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Ginseng
Kinds of Ginseng Terms modified by Ginseng Selected AbstractsAn open-label trial of Korean red ginseng as an adjuvant treatment for cognitive impairment in patients with Alzheimer's diseaseEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 8 2008J.-H. Heo Background and purpose:, Ginseng is one of the most popular herbs worldwide. Ginseng has various medical applications, and it seems to have significant effects as a cognition-enhancing drug. In this study, we examined the efficacy of Korean red ginseng (KRG) as an adjuvant therapy to conventional anti-dementia medications in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Methods:, The trial was designed as a 12-week randomized study. Sixty-one patients (24 males and 37 females) with Alzheimer's disease were randomly assigned to one of the following treatment groups: low-dose KRG (4.5 g/day, n = 15), high-dose KRG (9 g/day, n = 15) or control (n = 31). The Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS), Korean version of the Mini-Mental Status Examination (K-MMSE) and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale were used to assess the change in cognitive and functional performance at the end of the 12-week study period. Results:, The patients in the high-dose KRG group showed significant improvement on the ADAS and CDR after 12 weeks of KRG therapy when compared with those in the control group (P = 0.032 and 0.006 respectively). The KRG treatment groups showed improvement from baseline MMSE when compared with the control group (1.42 vs. ,0.48), but this improvement was not statistically significant. Conclusions:, KRG showed good efficacy for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease; however, further studies with larger samples of patients and a longer efficacy trial should be conducted to confirm the efficacy of KRG. [source] A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE POTENTIAL ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF GINSENOSIDESJOURNAL OF FOOD BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 2010SUNGWOOK CHAE ABSTRACT Ginseng roots are believed to contain over 20 different types of ginsenosides. However, no reports exist on the antioxidant activity of ginsenosides according to their various structures. The present study involves a comparison of the various forms of ginsenosides, a series of derivatives originating from the attachment of different sugar moieties to triterpene dammarane, with respect to their intracellular reactive oxygen species scavenging activity. Among the ginsenosides, Rb2 and Rc showed the strongest antioxidant activity, followed by (in decreasing order) Rg2, Rh2, Rh1, Rf, Rg3, Rg1, Rb1, Re and Rd. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity ranks of the various forms of ginsenosides were influenced by the types of dammarane, as well as the number of sugar moieties, and substitutive groups. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report evaluating the antioxidant properties of ginsenosides with the goal of determining their structure,activity relationship. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer), a member of the Araliaceae family, is traditionally considered as one of the most important medicinal plants with high ginsenoside content. Ginsenoside is a triterpenoid glycoside, which is known to have diverse physiological and pharmacological activities. However, the correlation of structure and antioxidant activity has never been studied thus far in ginsenosides. A relationship exists between the type and position of the sugar moieties in ginsenoside. From these results, ginsenosides Rb2 and Rc might be very useful for the development of functional food and raw materials of medicine for antioxidants preventing oxidative stress-related diseases. And structure and antioxidant relationship may be potential for evaluating the structure and function relationship of other ginsenosides in order to elucidate which part of ginsenoside is essential with regards to increasing antioxidant activity and the development of novel antioxidants to treat diseases associated with free radicals. [source] The Effects of Ginseng, Ephedrine, and Caffeine on Cognitive Performance, Mood and EnergyNUTRITION REVIEWS, Issue 4 2001Harris R. Lieberman Ph.D. A variety of claims regarding the purported energy-enhancing properties of nutritional supplements and food constituents have recently been made. It appears that the supplements most frequently associated with such assertions are ginseng, ephedrine, and caffeine. Claims of increased energy are difficult to evaluate objectively because their meaning is not usually defined or specified. Often it is not clear whether the claims refer to physical or mental energy or both. Furthermore, an agreed upon scientific definition of either physical or mental energy enhancement does not exist. In spite of obvious differences in what the term physical energy, as opposed to mental energy implies, there is no clear scientific consensus on whether there is a difference between the two types of energy. Because the substances in question have been anecdotally associated with improvements in both physical and mental performance, their effects on both functions will be discussed, but with an emphasis placed on cognitive function and mood. Of the three substances discussed, caffeine's effects on cognitive and physical function, mood, and energy are best understood. It is clear that this food/drug enhances these functions when administered in moderate doses. Ephedrine may also enhance certain physical and mental functions related to "energy," but the evidence that ginseng has such properties is exceedingly weak. [source] Effects of Red Ginseng extract on ultraviolet B-irradiated skin change in C57BL micePHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH, Issue 11 2008Young Gon Kim Abstract Red Ginseng (the roots of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) is used clinically in China, Korea and Japan for various diseases, including atherosclerosis, hypertension and stress etc. Although Red Ginseng roots have traditionally been thought to have antiageing effects, the basis for this hearsay is unclear. This study examined the effects of Red Ginseng extract on ultraviolet B (UVB)-irradiated skin ageing in mice. Oral administration of Red Ginseng extract (20 or 60 mg/kg, twice daily) prevented UVB-irradiated skin damage (increases of skin thickness and pigmentation, and reduction of skin elasticity). Furthermore, Red Ginseng extract inhibited the increases of epidermis and corium thickness induced by UVB irradiation. Red Ginseng extract inhibited the increase of skin TGF- ,1 content induced by UVB irradiation. These findings suggest that the protective action of Red Ginseng extract against UVB-irradiated skin ageing may be due partly to an inhibition of the increase of skin TGF- ,1 induced by UVB irradiation. In conclusion, the oral administration of Red Ginseng extract may be useful as a health supplement for protection against photoageing. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Panax ginseng reduces adriamycin-induced heart failure in ratsPHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH, Issue 12 2005Jyh-Sheng You Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of Panax ginseng on adriamycin-induced heart failure. Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control, adriamycin, ginseng and adriamycin with ginseng. Adriamycin (cumulative dose, 15 mg/kg) was administered to rats in six equal intraperitoneal injections over a period of 2 weeks. Ginseng was administered via an oral feeding tube once a day for 30 days (cumulative dose, 150 g/kg). At the end of the 5 week post-treatment period, the hearts of the rats were used to study the synthesis rates of DNA, RNA and protein, myocardial antioxidants and lipid peroxidation. At the end of 3 weeks treatment, heart failure was characterized by ascites, congested liver and depressed cardiac function. Nucleic acid as well as protein synthesis was inhibited, lipid peroxidation was increased and myocardial glutathione peroxidase activity was decreased indicating adriamycin-induced heart failure. In contrast, the administration of ginseng, before and concurrent with adriamycin, significantly attenuated the myocardial effects, lowered the mortality as well as the amount of ascites, increased in myocardial glutathione peroxidase, macromolecular biosynthesis and superoxide dismutase activities, with a concomitant decrease in lipid peroxidation. These findings indicated that ginseng may be partially protective against adriamycin-induced heart failure. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The Effect of Korean Red Ginseng Extract on the Relaxation Response in Isolated Rabbit Vaginal Tissue and Its MechanismTHE JOURNAL OF SEXUAL MEDICINE, Issue 9 2008Sun-Ouck Kim MD ABSTRACT Introduction., Ginseng is an herbal medicine with a variety of biological activities. Aim., The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Korean red ginseng (KRG) extract on the relaxation response in isolated rabbit vaginal tissue and its mechanism as a potential therapeutic agent for female sexual dysfunction. Method., Strips of rabbit vagina were mounted in organ chambers to measure isometric tension. After the strips were precontracted with phenylephrine, the contractile responses to KRG extract (1,20 mg/mL), nitric oxide inhibitor (N[omega]-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester [L-NAME]), an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase (methylene blue), an inhibitor of Ca2+ -activated K+ channels (tetraethylammonium [TEA]), and an adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive K+ channel blocker (glybenclamide) were examined. Main Outcome Measures., The relaxation of the vaginal tissue strip was assessed after treating KRG extract or other chemicals. Results., KRG (1,20 mg/mL) extract relaxed the vaginal tissue strip in a dose-dependent manner up to 85%. The relaxation effect was significantly inhibited by L-NAME (30 µM) and methylene blue (30 µM) (P < 0.05). In addition, KRG inhibited the contraction induced by depolarization with 10, 20, and 40 mM KCl. The KRG-induced relaxation effect was significantly inhibited by TEA (300 µM) (P < 0.05), and not by glybenclamide (30 µM). Conclusions., These data show that KRG extract has a relaxing effect on rabbit vaginal smooth muscle tissue. These effects might be mediated partly through the NO pathway and hyperpolarization via Ca2+ -activated K+ channels. Kim S-O, Kim MK, Lee H-S, Park JK, and Park K. The effect of Korean red ginseng extract on the relaxation response in isolated rabbit vaginal tissue and its mechanism. J Sex Med 2008;5:2079,2084. [source] Experimental therapy of prostate cancer with novel natural product anti-cancer ginsenosides,THE PROSTATE, Issue 8 2008Wei Wang Abstract BACKGROUND Ginseng and its components exert various biological effects, including antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, anti-mutagenic, and anti-tumor activity, and recent research has focused on their value in human cancer prevention and treatment. We recently isolated 25-hydroxyprotopanaxadiol (25-OH-PPD) and 25-hydroxyprotopanaxatriol (25-OH-PPT) from Panax ginseng and evaluated their anti-cancer activity in vitro. METHODS We compared the effects of the two compounds on human prostate cancer LNCaP and PC3 cells in vitro and in a mouse PC3 xenograft tumor model. We also accomplished a preliminary determination of the mechanisms of action of the compounds. RESULTS 25-OH-PPD, but not 25-OH-PPT, inhibited prostate cancer cell growth and proliferation, induced apoptosis, and led to arrest in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. In nude mice bearing PC3 xenograft tumors, 25-OH-PPD inhibited tumor growth in a dose-dependent manner and could be safely combined with chemotherapeutic agents (taxotere and gemcitabine) and radiation therapy to improve the anti-tumor effects. Further, in both PC3 and LNCaP cell lines, 25-OH-PPD increased expression of p21, p27, and Bax, induced PARP cleavage and activated caspases. The compound also reduced expression of MDM2, E2F1, Bcl2, cdk2/4/6, and cyclin D1, which correlated with the cell cycle arrest in G1 and the decrease in proliferation. Moreover, 25-OH-PPD demonstrated low toxicity to non-cancer cells and no observable host toxicity in animals either alone or in combination with conventional therapies. CONCLUSIONS The newly identified ginsenoside 25-OH-PPD may have potential as a novel prostate cancer therapeutic agent. Prostate 68:809,819, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Sterilization of ginseng using a high pressure CO2 at moderate temperaturesBIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOENGINEERING, Issue 2 2009Fariba Dehghani Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of using high pressure CO2 for sterilization of Ginseng powder, as an alternative method to conventional techniques such as ,-irradiation and ethylene oxide. The Ginseng sample used in this study was originally contaminated with fungi and 5,×,107 bacteria/g that was not suitable for oral use. This is the first time that high pressure CO2 has been used for the sterilization of herbal medicine to decrease the total aerobic microbial count (TAMC) and fungi. The effect of the process duration, operating pressure, temperature, and amount of additives on the sterilization efficiency of high pressure CO2 were investigated. The process duration was varied over 15 h; the pressure between 100 and 200 bar and the temperature between 25 and 75°C. A 2.67-log reduction of bacteria in the Ginseng sample was achieved after long treatment time of 15 h at 60°C and 100 bar, when using neat carbon dioxide. However, the addition of a small quantity of water/ethanol/H2O2 mixture, as low as 0.02 mL of each additive/g Ginseng powder, was sufficient for complete inactivation of fungi within 6 h at 60°C and 100 bar. At these conditions the bacterial count was decreased from 5,×,107 to 2.0,×,103 TAMC/g complying with the TGA standard for orally ingested products. A 4.3 log reduction in bacteria was achieved at 150 bar and 30°C, decreasing the TAMC in Ginseng sample to 2,000, below the allowable limit. However, fungi still remained in the sample. The complete inactivation of both bacteria and fungi was achieved within 2 h at 30°C and 170 bar using 0.1 mL of each additive/g Ginseng. Microbial inactivation at this low temperature opens an avenue for the sterilization of many thermally labile pharmaceutical and food products that may involve sensitive compounds to ,-radiation and chemically reactive antiseptic agents. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2009;102: 569,576. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Quantitative Comparison of Ginsenosides and Polyacetylenes in Wild and Cultivated American GinsengCHEMISTRY & BIODIVERSITY, Issue 4 2010Jing-Rong Wang Abstract Quantitative comparison of seven ginsenosides in wild and cultivated American ginseng revealed that the Rg1/Rd ratio presented a significantly large difference between cultivated and type-I (one of the defined chemotypes) wild American ginseng, facilitating this ratio as a characteristic marker for differentiating these two groups. Similarly, the ratio (Rg1+Re)/Rd, and the ratio of protopanaxatriol (PPT)-type ginsenosides to protopanaxadiol (PPD)-type ginsenosides showed a large difference between these two groups. On the other hand, type-II wild samples were found to have high Rg1/Rb1 and Rg1/Re ratios and low panaxydol/panaxynol ratio, which is entirely different from Type-I American ginseng, but is very similar to that of Asian ginseng. This not only suggests that the chemotype should be taken into consideration properly when using these parameters for differentiating American and Asian ginseng, but also indicates that type-II wild American ginseng may have distinct pharmacological activities and therapeutic effects. [source] The Impact of Herbal Medicines on Dermatologic SurgeryDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 8 2001Lawrence K. Chang MD Background. In recent years herbal medicines and supplements have become increasingly popular. With their increased popularity, more publications are warning about the potential harmful effects of some of these products. Objective. To present scientific evidence of the benefits and surgical risks of herbal products. Methods. A Medline search and review of the literature was performed. Results. Many herbal medicines are relevant in dermatologic surgery since Ginkgo biloba, garlic, ginger, ginseng, feverfew, and vitamin E may increase the risk of bleeding, and ephedra may potentiate the side effects of epinephrine. Conclusion. Dermatologists should be aware of these herbal products and their uses. Many of these products prescribed by alternative medicine physicians or purchased over the counter should be discontinued prior to dermatologic surgery to minimize the risk of surgical complications. [source] An open-label trial of Korean red ginseng as an adjuvant treatment for cognitive impairment in patients with Alzheimer's diseaseEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 8 2008J.-H. Heo Background and purpose:, Ginseng is one of the most popular herbs worldwide. Ginseng has various medical applications, and it seems to have significant effects as a cognition-enhancing drug. In this study, we examined the efficacy of Korean red ginseng (KRG) as an adjuvant therapy to conventional anti-dementia medications in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Methods:, The trial was designed as a 12-week randomized study. Sixty-one patients (24 males and 37 females) with Alzheimer's disease were randomly assigned to one of the following treatment groups: low-dose KRG (4.5 g/day, n = 15), high-dose KRG (9 g/day, n = 15) or control (n = 31). The Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS), Korean version of the Mini-Mental Status Examination (K-MMSE) and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale were used to assess the change in cognitive and functional performance at the end of the 12-week study period. Results:, The patients in the high-dose KRG group showed significant improvement on the ADAS and CDR after 12 weeks of KRG therapy when compared with those in the control group (P = 0.032 and 0.006 respectively). The KRG treatment groups showed improvement from baseline MMSE when compared with the control group (1.42 vs. ,0.48), but this improvement was not statistically significant. Conclusions:, KRG showed good efficacy for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease; however, further studies with larger samples of patients and a longer efficacy trial should be conducted to confirm the efficacy of KRG. [source] A comparison of Asian ,red' and ,white'Panax ginseng and cognitive function in Alzheimer's diseaseFOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH, Issue 1 2009M Kim [source] Phase II clinical trial reveals the excellent safety profile of Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng)FOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH, Issue 1 2009Article first published online: 3 JUN 2010 [source] Study on North American ginsengFOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH, Issue 2 2006Dennis VC Awang PhD [source] Panax ginseng not an effective ergogenic aidFOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH, Issue 4 2003Article first published online: 14 JUN 2010 [source] 20-O-,-D-Glucopyranosyl-20 (S)-protopanaxadiol (compound K) induces expression of hyaluronan synthase 2 gene in transformed human keratinocytes and fibroblasts and increases hyaluronan in hairless mouse skinINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE, Issue 6 2004S. Kim Ginsenosides, the major active ingredient of ginseng, show a variety of biomedical efficacies such as anti-aging, anti-oxidation and anti-inflammatory activities. To understand the effects of 20-O-,-D-glucopyranosyl-20 (S)-protopanaxadiol (compound K), one of the major metabolites of ginsenosides on the skin, we assessed the expression level of approximately 100 transcripts in compound K-treated HaCaT cells using cDNA microarray analysis. Compound K treatment induced differential expression of 40 genes, which have been reported to be involved in the organization of the structure of the extracellular matrix as well as defense responses in human skin cells. One of the most interesting findings is a two-fold increase in hyaluronan synthase2 (HAS2) gene expression by compound K. We found that change in expression of HAS2 gene represents a specific response of HaCaT cells to compound K because hyaluronan synthase 1,3 was not changed by treatment with compound K. We also demonstrated that the compound K effectively induced hyaluronan synthesis in human skin cells and hairless mouse skin. A human clinical study indicated that topical application of compound K containing oil-in-water emulsion showed improvement of xerosis, wrinkle and fine lines in the aged skin. We concluded that compound K has anti-aging effects by the induction of HAS2 gene expression and following hyaluronan synthase. [source] Re-circulating heat pump assisted continuous bed drying and energy analysisINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, Issue 11 2005Phani K. Adapa Abstract Specialty crops such as ginseng, herbs and echinacea need to be dried at low temperatures (30,35°C) for product quality optimization. A drying system that is both energy efficient and preserves product quality is desired. A re-circulating heat pump continuous bed dryer system was designed, constructed and field-tested for this purpose. The heat pump dryer system was experimentally evaluated using several potential herbal and medicinal crops such as alfalfa, catnip, wormwood, red clover, portulaca, dandelion and ginseng. These crops were dried either in chopped, sliced or whole form, depending on the part of the plant (aerial or root). The specific moisture extraction rates (SMER) obtained for various crops were in the range of 0.06,0.61 kg kWh,1. It took 5 days and 190 kWh of energy to reduce the average moisture content of ginseng roots below 10% (wb), while commercial dryers currently in use would take on an average 14 days and 244 kWh of energy at comparable loading rates. The re-circulating nature of the heat pump dryer made it 22% more energy efficient and resulted in 65% reduced drying time compared to conventional dryers incorporating electric coil heaters. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Perspectives on the 21st century development of functional foods: bridging Chinese medicated diet and functional foodsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 3 2001Yue Xu Functional foods, also known as nutraceuticals, medical foods or nutritional foods, are driving food markets around the world and are expected to be one of the emerging trends for the food industry in the new millennium. The concept of functional foods is rooted in a tradition, particularly in Asia, where people have always believed that a balanced diet and some herbal foods are therapeutic. However, while extensive studies in biochemistry and immunology, as well as clinical trials, have been conducted on selected functional foods or ingredients, the scientific features of most traditional herbals remain almost unknown. However, the fastest growing food market in the United States is that of herbal-based nutraceuticals such as ginseng, garlic and medical mushrooms. This review describes different aspects of functional foods and the Chinese medicated diet on the basis of current knowledge, discusses the building blocks for the science of functional foods and proposes a possible way to fuse a Chinese medicated diet into functional foods. [source] Protective role of Panax ginseng extract standardized with ginsenoside Rg3 against acrylamide-induced neurotoxicity in ratsJOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY, Issue 3 2006Fathia Mannaa Abstract Acrylamide (ACR) is an industrial neurotoxic chemical that has been recently found in carbohydrate-rich foods cooked at high temperatures. ACR was designated as a probable human carcinogen by IARC (1994) and USEPA (1988). Panax ginseng extract has efficacies such as anticancer, antihypertension, antidiabetes and antinociception. The objective of the current study is to evaluate the protective effects of Panax ginseng extract against ACR-induced toxicity in rats. Sixty adult Sprague Dawley female rats were divided into six groups included a control group, a group treated orally with ACR (50 mg kg,1 body weight; b.w.) for 11 days, a group treated orally with Panax ginseng extract (20 mg kg,1 b.w.) for 11 days and groups treated orally with Panax ginseng for 11 days before, during or after 11 days of ACR treatment. The results indicated that treatment with ACR alone resulted in a significant increase in lipid peroxidation level and LDH activity in brain homogenate as well as in serum CK activity, whereas it caused a significant decrease in SOD activity and a small but statistically insignificant decrease in Na+K+ -ATPase activity in brain homogenate. Serum serotonin, corticosterone, T3, T4, TSH, estradiol, progesterone and plasma adrenaline were significantly decreased in ACR-treated rats. Treatment with Panax ginseng before, during or after ACR treatment reduced or partially antagonized the effects induced by ACR towards the normal values of controls. It could be concluded that Panax ginseng extract exhibited a protective action against ACR toxicity and it is worth noting that treatment with Panax ginseng extract before or at the same time as ACR treatment was more effective than when administered after ACR treatment. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The effects of Panax ginseng on quality of lifeJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 1 2003C. I. Coleman Pharm D SummaryPanax ginseng is marketed and used to maintain natural energy, increase mental and physical abilities, improve mood and promote general health and well-being. Panax ginseng has been studied in a number of randomized clinical trials investigating its effect on physical and psychomotor performance, cognitive function, immunomodulation, diabetes mellitus and herpes simples type-II infections. Equivocal results have been demonstrated for many of these indications. P. ginseng is also commonly used to promote quality of life (QoL). As a result, ginseng's effect on QoL has become an increasingly important endpoint in clinical trials. We reviewed all studies (n = 9) that determined the effect of P. ginseng on QoL. P. ginseng's has been evaluated at dosages of 80,400 mg. Study duration has spanned from 2 to 9 months. Several QoL measures have been used, ranging from widely accepted core instruments to unpublished investigator-derived questionnaires. In addition, many of the investigators utilized ginseng extracts that were supplemented with vitamins and minerals while others used only standardized ginseng extract. Populations evaluated also differed in terms of underlying morbidity. Nearly every study evaluated (n = 8) demonstrated some degree of QoL improvement. Beneficial effects were evident within instrument summary component scores but improvement in overall composite scores of QoL was rarely seen. However, findings were equivocal. While populations evaluated varied in terms of underlying morbidity, there did not appear to be a substantial difference in their response to ginseng with respect to QoL. Despite some positive results, improvement in overall health-related quality of life cannot, given the current research, be attributed to P. ginseng. However, the possibility that various facets of QoL may have improved and the potential of early transient effects cannot be discounted. [source] Phytoceuticals: Mighty but ignored weapons against Helicobacter pylori infectionJOURNAL OF DIGESTIVE DISEASES, Issue 3 2008Sun-Young LEE Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection causes peptic ulcer disease, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas and gastric adenocarcinomas, for which the pathogenesis of chronic gastric inflammation prevails and provides the pathogenic basis. Since the role of H. pylori infection is promoting carcinogenesis rather than acting as a direct carcinogen, as several publications show, eradication alone cannot be the right answer for preventing H. pylori -associated gastric cancer. Therefore, a non-antimicrobial approach has been suggested to attain microbe-associated cancer prevention through controlling H. pylori -related chronic inflammatory processes and mediators responsible for carcinogenesis. Phytoceutical is a term for plant products that are active on biological systems. Phytoceuticals such as Korean red ginseng, green tea, red wine, flavonoids, broccoli sprouts, garlic, probiotics and flavonoids are known to inhibit H. pylori colonization, decrease gastric inflammation by inhibiting cytokine and chemokine release, and repress precancerous changes by inhibiting nuclear factor-kappa B DNA binding, inducing profuse levels of apoptosis and inhibiting mutagenesis. Even though further unsolved issues are awaited before phytoceuticals are accepted as a standard treatment for H. pylori infection, phytoceuticals can be a mighty weapon for either suppressing or modulating the disease-associated footprints of H. pylori infection. [source] Determination of radix ginseng volatile oils at different ages by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometryJOURNAL OF SEPARATION SCIENCE, JSS, Issue 19 2008Yaqiong Qiu Abstract Comprehensive 2-D GC (GC×GC) coupled with TOF MS or flame ionization detector (FID) was employed to characterize and quantify the chemical composition of volatile oil in the radixes of Panax ginseng C. A. Mey. (ginseng) at different ages. Thirty-six terpenoids were tentatively identified based on the MS library search and retention index in a ginseng sample at the age of 3 years. An obvious group-type separation was obtained in the GC×GC-TOF MS chromatogram. The data collected by GC×GC-FID were processed using a principal component analysis (PCA) method to classify the samples at different ages. The compounds responsible for the significant differentiation among samples were defined. It was found that the relative abundances of ,-cadinol, ,-bisabolol, thujopsene, and n -hexadecanoic acid significantly rise with the increase in age. [source] The Effects of Ginseng, Ephedrine, and Caffeine on Cognitive Performance, Mood and EnergyNUTRITION REVIEWS, Issue 4 2001Harris R. Lieberman Ph.D. A variety of claims regarding the purported energy-enhancing properties of nutritional supplements and food constituents have recently been made. It appears that the supplements most frequently associated with such assertions are ginseng, ephedrine, and caffeine. Claims of increased energy are difficult to evaluate objectively because their meaning is not usually defined or specified. Often it is not clear whether the claims refer to physical or mental energy or both. Furthermore, an agreed upon scientific definition of either physical or mental energy enhancement does not exist. In spite of obvious differences in what the term physical energy, as opposed to mental energy implies, there is no clear scientific consensus on whether there is a difference between the two types of energy. Because the substances in question have been anecdotally associated with improvements in both physical and mental performance, their effects on both functions will be discussed, but with an emphasis placed on cognitive function and mood. Of the three substances discussed, caffeine's effects on cognitive and physical function, mood, and energy are best understood. It is clear that this food/drug enhances these functions when administered in moderate doses. Ephedrine may also enhance certain physical and mental functions related to "energy," but the evidence that ginseng has such properties is exceedingly weak. [source] Neuroprotective effect of HT008-1, a prescription of traditional Korean medicine, on transient focal cerebral ischemia model in ratsPHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH, Issue 8 2010Youngmin Bu Abstract HT008-1 is one of the prescriptions used in Traditional Korean Medicine for the treatment of mental and physical weakness. It is composed of Panax ginseng, Acanthopanax senticosus, Angelica sinensis and Scutellaria baicalensis, which have been reported to have various pharmacological effects on the central nervous system. The study investigated whether HT008-1 has neuroprotective effects in a focal cerebral ischemia rat model. Stroke was induced in rats by 2,h of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) followed by 22,h of reperfusion. HT008-1 (30, 100 and 300,mg/kg) and the component herbs (300,mg/kg) were administered orally twice at 0 and 2,h after ischemia. Oral administration of 300,mg/kg HT008-1 reduced brain infarction by 45.7%, prolonged the latency time by 24.8% in the rotarod test, and enhanced the score by 17.0% in the balance beam test. Only P. ginseng and S. baicalensis showed protective effects, and HT008-1 showed a greater effect than its component herbs. HT008-1 down-regulated the COX-2 and OX-42 expression in the penumbra region. In conclusion, the results show that HT008-1 may be effective in a rat stroke model by an antiinflammatory mechanism and may improve sensory-motor function by reducing damage in the cortex and caudoputamen. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Hypoglycemic effects of malonyl-ginsenosides extracted from roots of Panax ginseng on streptozotocin-induced diabetic micePHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH, Issue 10 2009Zhi Liu Abstract Hypoglycemic effects of malonyl-ginsenosides (MGR), extracted from roots of Panax ginseng, were examined in streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced diabetic mice. Animals received daily intravenous injections of MGR in doses of 30, 60, 120 mg/kg. At a dose of 120 mg/kg, MGR reduced the fasting blood glucose level of diabetic mice by 77.8% (76.7 ± 8.5 mg/dl versus 345.2 ± 35.8 mg/dl, P < 0.01). The same dose also showed a marked improvement in glucose tolerance of 80% (75.3 ± 10.8 mg/dl versus 375.6 ± 43.3 mg/dl, P < 0.01) in diabetic mice after four days. The alkali hydrolysis productions of MGR, ginseng panaxadiol (PDS), malonic acid and a mixture of malonic acid with PDS, showed no effects on fasting blood glucose levels indicated the hypoglycemic effect of MGR relied on their unique esterified chemical structures. The findings from this study suggest that MGR extracted from Panax ginseng may be prescribed as adjunct to drug treatment for controlling diabetes mellitus. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Comparison of the antiobesity effects of the protopanaxadiol- and protopanaxatriol-type saponins of red ginsengPHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH, Issue 1 2009Ji Hyun Kim Abstract A previous study demonstrated that ginseng crude saponins prevent obesity induced by a high-fat diet in rats. Ginseng crude saponins are known to contain a variety of bioactive saponins. The present study investigated and compared the antiobesity activity of protopanaxadiol (PD) and protopanaxatriol (PT) type saponins, major active compounds isolated from crude saponins. Male 4-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with normal diet (N) or high-fat diet (HF). After 5 weeks, the HF diet group was subdivided into the control HF diet, HF diet-PD and HF diet-PT group (50 mg/kg/day, 3 weeks, i.p.). Treatment with PD and PT in the HF diet group reduced the body weight, total food intake, fat contents, serum total cholesterol and leptin to levels equal to or below the N diet group. The hypothalamic expression of orexigenic neuropeptide Y was significantly decreased with PD or PT treatment, whereas that of anorexigenic cholecystokinin was increased, compared with the control HF diet group. In addition, PD type saponins had more potent antiobesity properties than PT saponins, indicating that PD-type saponins are the major components contributing to the antiobesity activities of ginseng crude saponins. The results suggest that the antiobesity activity of PD and PT type saponins may result from inhibiting energy gain, normalizing hypothalamic neuropeptides and serum biochemicals related to the control of obesity. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] CKBM stimulates MAPKs but inhibits LPS-induced IFN- , in lymphocytesPHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH, Issue 9 2006Anthony S.L. Chan Abstract CKBM is an herbal formula composed of five Chinese medicinal herbs (Panax ginseng, Schisandra chinensis, Fructus crataegi, Ziziphus jujuba and Glycine max) supplemented with processed Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It has been demonstrated that CKBM is capable of triggering the release of IL-6 and TNF, from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In this report, T-lymphocytic Sup-T1 cells and B-lymphocytic Ramos cells were utilized as cellular models to investigate how CKBM regulates intracellular signaling as well as the production of cytokines. CKBM stimulated the three major subgroups of mitogen-activated protein kinase (i.e. ERK, JNK and p38) in Sup-T1 cells, but only triggered the activation of ERK and p38 in Ramos cells. The induction of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) activations varied with the duration of treatment, as well as with the dosage of CKBM. In terms of cytokine production, treatment of CKBM alone did not trigger the release of IL-1, and IFN,, but it suppressed the LPS-induced IFN, production from both Sup-T1 cells and Ramos cells. In view of the therapeutic effects of traditional Chinese medicines in inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, the results suggest that CKBM may exhibit its immuno-modulatory effects by regulating intracellular signaling as well as cytokine production in different lymphocytic cell types. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Panax ginseng reduces adriamycin-induced heart failure in ratsPHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH, Issue 12 2005Jyh-Sheng You Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of Panax ginseng on adriamycin-induced heart failure. Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control, adriamycin, ginseng and adriamycin with ginseng. Adriamycin (cumulative dose, 15 mg/kg) was administered to rats in six equal intraperitoneal injections over a period of 2 weeks. Ginseng was administered via an oral feeding tube once a day for 30 days (cumulative dose, 150 g/kg). At the end of the 5 week post-treatment period, the hearts of the rats were used to study the synthesis rates of DNA, RNA and protein, myocardial antioxidants and lipid peroxidation. At the end of 3 weeks treatment, heart failure was characterized by ascites, congested liver and depressed cardiac function. Nucleic acid as well as protein synthesis was inhibited, lipid peroxidation was increased and myocardial glutathione peroxidase activity was decreased indicating adriamycin-induced heart failure. In contrast, the administration of ginseng, before and concurrent with adriamycin, significantly attenuated the myocardial effects, lowered the mortality as well as the amount of ascites, increased in myocardial glutathione peroxidase, macromolecular biosynthesis and superoxide dismutase activities, with a concomitant decrease in lipid peroxidation. These findings indicated that ginseng may be partially protective against adriamycin-induced heart failure. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Siberian ginseng reduces infarct volume in transient focal cerebral ischaemia in Sprague-Dawley ratsPHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH, Issue 2 2005Yungmin Bu Abstract Siberian ginseng, the root and stem bark of Acanthopanax senticosus Harms, has been used as a tonic and adaptogen to strengthen qi in traditional Korean medicine. The neuroprotective effects of water extracts of A. senticosus (ASW) were investigated in transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo, 90 min occlusion, 24 h reperfusion) of Sprague-Dawley rats. The infarct volume was significantly reduced by 36.6% after the peritoneal injection of ASW (100 mg[sol ]kg) compared with the control. In the immunohistochemical study, ASW markedly inhibited both cyclooxygenase-2 and OX-42 expressions in the penumbral region at 24 h after MCAo. These results suggest that A. senticosus has a neuroprotective effect by inhibiting inflammation and microglial activation in brain ischaemia. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Immunopotentiating effect of a ,Yang'-promoting formula of traditional Chinese medicine on aged female BALB/c micePHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH, Issue 10 2004Ling Zhang Abstract The ,Yang'-promoting traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) are used to boost vigor and enhance immunity in humans. In this study, the immunopotentiating effect of VI-28, a ,Yang'-promoting TCM formula containing extracts of radix ginseng, cornu Cervi pantotrichum and radix Salvia miltiorrhizae, was investigated. Groups of 8-month-old female ex-breeder BALB/c mice were fed on ordinary mouse food or food containing a low (0.5%) or high (2%) dose VI-28 for up to 18 weeks. From week 6, mice on the TCM-containing diet were much healthier, stronger and more alert than those on the normal mouse food. Furthermore, their thymuses were signi,cantly bigger and heavier than those of the control mice. Histological examination revealed structural changes typical of thymic involution in mice of the control group, whilst the microstructure of thymuses from mice taking TCM-containing food was comparable to that of mice of a much younger age, indicating a positive effect of VI-28 on slowing down thymic involution. Functional analysis of splenocytes from mice of different groups suggested that oral administration of VI-28 corrected the hyporesponsiveness of T lymphocytes in aged mice. These results have important implications for our understanding of the mechanisms of the immunoboosting effect of TCM. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||