Data published in Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research indicated that 250 mg to 500 mg of the company’s ReDaxin-branded sorghum bicolor extractfor 17 to 18 days led to a five-fold improvement in strength recovery and up to 27% reduction in muscle soreness during recovery, compared to placebo.
“This was the first study to examine a polyphenol-rich sorghum bicolor extract on exercise recovery responses in college-aged men,” the researchers wrote. “The findings of this study indicated that a high-dose (500 mg per day) and low-dose (250 mg per day) polyphenol-rich sorghum bicolor extract supplementation helped reduce some of the symptoms associated with exercise-induced muscle damage.”
RedLeaf Biologics
RedLeaf’s story starts in 2009 when University of Kentucky plant scientist noted that one of his sorghum plants was completely red. This work eventually led to a non-GMO sorghum row crop that produces high-value compounds throughout the leaf biomass.
RedLeaf Biologics was founded in 2015 to develop and commercialize these discoveries. The company boasts a fully U.S. domestic supply chain, and was named a Start-Up Star at the 2025 Sports & Active Nutrition Summit hosted by NutraIngredients. RedLeaf was also short-listed as a finalist in the 2025 NutraIngredients-USA Awards for Start-Up of the Year.
ReDaxin contains an array of bioactive compounds including luteolin, quercetin, hydroxycinnamic acids, and a rare class of polyphenols called 3-deoxyanthocyanidins like Apigeninidin and Luteolinidin. These 3-deoxyanthocyanidins are reported to have antioxidant activity, may support cellular defense pathways and play a role in supporting healthy immune balance.
The company states that the extract’s water solubility and pleasant taste means it can be incorporated into a variety of dietary supplement, functional food and beverage applications, including capsules, ready-to-drink, powders and dry mixes, bars and gummies.
Commening on the new study, Jordan Wood, co-founder and CEO of RedLeaf Biologics, stated: “The new clinical study is a major milestone for the sports nutrition industry. We have peer-reviewed clinical data confirming that a U.S.-grown botanical can accelerate strength recovery and reduce soreness after exercise. ReDaxin represents the perfect marriage of gold standard science and American agriculture.”
Study details
The new randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial included 29 healthy men with an average age of 23. The men were randomly assigned to one of three groups: placebo, low-dose ReDaxin (250 mg per day), or high-dose ReDaxin (500 mg per day) for 17 to 18 days. The men underwent the eccentric exercise tests (an exercise-induced muscle damage protocol) on day 14 or 15 and followed for monitored closely for the remaining three days.
The results showed that participants receiving both doses of ReDaxin experienced significantly faster strength recovery, with no significant improvements recorded in the placebo group. Specifically, the higher dose sorghum extract group showed faster recovery within 48 hours of exercise, with the lower group showing faster recovery over 72 hours.
No differences between the sorghum groups and placebo were observed for muscle swelling, perceived pain or recovery.
Commenting on the practical implications of the findings, the researchers noted that the polyphenol-rich sorghum bicolor extract might serve to enhance recovery and, therefore, benefit individuals performing several bouts of potentially damaging exercise in a short time frame (i.e., tournament or track meet scenarios).
“Enhanced recovery may potentially facilitate improved performance in subsequent exercise sessions and promote an increased training volume, thereby contributing to expedited training adaptations over time,” they wrote.
Source: Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2025, 39(8):p e951-e959. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000005144. “Polyphenol-Rich Sorghum Bicolor Extract Enhances Strength Recovery After Eccentric Exercise”. C.J. Mitchinson, et al.
