Panax ginseng

Panax Ginseng

Panaxginseng is a plant that is deeply rooted in traditional Chinese medicine and is used preventively for various health purposes. It belongs to the ginseng family and is the most commonly used species within the Panax genus for medicinal applications (1,2).

What are the benefits of Panax ginseng?

Studies suggest that Panax ginseng may have a dose-dependent calming effect on mood (3). Supplementation with Panax ginseng has also shown a significant improvement in mental health over the course of 8 weeks, reaching a particularly significant point after 4 weeks of use (3). In addition, the intake of Panax ginseng has been shown to improve general cognitive function in subjects in various studies. Several studies showed positive effects on various cognitive measures (4,5,6). Another effect associated with Panax ginseng was a strengthening of the immune response when administered together with vaccines (7)

How does Panax ginseng work?

The pharmacological benefits of Panax ginseng are primarily based on its active component, the ginsenosides (8,9). However, the plant also contains a number of other active ingredients such as polysaccharides, peptides, phytosterols, polyacetylenes, polyacetylenic alcohols and fatty acids, all of which contribute to the overall therapeutic effect of Panax ginseng (8,9).

Are there any side effects when taking Panax ginseng?

Panax ginseng is generally considered safe to take and few adverse effects have been reported. In the rare cases where side effects have been noted, gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and cramps have been reported (10).

Information on dosage

Panax ginseng is commonly taken for general preventative purposes in doses of 200 to 400 mg per day, with some studies suggesting bioactivity even at doses as low as 40 mg (3). However, the most significant cognitive benefits have been observed in studies at doses of 400 mg daily (3).

Sources:

\1) Kiefer, D., & Pantuso, T. (2003). Panax ginseng. American family physician, 68(8), 1539-1542.

\2) Yun TKBrief introduction of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer.J Korean Med Sci.(2001-Dec)

\3) Reay, J. L., Kennedy, D. O., & Scholey, A. B. (2005). Single doses of Panax ginseng (G115) reduce blood glucose levels and improve cognitive performance during sustained mental activity. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 19(4), 357-365.

\4) Ellis, J. M., & Reddy, P. (2002). Effects of Panax ginseng on quality of life. The Annals of Pharmacotherapy, 36(3), 375-379.

\5) Kennedy, D. O., Scholey, A. B., & Wesnes, K. A. (2001). Dose dependent changes in cognitive performance and mood following acute administration of ginseng to healthy young volunteers. In Proceedings of the Nutrition Society (Vol. 60, No. 1A, pp. 86A-86A). Cambridge University Press.

\6) Kennedy, D. O., Scholey, A. B., & Wesnes, K. A. (2003). Dose dependent changes in cognitive performance and mood following acute administration of ginseng to healthy young volunteers. In Proceedings of the Nutrition Society (Vol. 62, No. 1A, pp. 49A-49A). Cambridge University Press.

\7) Scaglione F, Cattaneo G, Alessandria M, Cogo R, Efficacy and safety of the standardized Ginseng extract G115 for potentiating vaccination against the influenza syndrome and protection against the common cold correctedDrugs Exp Clin Res.(1996)

\8) Christensen, L. P. (2009). Ginsenosides chemistry, biosynthesis, analysis, and potential health effects. In Advances in food and nutrition research (Vol. 55, pp. 1-99). Academic Press.

\9) Kim JH, Yi YS, Kim MY, Cho JYRole of ginsenosides, the main active components of , in inflammatory responses and diseases.J Ginseng Res.(2017-Oct)

\10) Lee NH, Son CGSystematic review of randomized controlled trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of ginseng.J Acupunct Meridian Stud.(2011-Jun)