Ginseng Proven as Herbal Stress Buster

The root of Panax ginseng C.A. MEYER has been reported to have an anti-stress action. Therefore, the effects of ginseng components on functions of adrenal medulla, which is one of the most important organs responsive to stress, were investigated in vitro. First, the components of ginseng were mainly divided into two fractions, that is, the saponin-rich and non-saponin fractions. The saponin-rich fraction greatly reduced the secretion of catecholamines from bovine adrenal chromaffin cells stimulated by acetylcholine (ACh), whereas the non-saponin fraction did not affect it at all. The protopanaxatriol-type saponins inhibited the ACh-evoked secretion much more strongly than the protopanaxadiol-type.

On the other hand, the oleanane-type saponin, ginsenoside-Ro, had no such effect. Recent reports have demonstrated that the saponins in ginseng are metabolized and absorbed in digestive tracts following oral administration of ginseng. All of the saponin metabolites greatly reduced the ACh-evoked secretion. M4 was the most effective inhibitor among the metabolites. M4 blocked ACh-induced Na(+) influx and ion inward current into the chromaffin cells and into the Xenopus oocytes expressing human alpha3beta4 nicotinic ACh receptors, respectively, suggesting that the saponin metabolites modulate nicotinic ACh receptors followed by the reduction of catecholamine secretion. It is highly possible that these effects of ginsenosides and their metabolites are associated with the anti-stress action of ginseng.

 

Source

PubMed Link - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15215636

Journal - Journal of Pharmacological Sciences. 2004 Jun; 95(2):140-4

Title - Proof of the mysterious efficacy of ginseng: basic and clinical trials: suppression of adrenal medullary function in vitro by ginseng

Authors - Tachikawa E, Kudo K

Institution - Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Iwate Medical University

E-mail - etachika@iwate-med.ac.jp

 

Ginseng Reduces Stress

The present study aims to demonstrate the ability of ginseng total saponin (GTS), ginsenosides Rg3 and Rb1 to reduce brain polyamine levels in immobilization-stressed gerbil mice. A previous study reported that ginsenosides had an anti-stress property.

So, we tested the anti-stress effect of ginseng by investigating the brain level of polyamine, a well-known stress stimuli marker. We determined the brain polyamine levels under 30-min immobilization stress in pretreating GTS (100 mgkg(-1), oral), ginsenosides Rg3 and Rb1 (10 mgkg(-1), oral, respectively).

Then, we compared polyamine levels between the non-stressed mouse and the stressed mouse which had taken saline orally to check the placebo effect. Putrescine (PUT) levels were significantly increased (P < 0.01) in the stressed condition, but it was reduced in pretreatment of GTS, ginsenosides Rg3 (P < 0.01, respectively) and Rb1 (P < 0.001) under 30-min immobilization stressed-mouse.

However, other polyamine levels did not change regardless of stressed condition or GTS-, ginsenosides Rg3- and Rb1-treated stressed condition.These results mean that only PUT could be a marker for stress and GTS, ginsenosides Rg3 and Rb1 administration lead to an anti-stress effect. Thus, our studies indicate that GTS, ginsenosides Rg3 and Rb1 may play a neuroprotective role in the immobilization-stressed brain.

 

Source

PubMed Link - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16530422

Journal - Pharmacological Research. 2006 Jul; 54(1):46-9. Epub 2006 Mar 10

Title - The antistress effect of ginseng total saponin and ginsenoside Rg3 and Rb1 evaluated by brain polyamine level under immobilization stress

Authors - Lee SH, Jung BH, Kim SY, Lee EH, Chung BC

Institution - Bioanalysis and Biotransformation Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 131, Cheongryang, Seoul 130-650, Republic of Korea

 

Ginseng Protects Muscles from Exercise Stress

Enzymatic activity was analyzed in the soleus, gastrocnemius (red and white) and plantaris muscles of acutely exercised rats after long-term administration of Panax ginseng extract in order to evaluate the protective role of ginseng against skeletal muscle oxidation. Ginseng extract (3, 10, 100, or 500 mg/kg) was administered orally for three months to male Wistar rats weighing 200 +/- 50 g before exercise and to non-exercised rats (N = 8/group). The results showed a membrane stabilizing capacity of the extract since mitochondrial function measured on the basis of citrate synthase and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase activities was reduced, on average, by 20% (P < 0.05) after exercise but the activities remained unchanged in animals treated with a ginseng dose of 100 mg/kg. Glutathione status did not show significant changes after exercise or treatment. Lipid peroxidation, measured on the basis of malondialdehyde levels, was significantly higher in all muscles after exercise, and again was reduced by about 74% (P < 0.05) by the use of ginseng extract. The administration of ginseng extract was able to protect muscle from exercise-induced oxidative stress irrespective of fiber type.

 

Source

PubMed Link – http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15558193

JournalBrazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research. 2004 Dec; 37(12):1863-71. Epub 2004 Nov 17

TitleGinseng administration protects skeletal muscle from oxidative stress induced by acute exercise in rats

AuthorsVoces J, Cabral de Oliveira AC, Prieto JG, Vila L, Perez AC, Duarte ID, Alvarez AI

InstitutionDepartamento de Fisiologia, Universidad de Leon, Leon, Spain

 

Ginseng Reduces Exercise-Induced Injuries

Eccentric muscle contraction causes fibre injury associated with disruption of the myofibrillar cytoskeleton. The medicinal plant Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, known for its therapeutic properties, was studied to explore its protective effects after eccentric contraction. A crude extract and a standardised extract (G115) of different saponin compositions were tested as to their efficacy in reducing lipid peroxidation, inflammation and release of myocellular proteins after the realisation of an eccentric contraction protocol on a rat treadmill. Plasma creatine kinase (CK) levels were significantly reduced by approximately 25% after ingestion of both extracts of ginseng. Both extracts reduced lipid peroxidation by approximately 15% as measured by malondialdehyde levels. beta-Glucuronidase concentrations and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) levels, which can be considered markers of inflammation, were also significantly reduced. The values of beta-glucuronidase were increased from 35.9+/-1.5 to 128.4+/-8.1 in vastus and to 131.1+/-12.1 U x g(-1) in rectus, the protection due to ginseng administration being approximately 40% in both muscles. Both extracts appeared to be equally effective in reducing injuries and inflammation caused by eccentric muscle contractions.

 

Source

PubMed Link - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11701393

Journal -  Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology C Toxicol Pharmacol. 2001 Nov; 130(3):369-77

Title -  Protective effects of Panax ginseng on muscle injury and inflammation after eccentric exercise

Authors - Cabral de Oliveira AC, Perez AC, Merino G, Prieto JG, Alvarez AI

Institution - Department of Physiology, University of Leon, 24071, Leon, Spain

 

Anti-stress effects of Ginkgo biloba and Panax ginseng 

Stress is a global menace fortified by the advancement of industrialization. Failure of stress management is due to lack of proper evaluation of anti-stress products.

We explored the anti-stress potential of the Ginkgo biloba (G. biloba, 30 mg/kg, p.o.) and compared it with that of Panax ginseng (P. ginseng, 100 mg/kg, p.o.) against acute stress (AS) and chronic stress (CS) models in rats. Immediately after AS and CS, the rats were sacrificed, and adrenal glands and stomach were dissected out for weight determination and scoring of the ulcer index (UI), respectively, as well as changes in biochemical parameters like plasma glucose (GL), triglycerides (TG), cholesterol (CL), creatine kinase (CK), and serum corticosterone (CORT) were also estimated. AS significantly increased UI, adrenal gland weight (AGW), GL, CK activity, and CORT, whereas G. biloba significantly reduced them. P. ginseng significantly reverted GL and CK activity. In CS, a significant increase was found in the UI, AGW, CK activity, and CORT with a decrease in the level of CL and TG. G. biloba did not produce any significant effect on CS-induced alterations. P. ginseng reduced the UI, AGW, plasma GL, TG, CK activity, and CORT level significantly. From the above study, G. biloba is more effective in AS, whereas for CS, P. ginseng will be a better option. Hence these extracts possess significant anti-stress properties and can be used for the treatment of stress-induced disorders.

 

Source

PubMed Link – http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14737017

JournalThe Journal of Pharmacological Sciences. 2003 Dec; 93(4):458-64

TitleAnti-stress effects of Ginkgo biloba and Panax ginseng: a comparative study

AuthorsRai D, Bhatia G, Sen T, Palit G

InstitutionInstitution Division of Pharmacology, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India