Effects Of Ginseng Extract Research Articles

Panax ginseng has anti-infective activity against opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa by inhibiting quorum sensing, a bacterial communication process critical for establishing infection.

Virulent factors produced by pathogens play an important role in the infectious process, which is regulated by a cell-to-cell communication mechanism called quorum sensing (QS). Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important opportunistic human pathogen, which causes infections in patients with compromised immune systems and cystic fibrosis. The QS systems of P. aeruginosa use N-acylated homoserine lactone (AHL) as signal molecules. Previously we have demonstrated that Panax ginseng treatment allowed the animals with P. aeruginosa pneumonia to effectively clear the bacterial infection. We postulated that the ability to impact the outcome of infections is partly due to ginseng having direct effect on the production of P. aeruginosa virulence factors. The study explores the effect of ginseng on alginate, protease and AHL production. The effect of ginseng extracts on growth and expression of QS-controlled virulence factors on the prototypic P. aeruginosa PAO1 and its isogenic mucoid variant (PAOmucA22) was determined. Ginseng did not inhibit the growth of the bacteria, enhanced the extracellular protein production and stimulated the production of alginate. However, ginseng suppressed the production of LasA and LasB and down-regulated the synthesis of the AHL molecules. Ginseng has a negative effect on the QS system of P. aeruginosa, may explain the ginseng-dependent bacterial clearance from the animal lungs in vivo in our previous animal study. It is possible that enhancing and repressing activities of ginseng are mutually exclusive as it is a complex mixture, as shown with the HPLC analysis of the hot water extract. Though ginseng is a promising natural synergetic remedy, it is important to isolate and evaluate the ginseng compounds associated with the anti-QS activity.

돌발성난청에서 홍삼추출물의 추가적인 치료효과

Sudden idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss is a disease that develops within several hours to several days. Its etiology has not yet been verified, but the disturbance of the circulation of blood in the inner ear, inner-ear hydrops, and viral infection are considered possible causes of the disease. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Panax ginseng extract, which is known to have a vasodilatory effect, on sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Sixty-nine patients suffering from sudden sensorineural hearing loss were admitted to Korea University Anam Hospital from March to December 2008. They were divided into the experimental (30 ears) and control (39 ears) groups. Ginseng extract (2700 mg/day, 4 weeks) was added to the therapeutic regimen in the experimental group. The effect of ginseng extract therapy was analyzed according to the factors relating to the prognosis. A considerable hearing improvement was documented in both groups (32.2 dB in the experimental group and 25.8 dB in the control group). However, there was little beneficial effect of ginseng extract on additional hearing improvement compared with control. The total recovery rate of the experimental group (80.0%) was better than that of the control group (58.9%), and the experimental group's high-tone hearing gain at 3 kHz (29.7 dB) was better than that of the control group (21.7 dB). The results of the study suggest that the effects of ginseng therapy tend to be superior to those of the conventional therapy, but the difference between the two is not statistically significant. The hearing gains tend to be in the higher frequencies and may be due to the promotion of cellular differentiation from the supporting cells.

The inhibitory effects of garlic and Panax ginseng extract standardized with ginsenoside Rg3 on the genotoxicity, biochemical, and histological changes induced by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid in male rats

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is widely used in food and other industries to sequester metal ions and to prevent their disadvantageous effects. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the protective effect of Panax ginseng extract standardized with ginsenoside Rg3 (ginsenoside Rg3 content was 3.6% w/w, i.e., 36 microg/mg P. ginseng extract) and garlic against EDTA-induced biochemical, genotoxic, and histological changes in rats. Forty male rats were divided into eight treatment groups and treated for 7 days as follows: the control group, the group treated with EDTA (20 mg/kg b.w) and the groups treated with P. ginseng extract (20 mg/kg b.w), garlic (5 mg/kg b.w), P. ginseng plus garlic alone or in combination with EDTA. In vivo bone marrow micronucleus test and random amplified polymorphism DNA-PCR (RAPD-PCR) method were performed to assess the antigenotoxic effect of both protective agents. The results indicated that EDTA administration caused a significant decrease in the serum biochemical parameters and antioxidant enzymes activity. The administration also increased lipid peroxidation and the incidence of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MnPCEs), caused appearance of some changes in polymorphism band patterns, and induced different histopathological lesions in the livers, kidneys, and testis. Treatment with P. ginseng, garlic alone or plus EDTA significantly improved all the tested parameters. Moreover, P. ginseng extract was found to be more effective than garlic in restoring the parameters that were altered by EDTA.

Protective Effect of Ginseng on Cytokine-Induced Apoptosis in Pancreatic β-Cells

The effects of ginseng extracts (GE) and several ginsenosides on cytokine-induced apoptosis were evaluated. In pancreatic beta-cell line MIN6N8 cells, the inhibitory effect of GE was significantly observed at 25-100 microg/mL: an 86-100% decrease of cytoplasmic DNA fragments quantified by an ELISA. The inhibitory effect of red ginseng (RG) extract was greater than that of white ginseng (WG) extract (IC50, 3.633 vs 4.942 microg/mL). Screening of several known ginsenosides, which were present in ginseng extracts at 0.124-1.19% (w/w) by HPLC analysis, revealed that the ginsenosides were responsible for the inhibition of beta-cell apoptosis at 0.1-1.0 microg/mL. The molecular mechanism, by which GE inhibited beta-cell apoptosis, appeared to involve the reduction of nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, inhibition on p53/p21 expression, and inhibition on cleavage of caspases and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). This study suggests that ginseng may inhibit cytokine-induced apoptosis in beta-cells and, thus, may contribute via this action to the antidiabetic influence in type 1 diabetes.

Protective Effect of Panax ginseng extract on Renal Functions Altered by Mercuric Chloride in Albino Rats

Liver and kidney are specific organs which play an active role in biotransformation and detoxification mechanisms. Ant adverse effect of chemicals or heavy metal can cause the delay or fade in these mechanisms. Present study was designed to find out the protective effect of Panax ginseng extract on renal functions altered by mercuric chloride (heavy metal) in albino rat. Fifty albino rats were divided into 10 groups. Five groups for acute study and five groups for sud-acute study viz. control group (Tween 20 and distilled water), mercuric chloride treated group (0.926 mg/kg body wt. for acute and 0.044 mg/kg body wt. for sub-acute group after calculated <TEX>$LD_{50}$</TEX> (9.26 mg/kg body wt.) by probit analysis (Finney, 1971), Panax ginseng extract treated group (10 mg/kg body wt. for acute and sub-acute sets), mercuric chloride treated followed by Panax ginseng extract and Panax ginseng extract followed by mercuric chloride group. All doses were given orally by gavage tube. The result revealed that the serum urea and creatinine significantly increased in mercuric chloride treated group, while significantly decreased (p<0.01) in Panax ginseng extract group after acute and sub-acute treatment. The biochemical estimation is also confirmed by nephropathological aspect. However, the Panax ginseng extract treated followed by mercuric chloride group is more prominent than the mercuric chloride treated followed by Panax ginseng extract group. It can be concluded that Panax ginseng extract had a protective nature on renal functions against mercuric chloride toxicity in albino rats.

Effect of Panax ginseng extract (G115) on angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity and nitric oxide (NO) production

This study investigates the effects of the Panax ginseng (Araliaceae) extract G115 on angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity and nitric oxide (NO) in cultured human endothelial cells from umbilical veins (HUVEC) and bovine mesenteric arteries (BMA). In HUVEC, ACE activity was significantly reduced after 10 min incubation with aqueous extract of ginseng 5.0 and 10 mg/ml. This effect was additative with the inhibition of the traditional ACE inhibitor enalaprilat. No effect was seen on NO production from the cells. Angiotensin I-induced contraction of BMA was significantly attenuated by 0.1 and 0.5 mg/ml ginseng, while no endothelium-dependent or -independent relaxation was seen. In conclusion, extract of Panax ginseng (G115) inhibits ACE activity, but does not affect NO production in HUVEC and BMA.

Protective role ofPanax ginseng extract standardized with ginsenoside Rg3 against acrylamide-induced neurotoxicity in rats

Acrylamide (ACR) is an industrial neurotoxic chemical that has been recently found in carbohydrate-rich foods cooked at high temperatures. ACR was designated as a probable human carcinogen by IARC (1994) and USEPA (1988). Panax ginseng extract has efficacies such as anticancer, antihypertension, antidiabetes and antinociception. The objective of the current study is to evaluate the protective effects of Panax ginseng extract against ACR-induced toxicity in rats. Sixty adult Sprague Dawley female rats were divided into six groups included a control group, a group treated orally with ACR (50 mg kg(-1) body weight; b.w.) for 11 days, a group treated orally with Panax ginseng extract (20 mg kg(-1) b.w.) for 11 days and groups treated orally with Panax ginseng for 11 days before, during or after 11 days of ACR treatment. The results indicated that treatment with ACR alone resulted in a significant increase in lipid peroxidation level and LDH activity in brain homogenate as well as in serum CK activity, whereas it caused a significant decrease in SOD activity and a small but statistically insignificant decrease in Na(+)K(+)-ATPase activity in brain homogenate. Serum serotonin, corticosterone, T3, T4, TSH, estradiol, progesterone and plasma adrenaline were significantly decreased in ACR-treated rats. Treatment with Panax ginseng before, during or after ACR treatment reduced or partially antagonized the effects induced by ACR towards the normal values of controls. It could be concluded that Panax ginseng extract exhibited a protective action against ACR toxicity and it is worth noting that treatment with Panax ginseng extract before or at the same time as ACR treatment was more effective than when administered after ACR treatment.

In Vitro Effect of Ginseng Extract on Sperm Count

Ginseng is the root of the perennial herbs which contain a series of tetracyclic triterpenoid saponins (ginsenosides) as active ingredients. It is considered a tonic or adaptogenic that enhances physical and sexual performance. To fulfill that study, the author hereby performed an in vitro study to assess the effect of ginseng on sperm count in vitro. Ten test and 10 control semen samples were used to assess the effect of aqueous ginseng extract.There is no significant difference of average sperm counts at 0 minutes for both groups but there is a significant difference of average sperm counts at 30 minutes. The control group show significant decreasing in the sperm count at 30 minutes. According to this study, the ginseng extract can help preserve the sperm count.

Effects of Panax ginseng extract on lipid metabolism in humans

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Panax ginseng extract (PGE) on lipid metabolism in humans by measuring cholesterol, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). Serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and plasma MDA levels were decreased by administration of PGE for 8 weeks (6 g per day), however, high density lipoprotein (HDL) was increased. Those results suggest that hypolipidemic effect of PGE is associated with a decrease in TC, TG, LDL, MDA levels and an increase in HDL. These findings support scientific claims that ginseng has the hypolipidemic potential. Administration of PGE increased SOD and CAT activities while decreased MDA level indicating that antioxidant potential of PGE might induce hypolipidemic effect as one of action mechanism.

Panax ginseng protects the testis against 2,3,7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin induced testicular damage in guinea pigs.

To investigate histopathologically the beneficial effects of Panax ginseng extract on guinea pig testes damaged by 2,3, 7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Ninety guinea pigs were divided into six equal groups. The normal controls (group 1) received vehicle and saline; group 2 received TCDD (1 microgram/kg) intraperitoneally; group 3 and 4 received 100 or 200 mg/kg per day of Panax ginseng water extract (PG-WE) intraperitoneally for 28 days from 1 week before TCDD injection; groups 5 and 6 received PG-WE for 14 days from 1 week after TCDD treatment. The gain in body weight was less in groups treated with TCDD than in controls. Moreover, the body weight of group 2 decreased from 14 days after TCDD exposure, while that of groups 3 and 4 increased; there was no decrease in body weight in groups 3-6. The decrease in testicular weight caused by TCDD was prevented by PG-WE. Light microscopy showed smaller tubules and late maturation arrest in group 2; electron microscopy showed a dissolution of the germinal epithelium, disrupted tight junctions between adjacent Sertoli cells, and altered germ cells at all developmental stages. The maturation arrest in germ cells caused by TCDD was ameliorated in groups 3-6. The testes almost completely recovered in groups 3 and 4 and there was some therapeutic effect of PG-WE in groups 5 and 6. These results confirm the protective and therapeutic effects of Panax ginseng on atrophy and testicular damage induced by TCDD, providing evidence that ginseng might be a useful agent in preventing and treating testicular damage induced by environmental pollutants.

Orally administered ginseng extract reduces serum total cholesterol and triglycerides that induce fatty liver in 66% hepatectomized rats.

The effects of ginseng extract (from the root of Panax ginseng) on factors inducing fatty liver were examined in 66% hepatectomized rats. Oral administration of ginseng extract at 125 or 250 mg/kg/day produced statistically significant reductions in total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in the blood 3 days after hepatectomy (P<0.05); the total cholesterol response appeared to be dose-related. Administration of ginseng extract at both doses also reduced total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in the liver 3 days after hepatectomy. Food intake and serum chemistry parameters indicating liver and kidney function were unchanged after ginseng administration except for the lipid metabolic parameters. These observations suggest that orally administered ginseng extract can suppress the formation of fatty liver after hepatic resection.

The effect of ginseng extract on locomotor sensitization and conditioned place preference induced by methamphetamine and cocaine in mice

Repeated IP injections of 2 mg/kg methamphetamine (MA) or 20 mg/kg cocaine at 48-h intervals induced reverse tolerance to their ambulation-enhancing effects (behavioral sensitization). Furthermore, the reappearance of the sensitized state was observed at the time of readministration of MA or cocaine even after a 30-day discontinuation of drug administration. A concomitant injection of ginseng extract (GE), 200 mg/kg, IP, suppressed the development of reverse tolerance and the reappearance of sensitization to MA and cocaine. Conditioned place preference to MA (1, 2, and 4 mg/ kg, IP) and cocaine (1, 4, 10, and 20 mg/kg, IP), was completely blocked by GE, 200 mg/kg, IP combined treatment with MA or cocaine. Meanwhile, spontaneous motor activity and place preference were not affected by GE alone. These results provide evidence that GE may be useful clinically for the prevention of adverse actions of MA and cocaine.

Panax ginseng extract improves the performance of aged Fischer 344 rats in radial maze task but not in operant brightness discrimination task.

The effect of Panax ginseng extract on the learning performance of aged Fischer 344 rats using the 8-arm radial maze task and the operant discrimination task was examined. Aged rats showed significantly impaired learning performance in both tasks. Daily administration of ginseng extract (8 g/kg/d, p.o. for 12-33 d) ameliorated the impairment of learning performance in the radial maze task but not in the operant discrimination task. These results suggest that subchronic treatment with ginseng extract improves spatial cognitive impairment in aged rats.

Interactions of ginseng extract, ginseng separated fractions, and some triterpenoid saponins with glucose transporters in sheep erythrocytes.

The effects of Panax ginseng extract, ginseng saponins, and some other triterpenoid saponins on glucose uptake were examined by using sheep erythrocytes. Initial rates of glucose transport were determined by measurements of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) uptake. From kinetic analysis apparent Km and Vmax values of facilitated glucose transport in sheep erythrocytes were calculated as 2.3 +/- 0.08 mM and 1.4 +/- 0.05 nmol/min/10(9) cells. The results showed that ginseng extract stimulated glucose uptake in sheep erythrocytes dose-dependently. Ginseng saponins, in general, also stimulated glucose transport. The maximum effect was observed at 1 microM of ginsenoside Rb1 showing an increase of 24 +/- 5% above basal activity. However, ginsenoside Rg3, chikusetsusaponin Ia, and glycyrrhetic acid induced significant inhibitory effects on glucose transport in sheep erythrocytes.

O-294 - Effect of ginseng extract on development of reverse tolerance and conditioned place preference to meth- amphetamlne and cocaine In mice.

O-294 - Effect of ginseng extract on development of reverse tolerance and conditioned place preference to meth- amphetamlne and cocaine In mice.

Effect of Panax ginseng extract on passive avoidance retention in old rats.

Female rats of two groups (6 and 27 months) were tested in the passive avoidance test to investigate the age-dependency of the learning ability. The results showed a significantly better avoidance behavior in the young adult animals compared to the older ones. The influence of a 13-day treatment with Panax ginseng (30 mg/kg/d, oral) on 27 month old rats caused a considerably prolonging of the latency time in comparison to the untreated control group of the same age. In the open field the treated rats exhibited neither an altered locomotion nor exploration nor a changed emotional reactivity which could explain the improved avoidance reaction.

Age‐ and individual‐related specificities in the effects of standardized ginseng extract on learning and memory (experiments on rats)

AbstractUsing a two‐way active avoidance with punishment (electric shock) reinforcement (shuttle box) we investigated the effects of Panax ginseng extract, standardized according to the content of ginsenosides on learning and memory in 2‐, 10‐, and 22‐month old Wistar rats and in rats of the same age (5‐month old) which, after a preliminary training with the same method, had been classified as ‘good’, ‘poor’ and ‘satisfactory’ learners. In experiments on rats of different ages G115 was administered orally daily for 10 consecutive days before training at increasing doses of 3, 10, 30 and 100 mg/kg body weight. The animals were trained for 5 days and the retention test was given 14 days after the last administration of G115 (10 days after the last training session). In experiments on rats with different learning capabilities G115 was administered orally at a dose of 10 mg/kg for 10 days after shuttle box training. The retention test was performed on the day following the last treatment with G115. It was found that G115 exerted the most favourable effects on learning and memory when these processes were decayed as a result either of senescence or of individual specificities.

Effects of Panax ginseng extract on the benzo(a)pyrene metabolizing enzyme system.

Ethanol extract of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, which has been used for centuries as a tonic in Asian countries, exhibited a selective induction of epoxide hydratase and cytosolic glutathione transferase activity without the concurrent induction of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity. Thus, Panax ginseng appears to have the potential to alter the metabolic patterns of benzo(a)pyrene and its reactive metabolites.

Effect of Panax ginseng Extract on Energy Metabolism during Exercise in Rats

We examined the acute effects of ginseng extract (GS) administration on arterial plasma levels of glucose, free fatty acids (FFA), lactic acid (LA) and pyruvic acid (PA) in resting rats, and in animals the swam for 30 or 60 minutes. Compared to vehicle-treated (saline) control animals, GS did not significantly alter these parameters at rest. During exercise, GS-treated animals had higher blood glucose levels than control rats, and markedly lower concentrations of circulating LA and PA. Plasma FFA was also lower in the GS-treated animals at 30 minutes of swimming. These results provide evidence the ginsenosides can significantly alter mechanisms of fuel homeostasis during prolonged exercise, presumably by increasing the biochemical capacity of skelten muscle to oxidize FFA in preference of glucose for cellular energy production.

Effect of Ginseng Extract on Blood Lipids and Atherosclerosis

Effect of Ginseng Extract on Blood Lipids and Atherosclerosis