A Role of Ginseng and Its Constituents in the Treatment of Central Nervous System Disorders.

Natasya Trivena Rokot,Haruka Amitani,Marie Amitani,Akihiro Asakawa,Akio Inui,Nova Hellen Kapantow,Timothy Sean Kairupan,Akinori Morinaga,Joshua Runtuwene,Kai-Chun Cheng

doi:10.1155/2016/2614742

Abstract

Ginseng, a perennial plant belonging to the Panax genus of the Araliaceae family, has been used in China, Korea, and Japan as a traditional herbal medicine for thousands of years. Ginseng is recorded to have exhibited a wide variety of beneficial pharmacological effects and has become a popular and worldwide known health supplement and drug. The protective effects of ginseng on central nervous system are discussed in this review. Ginseng species and ginsenosides and their intestinal metabolism and bioavailability are concisely introduced. The molecular mechanisms of the effects of ginseng on central nervous system, mainly focused on the neuroprotection properties of ginseng, memory, and learning enhanced properties, and the effects on neurodegenerative disorders are presented. Thus, ginseng and its constituents are of potential merits in the treatment of cerebral disorders.

Highlights

Ginseng has a medical history for thousands of years and become one of the most widely used traditional herbal medicines [1]
Ginseng and its constituents are known to have the beneficial effects on central nervous system (CNS) disorders including the cognitive performance, memory, and neurodegenerative diseases (Figure 2)
Ginseng has been used for thousands of years as traditional medicine

Summary

Introduction

Ginseng has a medical history for thousands of years and become one of the most widely used traditional herbal medicines [1]. It belonged to the Panax genus of the Araliaceae family. It has been documented that ginseng and its constituents exhibit a wide variety of beneficial pharmacological effects. Ginseng is known to affect the nervous system, due to various effects that are beneficial to brain. Ginsenosides and other active constituents from ginseng are known to show neuroprotective properties and worked as cognitive performance and memory enhancer [9, 10]. The purpose of this review is to discuss the effects of ginseng on central nervous system, mainly focused on the neuroprotection properties of ginseng, memory, and learning enhanced properties, and the effects on neurodegenerative disorders

Chemical Structure and Component

Bioavailability

Effects on the Central Nervous System

Conclusions and Future Perspective