In vitro studies indicate that eleuthero contains chemicals that bind to estrogen, progestin, mineralocorticoid, and glucocorticoid receptors ⁽¹⁰⁾. In macrophages, a Siberian ginseng extract suppressed LPS-induced iNOS expression and thus NO production likely via inhibiting NF-kappa B activity ^(15) (16) or Akt and JNK signaling ⁽¹⁶⁾, and inhibited ROS production ⁽¹⁷⁾.

Eleutherosides B, E, and isofraxidin — active constituents of Siberian ginseng — showed protective effects against induced atrophy of axons and dendrites in rat cultured cortical neurons ⁽²²⁾. Isofraxidin also inhibited cell invasion and MMP-7 expression by human hepatoma cell lines, possibly through inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation ⁽¹⁸⁾.

In animal studies, eleuthero root bark exhibited neuroprotective effects against cerebral ischemia by inhibiting COX-2, microglia, and astrocyte expression ⁽²³⁾. Eleutherosides restored behavioral and biochemical alterations in mice with sleep deprivation ⁽²⁴⁾, and alleviated both physical and mental fatigue possibly via increased fat utilization, delayed accumulation of blood urea nitrogen, and increased lactate dehydrogenase ⁽²⁵⁾. Eleutherosides also mediated hyperglycemic effects by regulating insulin signaling and glucose utilization ⁽²⁹⁾. In other studies, a Siberian ginseng extract decreased cadmium concentrations and cadmium-induced mitotic and apoptotic activity ⁽²⁶⁾.

Siberian ginseng extract moderately inhibited breast cancer resistance protein-mediated methotrexate transport in BCRP-expressing membrane vesicles ⁽²¹⁾.