Panax ginseng is a versatile herb with numerous health benefits. It has been extensively used in traditional medicine for centuries.
Its primary bioactive compounds, particularly ginsenosides, contribute to its wide-ranging therapeutic effects. Modern scientific research supports many traditional uses, highlighting its potential in enhancing cognitive function, boosting the immune system, reducing fatigue, improving physical performance, and regulating blood sugar levels.
Panax ginseng is also antibiotic and inhibits cancer according to studies.Why? Because plants produce biochemicals in different parts of their physiology for different purposes. For example, plants produce many antibacterial biochemicals in order to prevent bacteria from gobbling up their leaves.
The roots can also produce antibacterial biochemicals. But those biochemicals will differ from those produced in the leaves because the bacteria within the soil are different than airborne bacteria.
This of course is only one example – plants produce a myriad of biochemicals to protect themselves from different invasions or diseases.
What is Panax ginseng?
Panax ginseng, commonly known as Asian or Korean ginseng, has been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years.
Panax ginseng is a slow-growing perennial plant with fleshy roots. The plant grows to about 60 cm in height and has compound leaves arranged in a circular pattern around the stem. It produces small, greenish-yellow flowers that cluster in a group and red berries.
Panax ginseng is native to mountainous regions of East Asia, including Korea, northeastern China, and parts of Russia. It thrives in cool, shaded forest environments. Panex ginseng also grows in North America.
It can either be air dried – resulting in what is called white ginseng. Or it can be steamed at around 212 F (98-100 C) for two to three hours. This is referred to as red ginseng, with higher levels of phytochemicals than the white ginseng.
Ginseng may also be steamed further at a higher temperature – at around 250 F (120 C). This is sold as sun ginseng. Panex ginseng is also sold as raw, fresh (not dried).
Panex ginseng – white, red, sun or raw – is considered an adaptogen, as it boosts the immune system along with boosting growth hormone and DHEA levels.
Primary Compounds
Research has now found that the essential oils of the Panax ginseng leaves contain at least 54 different biochemicals.
That said, Panax ginseng contains several types of bioactive compounds, including:
- Ginsenosides: Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, Rg1, Rg3.
- Polysaccharides: Panaxans
- Peptides: Gintonin
- Polyacetylenes: Panaxynol and panaxydol
- Phenolic compounds: Salicylic acid, vanillic acid
- Terpenoids can compose up to 21 percent of the essential oil.
Several ginsenosides identified mentioned above have been shown to be higher in red ginseng than white ginseng. It also contains various other saponins, polyphenols and flavonoids.
Other research has shown that Panax ginseng leaves contain dammarane triterpenes, which have been shown to activate SIRT1 enzymes, which have been shown to modulate gene expression. More specifically, SIRT1-NAD/NADH – specifically stimulated by Panax leaves, are involved in anti-aging processes and tumor prevention.
Yet another study, from Korea’s Kyung Hee University, found that Panax ginseng leaves produce an enzyme that changes DNA called 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR). This is produced from one of Panax’ ginsenoside phytochemicals.
Traditional Medicine Uses
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
- Energy and Vitality: Used to boost energy levels, combat fatigue, and enhance physical performance.
- Cognitive Function: Believed to improve memory, concentration, and cognitive function.
- Immunity: Used to strengthen the immune system and prevent illness.
- Stress Relief: Employed as an adaptogen to help the body resist stress and restore balance.
Korean Traditional Medicine
- Overall Health: Promotes longevity and general well-being.
- Sexual Health: Used to improve sexual function and treat erectile dysfunction.
- Metabolic Health: Helps regulate blood sugar levels and improve metabolic function.
Research on Panax Ginseng
Cognitive Function and Memory
Several studies have tested Panax on cognitive function. For example, a 2008 study from the Seoul National University Hospital tested 97 Alzheimer's patients. Of these, 58 were given 4.5 grams per day of Panax Ginseng for 12 weeks. The rest of the patients were monitored and given standard care.
After the 12-week period, those taking the Ginseng had significantly improvements on their mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and Alzheimer disease assessment scale (ADAS) scores compared to the control group.
The improved scores lasted for another 12 weeks after treatment, and then began declining. Eventually, they arrived at the levels of the control group.
Other studies have concluded that Panax ginseng significantly improves cognitive performance, including memory, attention, and mental processing, particularly in middle-aged adults.
Enhancing Immune System
Studies have demonstrated that Panax ginseng enhances immune function, increasing the activity of natural killer cells and the production of immune system markers.
For example, researchers from the Catholic University of Korea tested 72 healthy people who were between 50 and 75 years old. They were tested and given either 6 grams of Pane or a placebo for 8 and 14 weeks.
The researchers found that the Ginseng boosted natural killer immune cells by 35 and 40 percent respectively (8 and 14 weeks). Immune function of peripheral blood cells and TNF-alpha cells were also increased by similar levels.
Anti-fatigue and Physical Performance
Studies have shown that Panax ginseng reduces fatigue and enhances physical performance in athletes and individuals with chronic fatigue.
In one, 2013 research from South Korea's Daejeon University tested 90 people who were experiencing chronic fatigue. They gave them a Panax extract for four weeks or a placebo. Those given the Ginseng reported significantly less fatigue, increased glutathione reductase, decreased levels of oxidative levels (ROS), and reduced pain levels using the VAS scale.
Metabolic Diseases
Research has shown that Panax Ginseng improves blood sugar regulation, cholesterol levels, triglycerides, and blood pressure.
A review of research from Korea's University of Science and Technology analyzed 23 studies and papers testing Panax's metabolic effects among hundreds of patients. The researchers found that Panax improved glucose and insulin levels, percent body fat, blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides compared to placebo test subjects.
The researchers wrote:
"In conclusion, P. ginseng supplementation may act as an adjuvant to prevent the development of metabolic diseases by improving markers related to blood glucose, blood pressure, and blood lipids."
In one study, from Korea’s Seoul National University, researchers tested 93 postmenopausal women with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. They gave them either fermented red ginseng – Panex ginseng – or a placebo for two weeks.
The researchers found that the fermented red ginseng group had significantly increased levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), higher levels of growth hormone, higher levels of estradiol and lower levels of HbA1c (glycosylated hemoglobin – indicating better glucose control). The fermented red ginseng group also exhibited signs of reduced insulin resistance.
One of the issues with ginseng treatment or supplementation has been its variable effects. For some, ginseng is extremely effective for a number of conditions, including immunity, aging issues and others. But others have found ginseng’s effectiveness to be desired.
This new research not only indicates a more therapeutic manner of ginseng dosing: It also explains the variable effects among different consumers.
Panax anticancer against multiple types
Researchers have tested the essential oil and many of these medicinal components against a variety of cancer cell lines. This has found that the essential oil from Panax ginseng leaves will knock out cervical cancer cells, lung cancer cells, breast cancer cells, colon cancer cells, stomach cancer cells and skin cancer cells. (The medical term for “knock out” is “cytotoxic” – which means to kill the cell.)
Furthermore, this cytotoxicity against cancer cells has been found to be dose-dependent, the gold standard for associating treatment.
A 2010 study from the Korean Institute of Cancer Chemoprevention found that men who consumed red ginseng over several years had a significantly lower risk of cancer.
Ginseng’s benefits boosted with fermentation
The latest in a a series of studies that has found this effect comes from researchers at Korea’s Dankook University. The study fermented what is commonly known as red ginseng (Panex ginseng) with a mushroom fungi species known as Phellinus linteus. The researchers found that the fermentation significantly increased the phytochemical content of the ginseng as well as its antioxidant and healing capabilities.
The research found the fermentation increased one of the main ginseng constituents, called gensenosides, by nearly 20%. More importantly, its gensenoside metabolites were more than doubled by the fermentation process.
The study also found that the overall polyphenol content of the fermented ginseng was some 37% higher than the raw root.
In follow up testing with the fermented ginseng – and compared with unfermented ginseng of the same source – the fermented ginseng was found to be absorbed significantly better through both intestinal tissue and skin tissue – meaning the ginseng’s medicinal content was more bioavailable.
The ramifications of this effect becomes more clear from another study – from Korea’s Yonsei University. In this study, researchers fermented red ginseng using the probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus plantarum.
This study also found that the fermented ginseng had increased levels of ginsenoside metabolites, which increased from 4,637 micrograms per liter to 7,581 micrograms per liter after four days of fermentation.
The researchers then tested the anti-cancer properties that ginseng has been known for using the fermented and the unfermented ginseng.
The researchers found that the fermented ginseng significantly inhibited the growth of lung tumors in mice – by over 80% compared to the non-fermented tumor inhibition at 67%.
The researchers also tested the fermented ginseng extract against human blood and found it boosted immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels and IgG levels among healthy human subjects significantly more than did the non-fermented ginseng.
Fermented Ginseng inhibits Tyrosinase and Elastase
Another study – this from Korea University – fermented panax ginseng using the probiotic species Lactobacillus brevis. The researchers also found that the ginsenoside metabolite content was significantly higher.
They also found the ability of the fermented ginseng to inhibit tyrosinase to be significantly greater than the unfermented ginseng.
Because tyrosinase excess can cause hyperpigmentation of the skin – resulting in sun spots and other blemishes – tyronsinase inhibition is one of the important clinical benefits of ginseng.
The researchers also found the fermented ginseng exhibited significantly greater anti-wrinkle properties. This is achieved through ginseng’s inhibition of the elastase enzyme – and enzyme that increases wrinkles.
This study also found that fermentation increased red ginseng’s antioxidant flavonoid content by over 13 times.
Another study fermented red ginseng with Bifidus bacteria and found similar results, but with its blood-sugar lowering effects.
Panax also antibacterial, antiviral and antioxidant
Panax ginseng leaf has also been found to be antibiotic (antibacterial) against several types of lethal bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli.
A 2009 study showed that Panex ginseng had potent antiviral properties, as it increased CD4 T-cell counts significantly in a study of 46 HIV patients, and reduced their levels of resistant viral mutation.
Panax ginseng leaf and its essential oil has also been found to be a decent free radical neutralizer. While many plants and their phytochemicals provide this mechanism, this ability in Panax is notable because of the other medicinal properties of the plant.
In lab studies, the essential oil from Panax ginseng was tested with DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)) radical scavenging protocols. Both tests showed ginseng’s ability to neutralize free radicals.
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