Search

Ginsenoside Rg3, present in steamed ginseng (Panax Ginseng C.A. Meyer), is thought to be a potent modulator of vascular function. Our objective was to clinically evaluate acute effects of ginsenoside Rg3-enriched Korean red ginseng (Rg3-KRG) on measures of arterial stiffness and peripheral and central blood pressure (BP) parameters in healthy volunteers. Using a double-blind, randomized, crossover design, 23 individuals (9 males:14 females; age, 25 ± 2 years; body mass index, 22 ± 0.6 kg/m(2); systolic BP/diastolic BP, 113 ± 3/70 ± 2 mm Hg) were administered 400-mg Rg3-KRG extract or 400-mg wheat bran control on two separate visits with a 7-day washout period. Aortic augmentation index and central BP were measured using applanation tonometry by radial pulse wave analysis, and peripheral BP was evaluated oscillometrically. Measurements were taken at baseline and at 1, 2, and 3 hours after intervention. Compared with control, there were significant reductions in augmentation index (-4.3 ± 8.9%, P = .03), central (-4.8 ± 6.8 mm Hg, P = .01) and brachial mean arterial pressure (-4.4 ± 6.6 mm Hg, P = .01), central systolic (-5.0 ± 7.9 mm Hg, P = .01) and diastolic BP (-3.9 ± 6.6 mm Hg, P = .01), and brachial systolic (-4.4 ± 10.0 mm Hg, P = .048) and diastolic BP (-3.6 ± 6.4 mm Hg, P = .01) at 3 hours after intervention compared with control. This study is the first to demonstrate Rg3-KRG extract acutely lowers central and peripheral arterial pressures in healthy adults. Further clinical evaluation is desired to quantify efficacy in higher risk individuals and in long-term settings., (Copyright © 2014 American Society of Hypertension. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Substantial pre-clinical and some clinical data are available showing that Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) varieties or its particular ginsenosides exert a vasodilatating effect, thus may modulate vascular function. However, the clinical evidence for American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) is scarce. Therefore, this study evaluates the effect of American ginseng (AG) on arterial stiffness, as measured by augmentation index (AI), and blood pressure (BP), in type 2 diabetes patients with concomitant hypertension., Materials and Methods: Using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel design, each participant was randomized to either the selected AG extract or placebo at daily dose of 3g for 12 weeks as an adjunct to their usual antihypertensive and anti-diabetic therapy (diet and/or medications). AI and BP were measured by applanation tonometry at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment., Results: A total of 64 individuals with well-controlled essential hypertension and type 2 diabetes (gender: 22 M:42 F, age:63 ± 9.3 years, BP: 145 ± 10.8/84 ± 8.0 mmHg, HbA1c: 7.0 ± 1.3%, fasting blood glucose (FBG): 8.1 ± 2.3 mmol/L) completed the study. Compared to placebo, 3g of AG significantly lowered radial AI by 5.3% (P=0.041) and systolic BP by 11.7% (P<0.001) at 12 weeks. No effect was observed with diastolic BP., Conclusions: Addition of AG extract to conventional therapy in diabetes with concomitant hypertension improved arterial stiffness and attenuated systolic BP, thus warrants further investigation on long-term endothelial parameters before recommended as an adjunct treatment., (© 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Since diabetes tends to progressively worsen over time, glycemic control often deteriorates in spite of taking regular therapy. Therefore, numerous research studies are by and large focused on finding more efficient therapy, both new medicines for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus, as well as supplements that could serve as an addition to conventional treatment modalities. A variety of herbal preparations have been shown to have modest short-term beneficial effects on glycemia, but of these, the best studied is American ginseng (AG). AG has been shown to be effective in improving glycemic control in type 2 diabetes through increasing post-prandial insulin levels and decreasing postprandial glycemic response. However, high variability in ginsenosides may result in just as high variability in antidiabetic efficacy of over-the-counter ginseng products. Therefore, the availability of standardized extracts of AG could assist greatly in advancing our knowledge on the role of this traditionally used herb and result in a wider application of ginseng product in diabetes management. The aim of this review is to outline the efficacy and safety of American ginseng for AG preparations on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes as well as to increase awareness of the evidence supporting the use of these therapies in diabetes care.