Abstract
Ginseng root is used more often than other parts such as leaf stem although extracts from ginseng leaf-stem also contain similar active ingredients with pharmacological functions. Ginseng's leaf-stems are more readily available at a lower cost than its root. This article reviews the pharmacological effects of ginseng leaf-stem on some diseases and adverse effects due to excessive consumption. Ginseng leaf-stem extract contains numerous active ingredients, such as ginsenosides, polysaccharides, triterpenoids, flavonoids, volatile oils, polyacetylenic alcohols, peptides, amino acids and fatty acids. The extract contains larger amounts of the same active ingredients than the root. These active ingredients produce multifaceted pharmacological effects on the central nervous system, as well as on the cardiovascular, reproductive and metabolic systems. Ginseng leaf-stem extract also has anti-fatigue, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-obesity, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant and anti-aging properties. In normal use, ginseng leaf-stem extract is quite safe; adverse effects occur only when it is over dosed or is of poor quality. Extracts from ginseng root and leaf-stem have similar multifaceted pharmacological activities (for example central nervous and cardiovascular systems). In terms of costs and source availability, however, ginseng leaf-stem has advantages over its root. Further research will facilitate a wider use of ginseng leaf-stem.
Highlights
Ginseng is cultivated in China, Korea, Japan and Russia, as well as in the United States and Canada
Ginseng is one of the most well-known herbal medicines widely used in East Asia as a tonic, restorative and anti-aging agent in traditional Chinese medicine [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]
Using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection at 203 nm, Shi et al found that the seven major ginsenosides (Rg1, Re, Rb1, Rc, Rb2, Rb3 and Rd) were present in various parts of Chinese ginseng of various ages [27]
Summary
Ginseng is cultivated in China, Korea, Japan and Russia, as well as in the United States and Canada. Using HPLC with UV detection at 203 nm, Shi et al found that the seven major ginsenosides (Rg1, Re, Rb1, Rc, Rb2, Rb3 and Rd) were present in various parts of Chinese ginseng of various ages [27] These results indicate that ginsenoside content is higher in the leaf and root hair but lower in the stem than that in other parts of the plant and that the total content of ginsenosides in the leaf decreases with age [25,26,27]. Effects of saponins from Chinese ginseng leaf-stem on memory, learning and biogenic monoamines of the brain were examined in rats [33]. Results showed that ginseng root saponins improved learning and memory in normal male rats, while the effects of ginseng leaf-stem saponins on anti-electroconvulsive shock-induced impairment of memory consolidation were more intense. Anti-cancer effects Anti-prostate, bladder and renal cancer Killing cancer cells via at least 5 pathways Reducing apoptotic cell number
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