I have been rather intrigued for a while after reading that Rhodiola rosea is purported to act as a COMT inhibitor. So far, there is only 1 scientific study to actually document this. It has been attached. Whilst reading, I noticed this: ''It is believed that R. rosea can act as a COMT inhibitor where higher brain levels of serotonin and dopamine have been observed. We have no explanation for increases in the serotonin levels since COMT is for catecholamine, and not indole, catabolism.''
The only reference made to this observation was a study made in 1984, titled:'' Effect of the extract of Rhodiola rosea L. on the content of the brain biogenic monoamines'', a study which cannot be found anywhere. No other such studies have shown any similar findings.
But note that both these studies were made before the study by Van Dierman et al. in 2009, which confirmed Rhodiola Rosea as in fact a Monoamine Oxidase inhibitor (of types A and B). http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/19168123
Therefore, I am of the opinion that the observed effects of this herb on serotonin and the catecholamines is in fact due to its non-selectivity for MAO inhibition, rather than COMT.
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