Ginseng - An Adaptogen

Ginseng is the slow-growing root of a perennial plant of the genus Panax that belongs to the Araliaceae family. The word Panax originates from a panacea, which means 'all healing.' In Greek mythology, Panacea (Greek Panakeia) is a goddess of universal remedy. There exist several types of Ginseng, such as Korean Ginseng (Panax ginseng), South China Ginseng (Panax notoginseng), Japanese ginseng (Panax japonicus), and American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), typically characterized by the presence of ginsenosides and gintonin. Ginseng is marketed commercially as red, white, or fresh Ginseng. The colour difference depends on the processing method of Ginseng. 'White' Ginseng is naturally dried in the sun. 'Red' Ginseng is steam heated between 100–110° for 2–3 hours. Fresh Ginseng, also called "green ginseng," is a non-dried raw product of limited availability. Ginseng is found naturally in the wild, but nowadays, most Ginseng is cultivated.

The major bioactive components of Ginseng are the ginsenosides, a group of saponins with a dammarane triterpenoid structure. Approximately more than 40 ginsenosides have been isolated from Panax ginseng root. Other active constituents include polysaccharides, essential oils, polyacetylene alcohols, peptides, amino acids, and vitamins.

Ginseng is an eminent adaptogen that protects the body against stress and restores homeostasis. Ginseng is used as a tonic to maintain and support overall well-being and health. Ginseng has been used in traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years. It is renowned worldwide for enhancing libido and sexual performance. Documented benefits of Ginseng include aphrodisiac effects, improvement of sexual function in men, and anti-hyperglycaemic effects in diabetes. It has been used to promote immune function, enhance central nervous system (CNS) function, relieve stress, and as an antioxidant.

Immunomodulatory Effects of Ginseng

Ginseng is a well-known immune modulator. It maintains immune homeostasis and enhances resistance to illness or microbial attacks by strengthening the immune system of the body. Our immune system comprises diverse cells with specialized functions, and each type of immune cell responds differently to ginseng treatment.

Macrophages are principal components of innate (Natural) defence against infections and also play essential roles in adaptive immune responses. Numerous studies confirm that Ginseng polysaccharides enhance the phagocytic activity of macrophages. In addition, Ginseng stimulates the generation of inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide, a reactive nitrogen intermediate that enhances the destruction of phagocytized microbes. Ginseng also significantly increases the production of Interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) to induce inflammatory reactions. Ginseng saponins exhibit immunostimulatory effects on Dendritic cells (DC) that activate immune responses against infections and play an important role in linking innate and adaptive immune responses. Ginseng induces antigen-specific IgM, IgG, and IgA antibody responses. Ginseng extract improves humoral immune responses against microbial invasion, suggesting the critical role of Ginseng as an adjuvant in vaccines. Studies show that Ginseng extract significantly enhances antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and NK cell activity. Ginsenoside and Ginsan stimulate T cell proliferation and NK cell activity, suggesting a critical immunomodulatory effect of Ginseng on the cellular immune response. Ginseng extract enhances natural killer (NK) cell functions irrespective of host immune condition. Ginseng also promotes the generation of immunosuppressive regulatory T cells through the activation of the transcription factor, indicating a favourable effect of Ginseng on autoimmune diseases. Studies show that Ginseng controls pro-inflammatory cytokine responses. It regulates the secretion of cytokines and is equally effective in both innate (Natural) immunity and adaptive (Acquired) immunity.

Anti-Diabetic properties of Ginseng

Diabetes is one of the major health problems worldwide. Most patients with diabetes have type 2 diabetes, which is related to ageing, low physical activity, diet, and lifestyle. Ginseng possesses anti-hyperglycemic activity. The root of Ginseng has been used for a long time to treat diabetes without adverse effects. Ginseng therapy decreases fasting glucose and increases glucose utilization and insulin regulation in diabetic patients. Ginseng also can attenuate postprandial glycemia in healthy individuals. Ginseng root can improve insulin resistance in those with a sugar-rich diet. These observations suggest that Ginseng helps treat diabetes and prevents the development of diabetes.

Ginseng mediates its anti-diabetic action through many mechanisms, including actions on the insulin-secreting pancreatic β-cells and the target tissues that take up glucose. Ginseng significantly evokes a stimulation of insulin release in normal pancreatic islet cells and acts by inhibiting the ATP-sensitive potassium channel (KATP channel), thereby depolarizing the β-cells and stimulating Ca2+ influx. Thus Ginseng has beneficial effects in treating diabetes via the stimulation of insulin release. Anti-hyperglycemic effect of ginseng extract is due to the presence of ginsenosides. Ginsenoside Rg3 enhances glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and is further metabolized to ginsenoside Rh2 by intestinal bacteria, which seems to be more effective. Similarly, ginsenoside Re decreases blood glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels and reduces oxidative stress. Ginsenoside Rb1 stimulates basal and insulin-mediated glucose uptake in adipocytes and myotubes.

Ginseng helps prevent diabetes in healthy people and improves glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes patients. Ginseng increases glucose transport protein in the liver of normal and hyperglycemic persons. The findings suggest a hypoglycemic and anti-diabetic role of Ginseng and ginsenosides and their potential to provide treatment for diabetes.

Ginseng for Central Nervous System and Degenerative Diseases

Ginseng has both neurotrophic effects on memory and learning and neuroprotective actions to prevent neuron degeneration. Ginsenosides, the active principle in Ginseng root, particularly Rg1, Rb1, Rg3, and Rh2, effectively potentiate learning and memory acquisition. Ginsenosides Rg3 and Rh2 are particularly effective in protecting the central nervous system (CNS) and preventing neurodegenerative diseases. They help treat Alzheimer's disease, a predominant age-related neurodegenerative disorder, mainly known for its progressive memory loss and consequent dementia in the elderly. Results show that ginseng extract and ginsenosides Rg1 and Rb1 improve all stages of memory and enhance learning and memory acquisition, consolidation, and memory retrieval. Moreover, these ginsenosides also antagonize memory loss and cognitive deficit under various pathological conditions, such as cerebral ischemia and dementia. Ginseng enhances Acetylcholine (ACH) and glutamate release, inhibits apoptosis and protects neurons from neurotoxic insults. Inadequacy of Acetylcholine, a vital neurotransmitter in the brain, often leads to learning and memory impairment. Ginsenosides Rg1 and Rb1 enhance the level of ACH in the CNS and strengthen the functions of the cholinergic system by increasing the density of central M-cholinergic receptors. Glutamate, another neurotransmitter, is also important for learning, memory, and cognitive function. Ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg1 facilitate the release of glutamate and help to improve memory and learning.

Conclusion

The traditional system of medicine, including the Chinese and Ayurvedic systems, has already mentioned Ginseng as a supertonic, which is used to treat all types of diseases, including impotence, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disorder, anorexia, and as an adaptogen. The miracle ginseng has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer, antidiabetic, and immunomodulatory properties. Focusing on Ginseng in research and development of the pharmaceutical industry in private and government agencies in future development would be beneficial.