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PubMed2001

Voltage-dependent inhibition of brain Na(+) channels by American ginseng.

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is a major species of ginseng that has many pharmacological effects. Studies have demonstrated that constituents of ginseng have neuroprotective effects during ischemia. Neuronal damage during ischemic episodes has been associated with abnormal Na(+) fluxes. Drugs that block voltage-dependent Na(+) channels provide cytoprotection during cerebral ischemia. We thus hypothesized that American ginseng may block Na(+) channels. In this study, effects of an American ginseng aqueous extract was evaluated in tsA201 cells transfected with cDNA expressing alpha subunits of the Brain(2a) Na(+) channel using the whole-cell patch clamp technique. We found that American ginseng extract tonically and reversibly blocked the channel in a concentration- and voltage-dependent manner. It shifted the voltage-dependence of inactivation by 14 mV (3 mg/ml) in the hyperpolarizing direction and delayed recovery from inactivation, whereas activation of the channel was unaffected. Ginsenoside Rb(1), a major constituent of the American ginseng extract, produced similar effects. The data were compared with the actions of lidocaine, a Na(+) channel blocker. Our results suggest that Na(+) channel block by American ginseng extract and Rb(1) was primarily due to interaction with the inactive state of the channel. Inhibition of the Na(+) channel activity by American ginseng extract may contribute to its neuroprotective effect during ischemia.

Brain↗
PubMed2003

Cytokine modulating effect of ginseng treatment in a mouse model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection.

The major cause of morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients is chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection. In a mouse model of P. aeruginosa lung infection mimicking that in CF patients, the effects of ginseng treatment on cytokine responses and the correlation between the changes in cytokine production and the lung pathology were studied. Mice were challenged with alginate beads containing P. aeruginosa (10(9) CFU/ml). A saline extract of ginseng was injected subcutaneously at a dosage of 250 mg/kg of body weight/day for 7 days. Saline was used as a placebo control. One week after challenge, a significantly lower mortality was found in the ginseng treated group (P < 0.005). The lung cells from the ginseng treated group produced more interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) (P < 0.04) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) (P < 0.03) but less interleukin-4 (IL-4) (P < 0 .02) with a higher ratio of IFN-gamma/IL-4 (P < 0.004) after 6 and/or 24 h of incubation with specific and non-specific antigens as compared to the control group. The ginseng treated splenocytes produced more TNF-alpha (P < 0.03) and IFN-gamma (P0.05) than the control spleen cells. Furthermore, a significantly milder lung pathology (P < 0.025) and a faster bacterial clearance (P < 0.038) from the lungs were also found in the ginseng treated group compared to the control group. These results indicate a Th1-like immune response in the mice with P. aeruginosa lung infection after 7 days of ginseng treatment, which is an important mechanism accounting for ginseng's favorable action. We therefore believe that Th1 response might benefit the host with P. aeruginosa lung infection and ginseng treatment might be a promising alternative measure for the treatment of chronic P. aeruginosa lung infection in CF patients.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Overview on the analytical tools for quality control of natural product-based supplements: a case study of ginseng.

The quality of pharmaceutical products like ginseng is important for ensuring consumer safety and efficacy. Many ginseng products sold today are in various formulations such as powder, capsules, tablets, soft-gels, liquid extracts, and tea. This renders ginseng less identifiable by smell, taste, or physical appearance. Furthermore, as ginseng is expensive, adulteration with other cheaper products occurs. Hence quality assurance of ginseng is needed. This paper reviews the major techniques for ascertaining the level of ginsenosides, the primary active ingredients for ginseng, and covers high-performance liquid, gas, and thin-layer chromatographies, infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies, enzyme immunoassays, and other molecular methods. Supporting techniques such as ultraviolet, fluorescence, diode array and evaporative light scattering detections, and mass spectrometry will also be touched upon. This review also discusses the principles and applications of biosensors-in particular fiber optic-based sensors-and their feasibility in ginseng analysis based on preliminary studies. Despite their potential, there is currently no or limited commercial exploitation of fiber optic-based sensors to perform ginseng quality analysis. The opportunity for biosensors to be used for the rapid quality surveillance of ginseng is appealing, but several key issues still need to be addressed before they find widespread applications in the traditional Chinese medicine industry.

Biosensing Techniques↗
PubMed2006

American ginseng stimulates insulin production and prevents apoptosis through regulation of uncoupling protein-2 in cultured beta cells.

American ginseng root displays the ability to achieve glucose homeostasis both experimentally and clinically but the unknown mechanism used by ginseng to achieve its therapeutic effects on diabetes limits its application. Disruption in the insulin secretion of pancreatic beta cells is considered the major cause of diabetes. A mitochondrial protein, uncoupling protein-2 (UCP-2) has been found to play a critical role in insulin synthesis and beta cell survival. Our preliminary studies found that the extracts of American ginseng inhibit UCP-2 expression which may contribute to the ability of ginseng protecting beta cell death and improving insulin synthesis. Therefore, we hypothesized that ginseng extracts suppress UCP-2 in the mitochondria of pancreatic beta cells, promoting insulin synthesis and anti-apoptosis (a programmed cell-death mechanism). To test the hypothesis, the serum-deprived quiescent beta cells were cultured with or without interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), (200 pg ml(-1), a cytokine to induce beta cell apoptosis) and water extracts of American ginseng (25 mug per 5 mul administered to wells of 0.5 ml culture) for 24 h. We evaluated effects of ginseng on UCP-2 expression, insulin production, anti-/pro-apoptotic factors Bcl-2/caspase-9 expression and cellular ATP levels. We found that ginseng suppresses UCP-2, down-regulates caspase-9 while increasing ATP and insulin production/secretion and up-regulates Bcl-2, reducing apoptosis. These findings suggest that stimulation of insulin production and prevention of beta cell loss by American ginseng extracts can occur via the inhibition of mitochondrial UCP-2, resulting in increase in the ATP level and the anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2, while down-regulation of pro-apoptotic factor caspase-9 occurs, lowering the occurrence of apoptosis, which support the hypothesis.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1990

A case-control study of ginseng intake and cancer.

The effect of ginseng consumption on the risk of cancer was investigated by interviewing 905 pairs of cases and controls matched by age, sex, and date of admission to the Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Seoul, Korea. Of the 905 cases 562 (62%) had a history of ginseng intake compared to 674 of the 905 controls (75%) a statistically significant difference (p less than 0.01). The odds ratio (OR) of cancer in relation to ginseng intake was 0.56 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.45-0.69). Ginseng extract and powder were shown to be more effective than fresh sliced ginseng, the juice, or tea in reducing the OR. Odds ratios for decreasing levels of ginseng intake were 1.00, 0.58, 0.43 and 0.25 for males and 1.00, 0.81, 0.56 and 0.52 for females. A trend test showed a significant decrease in proportion of cancer cases with increasing frequency of intake for males (p less than 10(-5)) as well as for females (p less than 0.05). Chi-square homogeneity tests also confirmed significant differences between cases and controls for both sexes (p less than 10(-3)). The reliability of recall for ginseng use was assessed by interviewing 180 randomly-selected subjects twice using the same questionnaire. The overall agreement in reported ginseng use between the two interviews was 0.85, and the Kappa value was 0.71 (p less than 0.01). These results strongly support the hypothesis of preventive effects of ginseng on cancer suggested by earlier animal studies.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Radioprotective potential of ginseng.

A majority of potential radioprotective synthetic compounds have demonstrated limited clinical application owing to their inherent toxicity, and thus, the seeking of naturally occurring herbal products, such as ginseng, for their radioprotective capability has become an attractive alternative. In general, ginseng refers to the roots of the species of the genus Panax. As a medicinal herb, ginseng has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for its wide spectrum of medicinal effects, such as tonic, immunomodulatory, antimutagenic, adaptogenic and antiaging activities. Many of its medicinal effects are attributed to the triterpene glycosides known as ginsenosides (saponins). This review addresses the issue of the radioprotective effects of ginseng on mammalian cells both in vitro and in vivo. Results indicate that the water-soluble extract of whole ginseng appears to give a better protection against radiation-induced DNA damage than does the isolated ginsenoside fractions. Since free radicals play an important role in radiation-induced damage, the underlying radioprotective mechanism of ginseng could be linked, either directly or indirectly, to its antioxidative capability by the scavenging free radicals responsible for DNA damage. In addition, ginseng's radioprotective potential may also be related to its immunomodulating capabilities. Ginseng is a natural product with worldwide distribution, and in addition to its antitumor properties, ginseng appears to be a promising radioprotector for therapeutic or preventive protocols capable of attenuating the deleterious effects of radiation on human normal tissue, especially for cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Ginseng, sex behavior, and nitric oxide.

In Asia, ginseng is commonly included in herbals used for the treatment of sexual dysfunction. Recent studies in laboratory animals have shown that both Asian and American forms of ginseng enhance libido and copulatory performance. These effects of ginseng may not be due to changes in hormone secretion, but to direct effects of ginseng, or its ginsenoside components, on the central nervous system and gonadal tissues. Indeed, there is good evidence that ginsenosides can facilitate penile erection by directly inducing the vasodilatation and relaxation of penile corpus cavernosum. Moreover, the effects of ginseng on the corpus cavernosum appear to be mediated by the release and/or modification of release of nitric oxide from endothelial cells and perivascular nerves. Treatment with American ginseng also affects the central nervous system and has been shown to significantly alter the activity of hypothalamic catecholamines involved in the facilitation of copulatory behavior and hormone secretion. Recent findings that ginseng treatment decreased prolactin secretion also suggested a direct nitric oxide-mediated effect of ginseng at the level of the anterior pituitary. Thus, animal studies lend growing support for the use of ginseng in the treatment of sexual dysfunction and provide increasing evidence for a role of nitric oxide in the mechanism of ginsenoside action.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

North American ginseng exerts a neutral effect on blood pressure in individuals with hypertension.

An early observational study suggested that ginseng could elevate blood pressure. This caused concern because 4.5% of American adults use ginseng, with a popular choice being North American ginseng. To date, North American ginseng lacks hemodynamic evaluation; therefore, we conducted a randomized, double-blinded, controlled trial to investigate its effect on blood pressure in 16 hypertensive individuals (mean+/-SD age 61.1+/-8.1 years; systolic/diastolic blood pressure 132.4+/-12.8/83.3+/-8.1 mm Hg; 13 on antihypertensives). We used 6 batches of North American ginseng root that varied in quality and ginsenoside content, representing the spectrum of this ginseng on the market. On 8 mornings, each participant was fitted with an ambulatory blood pressure monitor, which measured blood pressure during a 30-minute baseline period. Each participant then consumed in a randomized and double-blind fashion 3 g of encapsulated treatment: placebo (on 2 mornings) or powdered North American ginseng (on 6 mornings). After treatment, blood pressure was measured every 10 minutes for 160 minutes, and its change at each post-treatment time point relative to baseline was determined per individual and averaged, and the mean was obtained for the overall 160-minute period. None of the North American ginsengs or their mean differed from placebo in their effect on overall (160 minutes) mean blood pressure change. None affected blood pressure versus placebo at the 10-minute intervals; but their mean versus placebo increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure at 140 and 160 minutes, respectively, and lowered diastolic blood pressure at 100 minutes. The findings together suggested that North American ginseng exerts a neutral acute effect on blood pressure in hypertensive individuals.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Increase in the free radical scavenging activity of ginseng by heat-processing.

To investigate whether or not the radical scavenging activity of ginseng is enhanced by heat processing, we evaluated the scavenging effects of white ginseng (WG), red ginseng (RG, steamed ginseng at 98-100 degrees C) and sun ginseng (SG, steamed ginseng at 120 degrees C) on nitric oxide, superoxide (O2-), hydroxyl (*OH) radicals and peroxynitrite (ONOO-). Heat-treated ginseng (RG and SG) showed better O2-, ONOO- and *OH-scavenging activities than WG. In particular, the radical scavenging activities of SG were stronger than those of RG. Furthermore, we evaluated the radical scavenging activities of maltol, salicylic acid, vanillic acid and p-coumaric acid, known as principal antioxidant components of ginseng, in WG, RG and SG, and also investigated their contents. Of the tested compounds, maltol, vanillic acid and p-coumaric acid exhibited ONOO(-)-scavenging activity. In addition, maltol and p-coumaric acid showed strong *OH-scavenging activity. Moreover, the content of maltol was remarkably increased in a temperature-dependent manner by heat processing, implying that maltol was closely related to the radical scavenging activity of heat-processed ginseng. These findings indicate that SG may act as a free radical scavenger and protect against damage caused by oxidative stress related with these radicals.

Free Radical Scavengers↗
PubMed2002

Effects of Panax ginseng on quality of life.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the time-dependent effects of Panax ginseng on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) by use of a general health status questionnaire. METHODS: Subjects were randomized in a double-blind manner to P. ginseng 200 mg/d (n = 15) or placebo (n = 15) for 8 weeks. The Short Form-36 Health Survey version 2 (SF-36v2), a validated general health status questionnaire, was used to assess HRQOL at baseline and at 4 and 8 weeks. HRQOL between the groups was compared by use of repeated-measures analysis of covariance. A p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in baseline demographics and SF-36v2 scores between the groups. After 4 weeks of therapy, higher scores in social functioning (P. ginseng 54.9+/-4.6 vs. placebo 49.2+/-6.5; p = 0.014), mental health (P. ginseng 52.2+/-7.7 vs. placebo 47.2+/-7.3; p = 0.075), and the mental component summary (P. ginseng 51.3+/-7.4 vs. placebo 44.3+/-8.3; p = 0.019) scales were observed in patients randomized to P. ginseng; these differences did not persist to the 8-week time point. The incidence of adverse effects was 33% in the P. ginseng group compared with 17% in the placebo group (p = 0.40). Subjects given P. ginseng (58%) were more likely to state that they received active therapy than subjects given placebo (17%; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: P. ginseng improves aspects of mental health and social functioning after 4 weeks of therapy, although these differences attenuate with continued use.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

[Experimental research on the regulating effects of ginseng with hairy antler on the sexual dysfunction rat model induced with adenine].

OBJECTIVE: To research the regulating effects of different dosages of ginseng with hairy antler on the sexual dysfunction model of the gonad and the structure of shenyangxu male rats induced with adenine, and to look for the best compatible proportion of ginseng to hairy antler in the model. METHODS: Healthy male SD rats, 2 months of age and (220 +/- 20) g in weight, were randomly assigned to 13 groups: normal group, model group, ginseng group, hairy antler group and 9 different proportion groups of ginseng to hairy antler. Observations were made on the exterior syndrome, testosterone in sera, weight index of the prostate and seminal vesicle, and tissue changes of the testis in the experimental rat model. RESULTS: Dosages of different proportions of ginseng to hairy antler had different improving effects on the exterior syndrome, testosterone in sera, weight index of the prostate and seminal vesicle, and tissue changes of the testis. CONCLUSION: Different proportions of ginseng to hairy antler had different improving effects on the sexual dysfunction model of male rats induced with adenine, and the best compatible proportion of ginseng to hairy antler was 5 to 2, that is, 0.45 g ginseng to 0.18 g hairy antler or 0.90 g ginseng to 0.36 g hairy antler.

Adenine↗
PubMed1995

Clinical efficacy of Korean red ginseng for erectile dysfunction.

To investigate the efficacy in treating erectile dysfunction and to develop a natural drug without complications, the results of ginseng treatments are compared to placebo and other drug. A total of 90 patients with 30 patients in each group were closely followed. Changes in symptoms such as frequency of intercourse, premature ejaculation, and morning erections after treatment were not changed in all three groups (p > 0.05). However in the group receiving ginseng, changes in early detumescence and erectile parameters such as penile rigidity and girth, libido and patient satisfactions were significantly higher than that of other groups (p < 0.05). The overall therapeutic efficacies on erectile dysfunction were 60% for ginseng group and 30% for placebo and trazodone treated groups, statistically confirming the effect of ginseng (p < 0.05). No complete remission of erectile dysfunction was noted, but partial responses were reported. No cases of aggravation of symptoms were reported. AVS-penogram, which is a recording of penile hemodynamic changes during the natural erection after audiovisual erotic stimulation, is not changed after administration of ginseng. However if administered for a prolonged period of time, the cummulative effect on vascular flow might be seen. The administration of Korean red ginseng has shown to have superior effects compared to the placebo or trazodone. Definitely more researches are required to elucidate the mechanism of ginseng. The effects of saponin, extracted from ginseng, on smooth muscle of erectile tissues, can be evaluated using organ chamber or nitric oxide titration, thereby pinpointing the exact action mechanism of saponin. As more informations are available, possible breakthrough in treatment of erectile dysfunction could be arisen from active saponin extracted from red ginseng, bringing hopes to many sufferers of erectile dysfunction.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L) reduces postprandial glycemia in nondiabetic subjects and subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Despite a lack of medical evidence to support its therapeutic efficacy, the use of herbal medicine has increased considerably. Ginseng, one of the most widely used herbs, is hypothesized to play a role in carbohydrate metabolism and diabetes mellitus. We therefore undertook a preliminary short-term clinical study to assess whether American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L) affects postprandial glycemia in humans. DESIGN: On 4 separate occasions, 10 nondiabetic subjects (mean [+/-SD] age, 34+/-7 years; mean [+/-SD] body mass index [BMI], 25.6 +/- 3 kg/m2) and 9 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (mean [+/-SD] age, 62 +/- 7 years; mean [+/-SD] BMI, 29 +/- 5 kg/m2; mean [+/-SD] glycosylated hemoglobin A1c, 0.08+/-0.005) were randomized to receive 3-g ginseng or placebo capsules, either 40 minutes before or together with a 25-g oral glucose challenge. The placebo capsules contained com flour, in which the quantity of carbohydrate and appearance matched the ginseng capsules. A capillary blood sample was taken fasting and then at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 (only for subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus ) minutes after the glucose challenge. RESULTS: In nondiabetic subjects, no differences were found in postprandial glycemia between placebo and ginseng when administered together with the glucose challenge. When ginseng was taken 40 minutes before the glucose challenge, significant reductions were observed (P<.05). In subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus, the same was true whether capsules were taken before or together with the glucose challenge (P<.05). Reductions in area under the glycemic curve were 18%+/-31% for nondiabetic subjects and 19+/-22% and 22+/-17% for subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus administered before or together with the glucose challenge, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: American ginseng attenuated postprandial glycemia in both study groups. For nondiabetic subjects, to prevent unintended hypoglycemia it may be important that the American ginseng be taken with the meal.

Adult↗
PubMed2007

Chronic oral administration of ginseng extract results in behavioral change but has no effects in mice models of affective and anxiety disorders.

Ginseng is a popular 'tonic' herb in Chinese traditional medicine with diverse biological activity. The core of ginseng's therapeutic abilities is thought to be its neuroprotective actions in increasing cellular resilience. These actions coincide with novel theories of affective and anxiety disorders and raise the possibility that ginseng may serve as medication for these common and devastating diseases. The present study was designed to explore the possible effects of chronic ginseng extract, administered in a clinically relevant schedule (similar to antidepressants) in animal models of affective and anxiety disorders. Groups of mice received chronic oral treatment with ginseng extract (500 mg/kg/day for 3 weeks) and were tested in a large open eld, in the emergence test for anxiolytic activity, the forced swim test for antidepressant activity and the amphetamine hyperactivity test for mood stabilizing activity. Chronic ginseng had a signicant effect on reducing spontaneous locomotor activity in the open eld test but not on the distribution of activity and had no inssuence on the performance of mice in any of the specic models. Although the extract used in this study contained signicant levels of ginsenosides, detailed analysis of the brain levels of the active ingredients of ginseng may be needed to make a far reaching conclusion. However, the doses and schedule of administration of ginseng used in the present study induced some behavioral changes but did not inssuence affective- and anxiety-like measures.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2005

Effect of calmodulin on ginseng saponin-induced Ca2+-activated Cl- channel activation in Xenopus laevis oocytes.

We previously demonstrated the ability of ginseng saponins (active ingredients of Panax ginseng) to enhance Ca2+-activated Cl- current. The mechanism for this ginseng saponin-induced enhancement was proposed to be the release of Ca2+ from IP3-sensitive intracellular stores through the activation of PTX-insensitive Galpha(q/11) proteins and PLC pathway. Recent studies have shown that calmodulin (CaM) regulates IP3 receptor-mediated Ca2+ release in both Ca2+-dependent and -independent manner. In the present study, we have investigated the effects of CaM on ginseng saponin-induced Ca2+-activated Cl- current responses in Xenopus oocytes. Intraoocyte injection of CaM inhibited ginseng saponin-induced Ca2+-activated Cl- current enhancement, whereas co-injection of calmidazolium, a CaM antagonist, with CaM blocked CaM action. The inhibitory effect of CaM on ginseng saponin-induced Ca2+-activated Cl- current enhancement was dose- and time-dependent, with an IC50 of 14.9 +/- 3.5 microM. The inhibitory effect of CaM on saponin's activity was maximal after 6 h of intraoocyte injection of CaM, and after 48 h the activity of saponin recovered to control level. The half-recovery time was calculated to be 16.7 +/- 4.3 h. Intraoocyte injection of CaM inhibited Ca2+-induced Ca2+-activated Cl- current enhancement and also attenuated IP3-induced Ca2+-activated Cl- current enhancement. Ca2+/CaM kinase II inhibitor did not inhibit CaM-caused attenuation of ginseng saponin-induced Ca2+-activated Cl- current enhancement. These results suggest that CaM regulates ginseng saponin effect on Ca2+-activated Cl current enhancement via Ca2+-independent manner.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Decreased Hill reaction rates and slow turnover of transitory starch in the obligate shade plant Panax quinquefolius L. (American ginseng).

To identify physiological processes that might limit photosynthesis in Panax quinquefolius L. (American ginseng) a comparison has been made with Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (Korean ginseng), Pisum sativum L. (pea) and Spinacia oleracea L. (spinach). The quantum yield of oxygen evolution in intact leaves and isolated thylakoid membranes was found to be smaller in ginseng than in pea or spinach. However, the number of photosystem II (PSII) centers on a chlorophyll basis was found to be similar in all species. This suggests that ginseng thylakoid membranes possess relatively more inactive PSII centers than thylakoids of pea and spinach when grown under similar conditions. Unexpectedly, whole-chain electron transport from water to methyl viologen, and partial photosystem I reactions, demonstrated that electron transport rates to methyl viologen were anomalously low in P. quinquefolius and P. ginseng. Additionally, at elevated light intensities, intact leaves of P. quinquefolius were more susceptible to lipid peroxidation than pea leaves. In plants grown at a light intensity of 80 micro mol photons m(-2) s(-1) the levels of fructose and starch were higher in both ginseng species than in pea or spinach. Significantly, the level of starch in P. quinquefolius was relatively constant throughout the entire 12 h/12 h light/dark cycle and remained high after an extended dark time of 48 h. In addition, P. quinquefolius had lower activities of alpha-amylase and beta-amylase than P. ginseng, pea and Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. The significance of the elevated levels of leaf starch in P. quinquefolius remains to be determined. However, the susceptibility of P. quinquefolius to photoinhibition may arise as a consequence of a reduced fraction of active PSII centers. This may result in the normal dissipative mechanisms in these plants becoming saturated at elevated, but moderate, light intensities.

Carbon↗
PubMed1983

Suppression of cholesterogenesis and reduction of LDL cholesterol by dietary ginseng and its fractions in chicken liver.

The effects of ginseng root powder and of serially extracted solvent fractions of ginseng on avian hepatic cholesterol metabolism and lipogenesis and on avian serum lipoprotein cholesterol levels were examined. In one study, White Leghorn females were fed for 4 weeks a corn-based diet (control) or an experimental diet in which was incorporated 0.25% Wisconsin ginseng or an equivalent quantity of a serial solvent fraction [petroleum ether (PESF), methyl alcohol (MESF), water (WASF)] or of the residue. beta-hydroxy-beta-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase activity was significantly lower (P less than 0.01) in each of the treatment groups (31-37% of control activity) except that fed the extracted residue (90% of control, N.S.). Cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity was lowered in parallel (45-64% of control, P less than 0.01) by all treatments except the residue (100% of control). Also with the exception of the residue treatment, each ginseng treatment effected a lowering of the serum total cholesterol level (67-83% of control, P less than 0.01) and of serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol level (53-81% of control, P less than 0.01). Lipogenic activities and serum triglycerides levels were lowered (P less than 0.01) by two of the ginseng treatments. The PESF treatment was the most effective suppressor of each parameter, 74% and 68% respectively, of the control values. The WASF also had significant impact. Not one of the experimental diets influenced the serum high density lipoprotein level. The PESF, the potent source of suppressors, effected a change in the ratio of low to high density lipoprotein cholesterol from 1.46 (control) to 0.88. The levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in liver under these conditions showed a similar pattern as that of serum. In companion studies, broiler females were fed 0.28% Chinese red ginseng root powder or its various fractions. The results confirmed those recorded above. The factor(s) responsible for lowering the serum total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were generally more concentrated in the PESF and WASF of ginseng and each was significantly more effective than was ginseng root powder. Ginsenosides (saponins) are considered to be the active agents for the suppression of cholesterogenesis and lipogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Ginseng does not enhance psychological well-being in healthy, young adults: results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: Ginseng is a popular, commercially available dietary supplement that is purported to have a number of psychological benefits. The purpose of this study was to examine these claims, with specific reference to ginseng's effects on affect and mood. DESIGN: Prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: Eighty-three adults (40 women, 43 men) participated in this study (mean age = 25.7 year). Participants were recruited from within a university community and at area health clubs. INTERVENTION: Participants were randomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions: placebo (lactose), 200 mg ginseng, or 400 mg ginseng. The ginseng preparation used in this study consisted of the Panax ginseng C A Meyer concentrate G115 in capsular format. Each participant was given a 60-day allotment of their respective supplement along with written instructions about the proper intake and storage of the capsules during the 8-week study period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Positive affect, negative affect, and total mood disturbance. Measures were obtained pre- and post-intervention. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance was used. Because there were three dependent variables, and in an effort to minimize the experimentwise-error rate, alpha was adjusted using the Bonferroni technique (i.e., P < .05/3 = P < .016). RESULTS: Ginseng supplementation had no effect on positive affect, negative affect, or total mood disturbance (all P > .016). CONCLUSION: The present findings do not support claims that chronic ginseng supplementation--at either its clinically recommended level or at twice that level--enhances affect or mood in healthy young adults.

Adult↗