rhaponticum carthamoides extract, and four groups that received a combination of Rhaponticum carthamoides and Rhodiola rosea extracts in different quantitative ratios.	Rhaponticum carthamoides extract increased muscle protein synthesis. The combination of Rhaponticum carthamoides and Rhodiola rosea increased muscle protein synthesis and mean power performance.	[72]