• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.538-543
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• 2020

Cardiovascular diseases are a rapidly growing epidemic with high morbidity and mortality. There is an urgent need to develop nutraceutical-based therapy with minimum side effects to reduce cardiovascular risk. Panax ginseng occupies a prominent status in herbal medicine for its various therapeutic effects against inflammation, allergy, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and even cancer, with positive, beneficial, and restorative effects. The active components found in most P. ginseng varieties are known to include ginsenosides, polysaccharides, peptides, alkaloids, polyacetylene, and phenolic compounds, which are considered to be the main pharmacologically active constituents in ginseng. P. ginseng is an adaptogen. That is, it supports living organisms to maintain optimal homeostasis by exerting effects that counteract physiological changes caused by physical, chemical, or biological stressors. P. ginseng possesses immunomodulatory (including both immunostimulatory and immunosuppressive), neuromodulatory, and cardioprotective effects; suppresses anxiety; and balances vascular tone. P. ginseng has an antihypertensive effect that has been explained by its vasorelaxant action, and paradoxically, it is also known to increase blood pressure by vasoconstriction and help maintain cardiovascular health. Here, we discuss the potential adaptogenic effects of P. ginseng on the cardiovascular system and outline a future research perspective in this area.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.402-407
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• 2019

Background: To investigate the neurobiological evidence supporting the adaptogenic effects of Korean Red Ginseng in reducing the harmful consequences of stress using a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Method: Sixty-three subjects with high stress levels were randomized to receive an orally administered, double-blind, 6-week treatment with Korean Red Ginseng (n = 32) or placebo (n = 31). All participants underwent a comprehensive psychological evaluation using Beck Depression Inventory and Stress Response Inventory, cognitive evaluation using the continuous performance test, biological evaluation by measuring blood levels of lipids, catecholamines, inflammation markers, and heart rate variability at baseline and after 6 weeks. Results: At baseline, both groups showed no significant differences in age, sex, years of education, Beck Depression Inventory, and Stress Response Inventory. After 6 weeks, triglyceride levels were significantly increased within the normal limit in the Korean Red Ginseng group (F = 4.11, p = 0.048), and the epinephrine level was decreased in this group (F = 4,35, p = 0.043). The triglyceride increase was significantly associated with epinephrine decrease (B = 0.087, p = 0.041), suggesting that Korean Red Ginseng may stabilize the sympathetic nervous system. In addition, we detected a significant group by time effect in the visually controlled continuous performance test, suggesting positive effects of Korean Red Ginseng on cognition. Conclusion: Korean Red Ginseng might help to stabilize the sympathetic nervous system and improve cognition in individuals with high stress.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.54-59
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• 1999

Both ethanol and water extracts of unossified velvet antler were found to exhibit a significant immuno-stimulating activity as measured by carbon clearance test in mice, a remarkable anti-fatigue effect in weight-loaded forced swimming performance in mice, a significant anti-stress effect on immobilization in rats. The antler extracts also showed a weak but significant anti-thrombotic activity. These findings are indicative of adaptogenic properties of antlers and their normalizing effects during stressful condition.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.145-158
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• 2002

Since immemorial time Panax ginseng has been known as therapeutic, tonic, prophylactic and restorative agent in ancient Korea, China and Tibet and at present time is also used as a food supplement by Western societies (6). Various ginseng preparations in a form of powders, teas, tinctures or extracts, very often mixed with other substances are recommended for attenuation of degenerative processes caused by aging or fatigue, as well as for treatment of various disorders and diseases in several organs (e.g. circulatory and nervous system, liver, kidney). One of the most commonly known properties of ginseng is its possibly positive influence on physical and mental performance and general well being. Because of these adaptogenic properties promoting vitality and resistance to stress ginseng is considered as an ergogenic aid. During almost 40 years in many laboratories attempts have been made to find out whether ginseng can be 'a remedy for today's problems'. The present work is focused on the results obtained in human studies and concerning an influence of ginseng root extracts on exercise and mental performance.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.56-64
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• 1981

In order to evaluate the mode of action of ginseng saponin. metabolic changes in the plasma of normal and aloxan-intoxicated rats were compared Normal groups were administered only ginseng saponin 0, 5, 50mg/kg for 16 days, but alloxan-intoxicated groups were administered alloxan 25mg/kg for 3 days in addition to ginseng saponin. (1) No significant change in the concentration of glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride (TG) was observed in normal rats but great inhibitory effect, except elevation of TG, was observed in alloxan-intoxicated rats. However, blood urea nitrogen was elevated in both normal and alloxan- intoxicated rats by administration of ginseng saponin 50mg/kg, and it was considered to be due to the impaired kidney function caused by overdose toxicity. (2) In normal rats, COT and ALP actIn,its were not changed by administration of ginseng saponin but GPT activity was decreased significantly. In alloxan-intoxicated rats, ginseng saponin exerted inhibitory action on the elevation of COT, CPT and ALP activity. But administration of ginseng saponin Smghg was much more effective than administration of 50mg/kg. (3) There fore, we concluded that ginseng saponin has the adaptogenic activity showing little effect on normal metabolism but great preventive action on alloxan-intoxicated rats.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.203-218
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• 2018

It has been extensively known in the high temperature regions such as southern China and south east Asia that Korean ginseng(Panax ginseng) intake raises body heat, while American ginseng(Panax quinquefolium) lowers it, based upon oriental medicine. This is likely due to the misunderstanding of the conception that Korean ginseng shows a warm property, resulting in enhanced blood circulation and stimulation of metabolism. It's further supported by the fact that current scientific studies have shown no notable side effects. Moreover, it has been demonstrated in animal experimental test that Korean ginseng shows a complementary effect in a high temperature environment, together with scientific evidence of a preventive effect of ginseng saponin against cold conditions, suggesting it to exhibit an adaptogenic effect normalizing the body under abnormal body conditions. However, there is a shortage of studies published concerning comparative clinical and animal studies of Korean and American ginsengs, and also, on natives of high temperature countries. Therefore, a further placebo-controlled clinical study has to be considered to elucidate scientifically clinical evaluation of Korean and American ginsengs on the body heat. In this article, we summarize the scientific publications reporting the clinical comparative study of Korean and American ginsengs on body heat response.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.13-22
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• 1979

Panax Ginseng C. A. Meyer which has been known for more than 2000 years, occupies a particular place in folk medicine as so called tonic remedy. The brief pharmacological action of Ginseng complied from the numerous reports can be summarized as adaptogenic effect to be increased nonspecific resistance. Among the various components of Ginseng, the effective components has been known Ginseng butanol fraction as so called Ginseng saponin. In order to study on the effect of the Ginseng butanol fraction which influences spontaneous activity by CNS drugs in mice. Experiment of response was measured the change of spontaneous activity by CNS drugs in which mice were treated Ginseng butanol fraction. A method of measuring spontaneous activity in mice used by counting the number of times which were interrupted a beam of light. Results of experiment can be summarized as follows: 1. In case of administrating Ginseng butanol fraction for 1 day, stimulating effect of Ginseng was observed in spontaneous activity by caffeine in comparison with the control. at the first, but after 45 minutes no significant change was observed. 2. In case of administrating Ginseng butanol, fraction for 5days, decreasing tendency was observed in spontaneous activity by caffeine. 3. In case of administrating Ginseng butanol fraction for 10days, marked decrease was observed in spontaneous activity by caffeine in comparison with the control. From the experiment on the increased dose of caffeine, nonsignificant change was observed in comparison with caffeine and sodium benzoate 25mg/kg group. 4. A state of increased resistance was lasted until 5 days, and after 10 days it was disappeared. 5. Otherwise, nonsignificant change was observed for chlorpromazin HCl in comparison with the control. 6. From this result, 10 days administrating of ginseng butanol fraction appeared to have increased resistance in mice against caffeine.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.55-65
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• 2002

Ginseng has been used as a key constituent in traditional medicine prescriptions for centuries. Other than its well-known anti-stress and adaptogenic properties, ginseng has also been shown to be very effective in treating age-related deterioration in metabolic and memory functions. Although it is generally believed that the saponin (GS) fraction of the ginseng root accounts for the bioactivity of ginseng, a direct demonstration on which ginsenoside does what is still generally lacking. In the past decade, our laboratory has endeavored to identify the active GS components involved in energy metabolism, memory, and anti-neurotoxicity. To examine the ergogenic effects of GS in enhancing aerobic capacity, rats were subjected to either severe cold ($40^{\circ}C$ under helium-oxygen, two hours) or exercise workload $(70\%\;VO_{2}max,$ to exhaustion). Acute systemic injection (i.p.) of ginseng GS (5-20 mg/kg) significantly elevated both the total and maximum heat production in rats and improved their cold tolerance. However, pretreating the animal with the optimal dose (10 mg/kg) of GS devoid of $Rg_1\;and\;Rb_1$ failed to elicit any beneficial effects in improving cold tolerance. This indicates that either $Rb_1\;and/or\;Rg_1$ may be essential in exemplifying the thermogenic effect of GS. Further studies showed that only pretreating the animals with $Rb_1(2.5-5\;mg/kg),\;but\;not\;Rg_l,$ resulted in an increase in thermogenesis and cold tolerance. In contrast to the acute effect of GS on cold tolerance, enhancement of exercise performance in rats was only observed after chronic treatment (4 days). Further, we were able to demonstrate that both $Rb_1\;and\;Rg_1$ are effective in enhancing aerobic endurance by exercise. To illustrate the beneficial effects of GS in learning and memory, a passive avoidance paradigm (shock prod) was used. Our results indicated that the scopolamineinduced amnesia can be significantly reversed by chronically treating (4 days) the rats with either $Rb_1\;or\;Rg_1$ (1.25 - 2.5 mg/kg). To further examine its underlying mechanisms, the effects of various GS on ${\beta}-amyloid-modulated$ acetylcholine (ACh) release from the hippocampal slices were examined. It was found that inclusion of $Rb_1$ (0.1 ${\mu}M$), but not $Rg_1$, can attenuate ${\beta}-amyloid-suppressed$ ACh release from the hippocampal slices. Our results demonstrated that $Rb_1\;and\;Rg_1$ are the key components involved in various beneficial effects of GS but they may elicit their effects through different mechanisms.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.04a
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• pp.59-59
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• 2018

Panax ginseng Meyer (Korean ginseng) is in the spotlight of Oriental medicine and is proclaimed as the king of medicinal plants owing to its adaptogenic characteristics. Ginseng root rot is a devastating disease caused by the fungus, Ilyonectria mors-panacis that generally attacks younger roots (~2 years), leading to defects in root quality, ginsenoside accumulation and also life cycle of the plant. Hence, there is an indispensable need to develop strategies resulting in tolerance against ginseng root rot. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of silica nanoparticles(N-SiO2) in Panax ginseng during I. mors-panacis infection. Long term analysis (30 dpi) revealed a striking 50% reduction in disease severity index upon 1mM and 2mM treatment of N-SiO2. However, N-SiO2 did not have any direct antifungal activity against I. mors-panacis. Membrane bound sugar efflux transporter, SWEET (Sugars Will Eventually be Exported Transporters) was identified in ginseng and as expected, its expression was suppressed upon N-SiO2 treatment in the root rot pathosystem. Furthermore, the total and reducing sugars in the apoplastic fluid clearly revealed that N-SiO2 regulates sugar efflux into apoplast. In a nut shell, N-SiO2 administration induces transcriptional reprogramming in ginseng roots, leading to regulated sugar efflux into apoplast resulting in enhanced tolerance against I. mors-panacis.