Salidroside is a prolyl endopeptidase Inhibitor. Salidroside alleviates cachexia symptoms in mouse models of cancer cachexia via activating mTOR signalling. Salidroside protects dopaminergic neurons by enhancing PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy.

Salidroside (100 μM) inhibits prolyl endopeptidase (PEP) activity (10.6±1.9%). Prolyl endopeptidase is an enzyme that plays a role in the metabolism of proline-containing neuropeptidase which is recognized to be involved in learning and memory[1]. Salidroside, one of the major phenylpropanoid glycosides found in R.?rosea L, is consumed almost daily as a nutritional supplement in many countries and has been identified possessing potential anti-fatigue and anoxia,anti-aging, and anti-Alzheimer's disease activities. Salidroside can improve muscle nutrition via increasing mTOR, p-mTOR, and MyHC expression[2]. SH-SY5Y cells are exposed to 0-600?μM MPP+ for 12-48?h and the results show that MPP+ results in a significant decrease of cell viability in a concentration and time-dependent manner. Cells are pretreated with 25-100?μM Salidroside (Sal) for 24?h and then exposed to 500?μM MPP+ for an additional 24?h. Salidroside concentration-dependently prevents MPP+-induced decrease of cell viability. Annexin V/PI staining is a common method for the detection of apoptotic cell. Salidroside significantly decreases the number of Annexin V/PI-stained cells treated by MPP+ which is in a concentration-dependent manner. Apoptotic cell could also be morphologically evaluated by Hoechst staining. In Hoechst staining, apoptotic cells are characterized by reduced nuclear size, chromatin condensation, intense fluorescence, and nuclear fragmentation. Salidroside notably inhibits MPP+-induced increase of chromatin condensation, intense fluorescence, and nuclear fragmentation in SH-SY5Y cells[3].

Salidroside is a natural antioxidant extracted from medicinal food plant Rhodiola rosea. Salidroside (100 mg/kg/day) shows strong glucose lowering effect on db/db mice which is similar to effect of Metformin (200 mg/kg/day). For this reason, the dose of 100 mg/kg/day salidroside is used[4].