Ginseng Ingestion Research Articles

Effects of Ginseng Ingestion on Salivary Testosterone and DHEA Levels in Healthy Females: An Exploratory Study.

Ginseng is a traditional herbal adaptogen that has been historically used in China and the Far East. Ginsenosides are the active component of ginseng known to exert several actions by targeting “multi-receptor systems”, both extracellular and intracellular. In humans, ginseng effects remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether ginseng can influence salivary androgen levels (testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)) in females. The study followed a parallel partially controlled design. Healthy women (n = 24) were recruited and divided into two groups (A = 20–32 and B = 38–50 years). Volunteers were asked to maintain a food diary pre and post ginseng consumption and collected four salivary samples (7 a.m., 9 a.m., 12 p.m., and 5 p.m.) before and after ingesting 75 mg red Korean ginseng extract per day for seven days. Testosterone and DHEA were then assayed by ELISA methods. Group A’s mean daily salivary testosterone pre ginseng ingestion increased from 76.3 ± 16.6 to 98.4 ± 21.1 pg/mL post ginseng (p < 0.01) with significant difference at all time points, and mean daily salivary DHEA increased from 1.53 ± 0.63 to 1.98 ± 0.89 ng/mL post ginseng (p = 0.02). Group B’s mean daily salivary testosterone pre ginseng ingestion was 61.2 ± 16.9 and post ginseng 68.1 ± 11.5 pg/mL (p = 0.132), and daily salivary DHEA increased from 0.91 ± 0.32 to 1.62 ± 0.49 ng/mL post ginseng (p = 0.014) with significant difference at all time points. In conclusion, it appears that ginseng intake significantly increased salivary testosterone levels in the younger women group, but only slightly in the older group. However, DHEA levels in the older women showed a marked and significant increase. These results suggest a potential role for ginseng in modulating salivary androgen levels and that such effect may be more evident in older women where the levels of androgens (DHEA) start to decline. However, it has to be stressed that our results are preliminary and further properly controlled trials are justified.

Persimmon vinegar ripening with the mountain-cultivated ginseng ingestion reduces blood lipids and lowers inflammatory cytokines in obese adolescents.

[Purpose]This study investigated the effect of the vinegar, which is made of 4-year-old mountain-cultivated ginseng ripened into 4-year-matured persimmon vinegar, on the blood lipids level and inflammatory cytokines concentration in obese female adolescents.[Methods]Subjects ingested the vinegar, so-called 'mountain-cultivated ginseng persimmon vinegar (MPV)', without meals every day for 6 weeks with activities control. Subjects were grouped into control (CON), persimmon vinegar (PV), and MPV with 10 people in each group. Blood lipids, triglyceride (TG), total-cholesterol (TC), and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) were analyzed. Also, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) were analyzed for the hepatotoxicity. Blood cytokines, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NFκB) were analyzed.[Results]Subjects showed a high reduction in body weight and body fat. Their blood lipid level was effectively improved, and the secretion of inflammatory cytokine was suppressed as well, except for TNF-α. However, the change ratio of the cytokines was high in PV and MPV. Such results were similar to those from research subjects who took persimmon vinegar only (PV), but the effect of the vinegar (MPV) was more remarkable. Besides, this mixture was found to have no effect on the hepatotoxicity.[Conclusion]The significance of this study is that all the experiments were conducted without controlling research subjects' daily lives, and it is suggested that the vinegar may be recommended as a kind of health supplement food to suppress obesity. Especially, since these two products are traditional foods of Korean people, which have been taken for ages, it is expected that the fusing of two foods may be better applied to ordinary people who are concerned about obesity.

Evaluation of an extract of North American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) in Candida albicans-infected complement-deficient mice

Ethnopharmacological relevanceGinseng is a widely consumed aromatic herb that is purported to have health benefits. Several studies report a beneficial impact of ginseng or its derivatives on Candida albicans infection in mice and suggest that its immune-modulatory properties contribute to this effect. However, these studies generally administered ginseng to experimental animals by injection, whereas people typically ingest ginseng. Furthermore, although disseminated candiasis is typically a disease of immune-impaired hosts, previous studies have generally used immune competent host species in the assessments. Materials and methodsWe evaluated the efficacy of an ingested extract of ginseng against Candida albicans infection in DBA/2J mice, which are highly susceptible to Candida albicans infection. A ginseng extract was added to the drinking water for two days before and for the remainder of the study after intravenous inoculation of mice with Candida albicans. Mice were evaluated for morbidity, mortality, Candida albicans titers, and concentrations of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. ResultsIngestion of the ginseng extract did not significantly affect overall morbidity or mortality. However, ingestion of the extract was associated with significantly lower renal titers of Candida albicans and with significantly lower concentrations of some inflammatory cytokines in kidney and/or serum. ConclusionsAssessment of morbidity, mortality, inflammatory markers, and renal titers after spontaneous ingestion of ginseng by susceptible hosts represents a comprehensive approach to characterizations of therapeutic efficacy against infectious agents. Our findings extend previous reports of the efficacy of ginseng against Candida albicans by demonstrating significant reductions in infectious load and some markers of inflammation in susceptible mice. Our data therefore support further assessment of the immune-modulatory properties of this widely consumed herb and its components.

Panax ginseng (G115) improves aspects of working memory performance and subjective ratings of calmness in healthy young adults

There is a lack of research into the cognitive and mood effects of repeated ginseng ingestion. The present study assessed the effects of Panax ginseng (G115) on subjective mood and aspects of 'working' memory processes, following a single dose and following sub-chronic (7 days) ingestion, in healthy volunteers. A placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomised, crossover was utilised. Thirty volunteers (mean age 22.87 years; SD 4.01) received each treatment (200 mg; 400 mg; placebo) for 8 days, in a counter balanced order, with a 6-day wash-out period. Testing was on days 1 and 8 of each treatment period, at pre-dose, 1, 2.5 and 4 h post-dose. Results revealed dose-related treatment effects (p < 0.05). Two hundred milligrams slowed a fall in mood at 2.5 and 4 h on day 1 and at 1 and 4 h on day 8, but slowed responding on a mental arithmetic task across day 1 and at 1 and 2.5 h on day 8. The 400 mg dose also improved calmness (restricted 2.5 and 4 h on day 1) and improved mental arithmetic across days 1 and 8. We found no evidence of additional benefits, nor attenuation of acute effects following repeated ingestion of Panax ginseng (G115).

Imatinib and Panax Ginseng: A Potential Interaction Resulting in Liver Toxicity

To report a case of imatinib-induced hepatotoxicity after concurrent ginseng ingestion in a patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). A 26-year-old man with CML who had taken imatinib 400 mg daily for 7 years with no complications presented with right upper quadrant pain. Laboratory test results included alanine aminotransferase 1069 U/L, aspartate aminotransferase 481 U/L, alkaline phosphatase 124 IU/L, total bilirubin 1.4 mg/dL, albumin 4.0 g/dL, and international normalized ratio 1.08. Liver biopsy showed acute lobular hepatitis favoring a drug-induced etiology, and a diagnosis of imatinib-induced hepatotoxicity was made. The patient's only lifestyle modification prior to the diagnosis of hepatotoxicity was daily ingestion of Panax ginseng via energy drinks for the past 3 months. Both imatinib and ginseng were discontinued, and the patient was treated with a short course of corticosteroids. Imatinib was later restarted at the same dose with no recurrent elevations in his liver enzyme levels. Imatinib-associated hepatotoxicity usually presents within 1-2 years of therapy initiation, with the median time to hepatotoxicity being 100 days. Ginseng is an herb that is not known to be hepatotoxic. In vivo, ginseng is known to inhibit CYP3A4, the primary enzyme involved in the metabolism of imatinib. We propose that our patient's late-onset imatinib-associated hepatotoxicity was due to an interaction between ginseng and imatinib through CYP3A4. Based on the Naranjo probability scale, it is probable that imatinib caused this patient's hepatotoxicity, and the Horn drug interaction probability scale also indicates a probable interaction between imatinib and ginseng. This case emphasizes the importance of continuous monitoring of liver function tests even after several years of imatinib therapy and the importance of advising patients to avoid ginseng and any other over-the-counter herbal supplements that may interact with imatinib.

Characterization of Pharmacokinetic Profiles and Metabolic Pathways of 20(S)-Ginsenoside Rh1in vivoandin vitro

20(S)-Ginsenoside Rh1 is one of the important protopanaxatriol ginsenosides and has been reported to be the main hydrolysis product reaching the systemic circulation after oral ingestion of ginseng. However, its pharmacokinetic characteristics and metabolic fate have never been reported. The present study was therefore designed to elucidate its pharmacokinetic profiles and metabolic pathways both in vivo and in vitro. The absolute bioavailability of 20(S)-ginsenoside Rh1 in rats was only 1.01 %. Identification of metabolites showed that, after intragastrical administration of ginsenoside Rh1, two mono-oxygenated metabolites were detected from the urine, bile, liver tissue, and intestinal tract content, while the de-glucosylated product, 20(S)-protopanaxatriol, was only found in the contents of the intestinal tract. An in vitro incubation study confirmed that the CYP450-catalyzed mono-oxygenation, the intestinal bacteria mediated de-glucosylation, and the gastric acid mediated hydration reaction were the main metabolic pathways of 20(S)-ginsenoside Rh1. The presystemic metabolism as evidenced from this study may partially explain its poor bioavailability.

Inhibition of prolactin secretion by American ginseng is mediated by ginseng polysaccharide‐induced nitric oxide production

Rats treated with American ginseng exhibit an approximate 50% reduction in serum prolactin levels and a compensatory decrease in hypothalamic dopamine activity. To investigate whether ginseng has direct pituitary effects, anterior pituitaries collected from random cycling female rats were dispersed and cultured for 1 week prior to treatment with water soluble ginseng extract (0 – 2 mg/ml) for 24 hr. Ginseng produced a dose‐dependent decrease in prolactin with maximum suppression (∼50%) within 6 hr at ≥1mg/ml; there was no change in media LH levels. When the ginsenoside and polysaccharide components in ginseng were examined, ginseng polysaccharides (12.5μg/ml) inhibited prolactin whereas ginsenosides had no effect in the pituitary cultures. Ginseng and its polysaccharides both stimulated nitric oxide (NO) production from cultured cells at 24 hr and induced iNOS gene and protein expression at 12 and 24 hr, respectively. The specific iNOS inhibitor 1400W blocked the ginseng/polysaccharide effects on NO production and prolactin release, whereas eNOS and nNOS inhibitors had no effect. Together, these results suggest that the reduction in circulating prolactin levels following ginseng ingestion is due to polysaccharide‐induced pituitary iNOS and NO production and subsequent prolactin suppression.

Root Fractions of Korean Red Ginseng (Panax Ginseng) Have Differential Effect on Blood Pressure and Blood Glucose Control In Healthy Individuals

BACKGROUND Considering increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome in North America, novel therapies that positively affect multiple metabolic risk factors are desirable. Previous studies have demonstrated the pharmacological properties of Korean Red Ginseng of undefined composition to lower blood pressure. OBJECTIVES The present study assessed the acute efficacy of two root fractions–root body and rootlets-of the same batch of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) having different ginsenoside composition, on blood pressure (BP) and postprandial blood glucose levels. DESIGN Randomized, controlled, double-blind, crossover. METHODS After a 12-hour overnight fast, 13 healthy individuals (Gender:6M:7F, Age:28±10, BMI: 24.1±3kg/m2, SBP: 108±6, DBP: 66±4mmHg) were randomly assigned to receive 3g of either KRG body or rootlet fraction or cornstarch placebo, 40min prior to meal. Part 1: The blood pressure was measured with Ambulatory BP Monitors (90207, SpaceLabs Medical) at 10min intervals for 180min after ingestion of ginseng or placebo. Part 2: Capillary blood samples were taken 60min prior to a meal containing 50g available carbohydrate at which time ginseng or placebo capsules were taken and at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120min post meal. RESULTS Compared to the placebo, 3g of the rootlet fraction of ginseng root significantly lowered systolic blood pressure at 80min (P<0.05), whereas root body reduced blood glucose iAUC by 19%. CONCLUSION The rootlet fraction of ginseng significantly improved hemodynamic control while the root body fraction had a positive effect on glycemia. This preliminary study supports further investigation of KRG's efficacy on acute and long-term cardiovascular risk factors.

Effects of Ginseng Ingestion on Growth Hormone, Testosterone, Cortisol, and Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 Responses to Acute Resistance Exercise

Effects of Ginseng Ingestion on Growth Hormone, Testosterone, Cortisol, and Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 Responses to Acute Resistance Exercise

An Introductory Note to Ginseng

An Introductory Note to Ginseng