The outline of stress pathophysiology and pharmacodynamic action of plant-based eustressors - adaptogens

In modern pharmaceutical market, there is an increasing number of preparations declaring some stress-protective and stress-relieving effects and delaying aging processes. It is an answer to the fast lifestyle, high social and professional requirements contributing to the increased burden and stress. Chronic stress leads to numerous disorders. For that reason, methods for relieving adverse stress symptoms and allowing an easier adaptation to stress are still being investigated. One of the phytopharmacological methods of stress reduction is the use of "adaptogens" - plants containing active constituents that regulate mechanisms enabling a better adaptation to stress ("eustressors"). In general, the use of adaptogen-based preparations increases the non-specific phase of stress resistance, facilitating the achievement and prolonged maintenance of the, socalled, allostasis. Conducted studies revealed some detailed effects of adaptogens on a molecular level, that allow broadening their pharmacodynamic description. In this short review, the phenomenon of stress with its neuroendocrine background, examples of plants with adaptogenic activity, dietary supplements containing these kinds of plants, and some aspects of adaptogen's pharmacodynamic action have been briefly discussed.