Abstract
Across Asia,
Rhodiola
species have been used in Bhutanese, Mongolian, Nepalese, Kazakh, Kyrgyz and Uzbek traditional medical systems. China is globally significant in terms of
Rhodiola
species diversity, with over 60% (55 species) of the world's 90
Rhodiola
species, including 16 species found nowhere else in the world. Since the late 1980's there has been a shift from relatively low demand for infusions using chopped dried
Rhodiola
roots, to high 21st century demand for a wide variety of processed products. China's trade in
Rhodiola
products is now very diverse, with use in cosmetics and foods in addition to herbal products.
Rhodiola
crenulata (Hook.f. & Thomson) H.Ohba is the most widely traded species in China. In addition to R. crenulata and
Rhodiola
rosea L., 19
Rhodiola
other species are used.
Aims of the study
These were to: (i) better understand why adulteration occurs in
Rhodiola
products; (ii) become more aware of what drives the growing market demand for
Rhodiola
products in China; (iii) find out whether increased demand is reflected in wholesale prices for
Rhodiola
raw materials traditional medicine markets; (iv) to examine
Rhodiola
supply chains and (v) given that wild populations are the primary supply source, to review the implications of growing demand for conservation and sustainable use.
Materials and methods
Firstly, we assessed growth in the diversity of
Rhodiola
products using three approaches: (i) by assessing patent applications for
Rhodiola
products in China (1990–2019); (ii) in 2018, through on-line searches of CFDA (China Food and Drug Administration) records for medicines and dietary supplements that had
Rhodiola
as an ingredient and (iii) by visiting retail stores in 2018 and 2019 to assess the diversity of commercial
Rhodiola
based products in trade. Secondly, we visited traditional medicine markets in Yunnan, Sichuan, and Qinghai provinces to investigate the trade in
Rhodiola
(folk taxonomy, trade names, prices, source areas, levels of processing and grading). Thirdly, we analysed the wholesale price data for
Rhodiola
raw materials in trade over a 16-year period (2002–2018). Fourthly, as most products come from wild collected
Rhodiola
species, we documented the extent of
Rhodiola
cultivation in China.
Results
International exports of
Rhodiola
products from China, particularly extracts, is a major driver of commercial trade. One proxy indicator of
Rhodiola
product diversification in China has been the rapid rise in patent applications from single applications in 1990 and 1991, to a peak of 1017 patent applications in 2015. Wholesale price data from 2002 to 2018 shows a steady increase in wholesale prices. As the growing market for
Rhodiola
products in China is currently supplied entirely from wild collection, there are justifiable concerns about sustainability. Commercial cultivation needs to expand to meet future demand.
Conclusions
In contrast to Europe and North America, where
R. rosea
is the focal species in commerce, the trade in
Rhodiola
products in China is much more diverse. In the face of growing demand, both effective conservation of wild populations and cultivation are needed.
