It been over 30 years since Richard Ross first formed the company Eladon and created our prime product, Elagen.
The Research Behind Our Story
The Research Behind Our Story
Exploring the science, history and continuing study of Eleuthero.
Eladon has always been shaped by curiosity—by exploring where traditional knowledge, personal experience and scientific research meet.
Our interest in Eleutherococcus senticosus began with Richard Ross’s personal experience of the plant in Zambia. What turned that discovery into a lifelong pursuit was learning about the extensive research that had developed around Eleuthero during the 20th century.
This page brings together some of the sources that have informed our understanding—from pioneering work in the former Soviet Union to modern academic reviews and European regulatory assessment.
What is Eleuthero?
Eleutherococcus senticosus, commonly known as Eleuthero, is a woody shrub native to parts of Northeast Asia. It is one of the best-known herbs associated with the adaptogenic tradition.
Eleuthero was historically called Siberian ginseng because its root developed a similar reputation to true ginseng as a traditional tonic, particularly during periods of tiredness and physical or mental demand. However, the name can be misleading: Eleuthero is not a true ginseng.
Although Eleuthero and true ginseng belong to the same wider botanical family, they come from different plant genera. True ginsengs belong to the Panax genus and contain characteristic compounds called ginsenosides. Eleuthero belongs to the Eleutherococcus genus and has its own distinctive collection of compounds, including eleutherosides B and E.
Put simply, Eleuthero and true ginseng have some similarities in their traditional reputations, but they are botanically and chemically different plants and should not be considered interchangeable.
Eleuthero is, however, widely described as an adaptogen. The term emerged during the mid-20th century from research into substances studied in connection with the body’s ability to adapt and respond to physical, environmental and mental demands. Eleuthero became one of the plants most closely associated with this developing field of research.
“Adaptogen” is not a botanical family or the name of a specific plant compound. It is a term used within herbal and scientific literature to describe this particular area of traditional use and research. It should not be interpreted as a guarantee of a particular effect, but it is an important and well-established part of Eleuthero’s history and identity.
Rediscovering decades of research
During the former Soviet era, a substantial body of research developed around Eleuthero. Much of it was written in Russian and remained difficult for the wider international research community to access.
In 2021, an academic team led by Sophia Gerontakos published a major English-language review of this previously difficult-to-access clinical literature.
The researchers located 46 human studies published in the former Soviet Union between 1962 and 1986. These involved varied populations, workplaces and environmental conditions, including situations requiring sustained physical or mental effort.
The authors also identified important limitations in the design and reporting of the historical studies. The review therefore offers a valuable window into this period of research, but its findings should be considered within the context of present-day evidence standards.
Read the 2021 review on PubMed
European regulatory assessment
Eleuthero root has also been formally reviewed by the European Medicines Agency’s Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products.
The committee concluded that specified Eleuthero root preparations have a sufficiently well-documented history of use to be recognised within the European traditional herbal medicine framework. Under this framework, qualifying preparations may be registered for the relief of symptoms of asthenia, such as tiredness and weakness.
This recognition is based on Eleuthero’s long-standing traditional use and was considered alongside a wider body of scientific literature. This included numerous clinical studies documenting decades of research and human experience with the plant. While differences in study design and reporting meant that the evidence did not meet the requirements for a well-established medicinal-use classification, these studies remain an important part of Eleuthero’s scientific history and continuing study.
The EMA’s assessment also brings together information about Eleuthero’s preparations, constituents, traditional use, scientific literature and safety, providing an important independent record of the plant’s history and development.
The assessment applies to specified Eleuthero preparations used within the traditional herbal medicinal framework. Elagen is sold as a food supplement and is not an authorised traditional herbal medicine. The EMA has not assessed or endorsed Elagen or Eladon.
We include these documents because they form an important part of Eleuthero’s wider scientific and regulatory history.
Explore the EMA Eleutherococcus root documents
Understanding Eleuthero more fully
Research into the chemistry and characteristics of Eleuthero continues.
A comprehensive review published in Frontiers in Pharmacology in 2025 examined Eleuthero root’s phytochemistry, traditional history, standardisation and continuing scientific study.
The review discusses eleutherosides B and E as important marker compounds used when identifying and standardising Eleuthero preparations. It also underlines the importance of botanical identity, preparation quality and consistent standardisation when research involving plant extracts is evaluated.
This is particularly relevant to Eladon. The Eleuthero root extract used in Elagen is a concentrated 25:1 extract, standardised to a combined 0.8% eleutherosides B and E. This gives the extract a clearly defined specification and provides a consistent measure against which its quality can be assessed.
Read the 2025 review on PubMed
Dr Moira Williams and Eladon’s research history
Dr Moira Williams played a central role in bringing a medical and clinical perspective to Eladon’s early work.
After travelling with Richard to Moscow and the Cosmonaut Training Centre at Star City, Moira continued studying Eleuthero on their return to North Wales.
Working with the Herpes Viruses Association, she designed and conducted a placebo-controlled study examining an Eleutherococcus root extract in relation to recurrent herpes simplex type II infection.
Her paper, “Immuno-protection against herpes simplex type II infection by eleutherococcus root extract,” was published in 1995 in the International Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
The paper forms an important part of Eladon’s family research archive. It was subsequently included among the literature gathered during European herbal assessment work involving Eleutherococcus.
Its inclusion should not be interpreted as European Medicines Agency approval of the study, Eladon or Elagen. However, for research originating from a small family business in North Wales to be preserved within this wider body of scientific literature remains a proud and meaningful part of our history.
Moira also shared her knowledge of Eleuthero in an article for Positive Health, exploring the plant’s history, its place within adaptogen research and some of the studies that had shaped her understanding. The article provides a valuable first-hand account of the subject from the person who helped bring a clinical and scientific perspective to Eladon’s early development.
Read Dr Moira Williams’s article: Adaptogen – Eleutherococcus Senticosus Maxim Shrub
Why standardisation matters
Plant extracts are not automatically identical simply because they carry the same botanical name. Their composition can be influenced by factors including:
- The botanical species and part of the plant used.
- Growing and harvesting conditions.
- The extraction method and concentration.
- The compounds used to identify and standardise the extract.
- Manufacturing and quality-control procedures.
For this reason, the amount of raw plant material stated on a label does not tell the whole story. The concentration of the extract and the measured level of its marker compounds also provide useful information when assessing and comparing products.
Each Elagen capsule contains 450 mg of a concentrated 25:1 extract of Eleutherococcus senticosus root. The extract is standardised to a combined 0.8% eleutherosides B and E—equivalent to 3.6 mg of these marker compounds per capsule.
This clearly defined specification helps customers understand what they are choosing: the botanical species and plant part, the quantity and concentration of the extract, and its quantified level of eleutherosides B and E.
This is also what makes Elagen’s specification distinctive. Customers are given more than a large raw-herb equivalent on the label—they are told the actual amount of concentrated extract and the measured level of its principal standardisation markers.
The recommended daily intake is one capsule. This provides 450 mg of the 25:1 concentrated extract and the equivalent of 3.6 mg of eleutherosides B and E.
There is no established Nutrient Reference Value for Eleuthero or eleutherosides B and E. Eladon’s recommended daily intake is a product-use instruction and should not be interpreted as an officially established nutritional requirement.
For Eladon, quality is not simply about putting more into a capsule. It is about using the correct botanical species and root material, a concentrated and standardised extract, and appropriate manufacturing and quality-control procedures to support consistency from one batch to the next.
How we approach research
At Eladon, research helps us understand the plants and ingredients we work with, make informed decisions about quality and standardisation, and communicate their history responsibly.
Research continues to develop, and individual experiences naturally vary. We aim to represent the available information accurately, without turning emerging research or historical findings into promises about personal results.
Selected sources
European Medicines Agency
European Union herbal monograph, assessment report and supporting documents concerning Eleutherococcus root.
View the EMA Eleutherococcus root collection
Gerontakos et al., 2021
Findings of Russian literature on the clinical application of Eleutherococcus senticosus: A narrative review.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 278, Article 114274.
Patyra et al., 2025
Eleutherococcus root: a comprehensive review of its phytochemistry and pharmacological potential in the context of its adaptogenic effect.
Frontiers in Pharmacology, Volume 16, Article 1683795.
Read the full article in Frontiers in Pharmacology
Brekhman and Dardymov, 1969
New substances of plant origin which increase nonspecific resistance.
Annual Review of Pharmacology, Volume 9, pages 419–430.
A note on duration of use
The EMA monograph concerns specified Eleuthero preparations registered as traditional herbal medicines for symptoms of tiredness and weakness. Its two-month duration reflects the conditions established for unsupervised medicinal use, including the need to seek medical advice if unexplained symptoms persist. It does not mean that Eleuthero becomes toxic after two months.
However, evidence concerning uninterrupted long-term use remains limited. As a sensible precaution, anyone taking Elagen continuously may wish to take a short break of 10–14 days after approximately two months before resuming. Anyone considering prolonged use should follow the product label and seek advice from an appropriate healthcare professional, particularly if they take medication or have an existing medical condition.
An important note
Elagen is a food supplement and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. Do not exceed the stated recommended daily intake.
Anyone who is pregnant, breastfeeding, taking prescribed medication, living with a medical condition or receiving medical treatment should seek advice from an appropriate healthcare professional before using a food supplement.
Meet Allie...
Hi, Eladon has been close to my heart for as long as I can remember. Eladon isn't just a business—it's a family legacy that I've dedicated myself to since taking the reins at a young age of 19 and following my father Richard's visionary path.
It's a joy to have spoken to many of you over the phone or via email while placing orders, and I'm always here to assist the best I can. Over the years, countless customers like you have shared how Elagen and our other supplements have made a positive impact in your lives. Your stories fuel our passion!
As we continue to evolve and expand our offerings, we remain committed to delivering products that promote health and well-being.
Thank you for being a part of our journey at Eladon!
