Integrative Medicine

Ginseng (Asian)

Health Care Professional Information

Scientific Name
Panax ginseng
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Common Name

Chinese ginseng, ren shen, Korean ginseng, red ginseng

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Brand Name

Ginsana®, G115®, Ginsai®

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Clinical Summary

Panax ginseng is an herb native to East Asia and Russia, also cultivated for its medicinal properties. The root is widely used as a “Yang” tonic in traditional medicine (1). Patients take this supplement to improve athletic performance, strength and stamina, and as an immunostimulant. Some use ginseng to treat diabetes, cancer, HIV/AIDS, and a variety of other conditions. Ginsenosides, the saponin glycosides, are thought responsible for Panax ginseng's medicinal effects. Ginsenosides have both stimulatory and inhibitory effects on the CNS, alter cardiovascular tone, and increase humoral and cellular-dependent immunity (2). Panax ginseng has been used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (4). It may increase the hypoglycemic effects of insulin and sulfonylureas as well as reduce insulin resistance in type II diabetic patients (5), and enhance immune response (19) (21). It was also shown to alleviate menopausal symptoms and may positively affect cardiovascular health in postmenopausal women (30).

Ginsenosides demonstrated anticancer effects in vitro (25) (26)and data from an epidemiological study show that ginseng improved survival and quality of life in breast cancer patients (3). In addition, two case-controlled epidemiologic studies of Korean subject indicate an association between consumption of a Panax ginseng extract with reduction in the incidence of all cancers (11) (12). Larger, well-designed studies are needed.
Ginseng was shown to have estrogenic effects (23). Patients with hormone-sensitive cancers should avoid it until definitive data are available.

Panax ginseng should not be confused with American ginseng or Siberian ginseng, which have different medicinal properties.

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Purported Uses
  • Angina
  • Diabetes
  • Health maintenance
  • AIDS
  • Immunostimulation
  • Pain
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Strength and stamina
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Constituents
  • Saponin glycosides: Ginsenosides, panaxosides
  • Volatile oils
  • Antioxidants
  • Polysaccharides
  • Fatty acids
  • Vitamins
  • Polyacetylenes
    (1) (10)
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Mechanism of Action

Ginsenosides have been shown responsible for many of ginseng's effects. Animal studies suggest that the ginsenoside Rb1 improves the release of acetylcholine and enhances postsynaptic uptake of choline (2). Ginsenosides compete for binding sites on GABA receptors in vitro. They prolong drug-induced sleeping time in mice and exhibit additional depressant effects on the central nervous system (2). They may also have analgesic effects when administered parenterally (12). Panax ginseng may improve nitric oxide synthesis in endothelium of the heart, lung, kidneys, and in the corpus cavernosum (13). Oral intake of ginseng reduces muscle injury and inflammation following exercise in humans, demonstrated by decreased levels of creatine kinase, beta-glucuronidase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) (14). In animal studies, ginseng saponins lowered total plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels (15).
Anticancer activity was observed in vitro with several ginsenosides: Differentiation of HL-60 (promyelocytic cells) was induced in ginsenosides Rh2- and Rh3-treated cells (2). Studies with Rh2 show inhibited growth of human ovarian cancer xenografts and prolonged survival in nude mice. Ginseng also reduces the incidence of chemically induced lung, liver, skin, and ovarian cancers in mice.

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Warnings

Ginseng use should be discontinued at least one week before surgery.
(16)

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Contraindications

Panax ginseng may have estrogenic activity. Patients with hormone-sensitive cancer should avoid taking it (23).

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Adverse Reactions

Reported: Dry mouth, tachycardia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, insomnia, and nervousness (1).
Case report: A 26-year-old male with no history of mental illness became manic following chronic consumption of 250 mg panax ginseng capsules three times a day. Symptoms, including irritability, insomnia, flight of ideas, and rapid speech, resolved following discontinuation of supplement (17).

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Herb-Drug Interactions

Insulin and sulfonylureas: Panax ginseng may increase the hypoglycemic effect of insulin and sulfonylureas (5).
Anticoagulants: Panax ginseng may antagonize the effects of anticoagulants (6) (7) (8).
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs): Panax ginseng may cause manic-like symptoms when combined with MAOIs (9).
Imatinib: Panax ginseng may increase risk of hepatotoxicity (24).
Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 substrates: Certain ginsenosides can induce CYP3A4 and may increase the clearance of substrate drugs (28) (29).

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Literature Summary and Critique

de Andrade E, et al. Study of the efficacy of Korean Red Ginseng in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Asian J Androl. Mar 2007;9(2):241-244.
Sixty men with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction (ED) participated in this double-blind, placebo-controlled study that assessed the efficacy of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) for ED. Participants were given either placebo or KRG (1000 mg/3 times daily) for 12 weeks after which erectile function was assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function and a Global Assessment Questionnaire. Subjects that received KRG showed significant improvements in erectile function as compared to baseline scores (16.4 versus 21) while those in the placebo group did not receive any benefits (17 versus 17.7). In addition, participants receiving KRG reported enhanced rigidity, maintenance, and penetration without detectable changes in serum testosterone, prolactin, or cholesterol levels, indicating that KRG's effect on ED is independent of hormonal or cholesterol levels. Minor side effects such as headache and insomnia were reported in 3 subjects who received KRG.

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Dosage (Inside MSKCC Only)
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References
  1. Huang KC. The Pharmacology of Chinese Herbs, 2nd ed. New York: CRC Press; 1999.
  2. Attele AS, Wu JA, Yuan CS. Ginseng pharmacology: multiple constituents and multiple actions. Biochem Pharmacol 1999;58:1685-93.
  3. Cui Y, Shu XO, Gao YT, Cai H, Tao MH, Zheng W. Association of ginseng use with survival and quality of life among breast cancer patients. Am J Epidemiol 2006;163:645-53.
  4. de Andrade E, de Mesquita AA, Claro Jde A, et al. Study of the efficacy of Korean Red Ginseng in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.Asian J Androl. Mar 2007;9(2):241-244.
  5. Ma SW, Benzie IF, Chu TT, Fok BS, Tomlinson B, Critchley LA. Effect of Panax ginseng supplementation on biomarkers of glucose tolerance, antioxidant status and oxidative stress in type 2 diabetic subjects: results of a placebo-controlled human intervention trial. Diabetes Obes Metab. Mar 18 2008.
  6. Lee SH, Ahn YM, Ahn SY, et al. Interaction between warfarin and Panax ginseng in ischemic stroke patients. J Altern Complement Med. Jul 2008;14(6):715-721.
  7. Jiang X, Williams KM, Liauw WS, et al. Effect of St John's wort and ginseng on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of warfarin in healthy subjects. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2004 May;57(5):592-9
  8. Jiang X, Blair EY, McLachlan AJ. Investigation of the effects of herbal medicines on warfarin response in healthy subjects: a population pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling approach. J Clin Pharmacol. Nov 2006;46(11):1370-1378.
  9. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 3rd ed. Sandy (OR): Eclectic Medical Publications; 2001.
  10. Baranov AI. Medicinal uses of ginseng and related plants in the Soviet Union: recent trends in the Soviet literature. J Ethnopharmacol 1982;6:339-53.
  11. Shin HR, Kim JY, Yun TK, Morgan G, Vainio H. The cancer-preventive potential of panax ginseng: a review of human and experimental evidence. Cancer Causes Control 2000;11:565-76.
  12. Yun TK, Choi SY. Non-organ specific cancer prevention of ginseng: a prospective study in Korea. Int J Epidemiol 1998;27:359-64.
  13. Cheng TO. Panax (ginseng) is not a panacea. Arch Intern Med 2000;160:3329.
  14. Nah JJ, Hahn JH, Chung S, et al. Effect of ginsenosides, active components of ginseng, on capsaicin-induced pain-related behavior. Neuropharmacology 2000;39:2180-4.
  15. Cabral de Oliveira AC, et al. Protective effects of panax ginseng on muscle injury and inflammation after eccentric exercise. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2001;130:369-77.
  16. Ang-Lee MK, Moss J, Yuan CS. Herbal medicines and perioperative care. JAMA 2001;286:208-16.
  17. Engelberg D, McCutcheon A, Wiseman S. A case of ginseng-induced mania. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2001;21:535-6.
  18. Vogler BK, Pittler MH, Ernst E. The efficacy of ginseng. A systematic review of randomised clinical trials. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 1999;55:567-75.
  19. Cho YK, et al. Long-term intake of Korean red ginseng in HIV-1-infected patients: development of resistance mutation to zidovudine is delayed. Int Immunopharmacol 2001;1:1295-305.
  20. Cardinal BJ, Engels HJ. Ginseng does not enhance psychological well-being in healthy, young adults: results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. J Am Diet Assoc 2001;101:655-60.
  21. Scaglione F, et al. Efficacy and safety of the standardized ginseng extract G115 for potentiating vaccination against common cold and-or influenza syndrome. Drugs Exp Clin Res 1996;22:65-72.
  22. Inoue M, Wu CZ, Dou DQ, et al. Lipoprotein lipase activation by red ginseng saponins in hyperlipidemia model animals. Phytomedicine. 1999 Oct;6(4):257-65.
  23. Lee Y, Jin Y, Lim W, et al. A ginsenoside-Rh1, a component of ginseng saponin, activates estrogen receptor in human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2003 Mar;84(4):463-8.
  24. Bilgi N, Bell K, Ananthakrishnan AN, et al. Imatinib and Panax ginseng: a potential interaction resulting in liver toxicity. Ann Pharmacother. 2010 May;44(5):926-8.
  25. He BC, Gao JL, Luo X, et al. Ginsenoside Rg3 inhibits colorectal tumor growth through the down-regulation of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling. Int J Oncol. 2011 Feb;38(2):437-45.
  26. Kang JH, Song KH, Woo JK, et al. Ginsenoside Rp1 from Panax ginseng Exhibits Anti-cancer Activity by Down-regulation of the IGF-1R/Akt Pathway in Breast Cancer Cells. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2011 Jul 12.
  27. Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. California: Art of Medicine Press; 2004.
  28. Hao M, Ba Q, Yin J, et al. Deglycosylated ginsenosides are more potent inducers of CYP1A1, CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 expression in HepG2 cells than glycosylated ginsenosides. Drug Metab Pharmacokinet. 2011;26(2):201-5.
  29. Hao M, Zhao Y, Chen P, et al. Structure-activity relationship and substrate-dependent phenomena in effects of ginsenosides on activities of drug-metabolizing P450 enzymes. PLoS One. 2008 Jul 16;3(7):e2697.
  30. Kim SY, Seo SK, Choi YM, et al. Effects of red ginseng supplementation on menopausal symptoms and cardiovascular risk factors in postmenopausal women: a double-blind randomized controlled trial. Menopause. 2012 Apr;19(4):461-6.
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Consumer Information

How It Works

Bottom Line: Panax ginseng may be effective in treating erectile dysfunction and diabetes. Whether it can improve strength and stamina remains unknown.

Although extensive research has been performed with Panax ginseng showing that it exhibits a wide range of biological activities, scientists are still not exactly sure how it works. The active ingredients are called ginsenosides. These substances show definite activity in the nervous systems of animals, with both stimulatory and inhibitory effects.

Certain ginsenosides are able to stimulate the immune system in mice. Ginsenosides may also have anti-cancer activity: when they are directly applied to melanoma cells in the laboratory, these cells stop their growth and replication. In addition, ginseng can prevent some tumors in mice, including ovarian, lung, liver, and skin cancers. Some studies suggest that this effect may also occur in humans: in one study, Korean individuals who consumed ginseng extract had a decreased risk of all types of cancer. There is still no strong evidence of this effect in humans.

Experiments have suggested that Panax ginseng may increase the production of nitric oxide in the heart, lung, and kidneys. Nitric oxide is a potent vasodilator - it is what helps reduce angina pain when patients take nitroglycerine tablets - so it may potentially work in the same way, but not much research has examined this use. In addition, studies in animals showed that Panax ginseng can lower blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
In humans, clinical trials suggest that Panax ginseng can reduce muscle injury and inflammation after exercise.

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Purported Uses
  • To treat angina
    Some laboratory studies show that ginseng can increase the synthesis of nitric oxide, a vasodilator, but clinical trials have not been conducted to determine if ginseng is useful in treating angina.
  • To treat diabetes
    Ginseng may help to increase the effect of insulin as well as reduce insulin resistance in type II diabetic patients.
  • To treat HIV and AIDS
    Research in humans shows that Panax ginseng stimulates certain aspects of the immune system, and although one small clinical trial supports this use, more research is necessary.
  • To stimulate the immune system
    Clinical trials support this use, although the long-term effects of Panax ginseng are still not known.
  • To treat sexual dysfunction
    One clinical trial supports the use of Panax ginseng for male erectile dysfunction.
  • To improve strength and stamina
    Clinical trials do not support this use.
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Research Evidence

Erectile dysfunction:
The effectiveness of ginseng for treating erectile dysfunction was studied in 45 men. All men took ginseng (900 mg three times a day) or a placebo for eight weeks, went off treatment for two weeks, then started on the other treatment for another eight weeks. This allows the researchers to see how a participant would fare on one treatment compared to the other. Scores of erectile function were higher in the ginseng group, as were reports of sexual performance. Sixty percent of the men in this trial thought that Panax ginseng greatly improved their symptoms. These results suggest that Panax ginseng can be used as an effective alternative for treating erectile dysfunction.

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Patient Warnings
  • Use of Panax ginseng should be stopped at least one week before surgery.
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Do Not Take If
  • You have hormone-sensitive disease such as estrogen-dependent cancer (It is suspected, but not known, that Panax ginseng may have estrogen-like activity).
  • You are taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) (If combined with MAOIs, Panax ginseng can cause manic-like symptoms).
  • You are taking insulin or sulfonylureas (Panax ginseng may increase their effect, causing a drop in blood sugar).
  • You are taking warfarin or other blood thinners (Panax ginseng may lessen their effects).
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Side Effects
  • Dry mouth
  • Tachycardia (fast heart rate)
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Insomnia
  • Nervousness
  • In one case report, a young man with no history of mental illness became manic following chronic consumption of 250 mg of Panax ginseng capsules three times a day. His symptoms resolved when he stopped taking the herb.
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Last updated: October 9, 2012
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