Rhodiola kirilowii (RK) roots and rhizomes are traditionally used in China as a tonic, adaptogen, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory drug. The aim of this work was to study the in vivo and in vitro effects of aqueous and 50% hydro-alcoholic extracts of RK rhizomes on some parameters of cellular immunity in H-2d mice and rats. We show for the first time that in vitro both extracts stimulated granulocyte activity and increased lymphocyte response to mitogens, and in vivo they enhanced the ability of lymphocytes derived from parental strain mice fed R. kirilowii aqueous and hydro-alcoholic extracts, to induce local cutaneous graft-versus-host reaction (GVH) in F1 hybrids.
Conclusion: Rhodiola kirilowii extracts are cellular immunity enhancers.