Ginsenosides: the need to move forward from bench to clinical trials

Abstract

Panax ginseng, known as Koran ginseng, one of the most commonly used traditional plants, has been demonstrated to show a wide range of pharmacological applications. Ginsenosides are the major active ingredients found in ginseng and are responsible for the biological and pharmacological activities, such as antioxidation, antiinflammation, vasorelaxation, and anticancer actions. Existing studies have mostly focused on identifying and purifying single ginsenosides and investigating pharmacological activities and molecular mechanisms in cells and animal models. However, ginsenoside studies based on clinical trials have been very limited. Therefore, this review aimed to discuss the currently available clinical trials on ginsenosides and provide insights and future directions for developing ginsenosides as efficacious and safe drugs for human disease.

Keywords: Clinical trial; Ginseng; Ginsenoside; Protopanaxadiol; Protopanaxatriol.

Fig. 1

Conceptual summary of clinical studies using ginsenosides. (A) The effects of G-Rb1 and CK on their plasma half-life and the plasma levels of glucose and insulin in healthy humans. (B) The effect of G-Rb2 on the sperm motility in the patients with reduced sperm motility. (C) The anticancer effect of G-Rg3 and chemotherapy on NSCLC, gastric cancer, and esophageal cancer patients. (D) The effect of G-Rc on the sperm motility in the patients with reduced sperm motility. CK, compound K; NSCLC, non–small cell lung cancer; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor.

Fig. 2

Conceptual summary of clinical studies using ginseng. (A) The effect of Panax ginseng berry extract on the plasma glucose level in healthy humans. (B) The effect of Panax ginseng on wrinkle formation and skin moisturization. (C) The effect of FRG on the depression in postmenopausal patients. (D) The effect of Panax ginseng on the cognitive performance in patients with Alzheimer's disease. (E) The effect of Korean Red Ginseng on the erectile function in the patients with erectile dysfunction. FRG, fermented red ginseng.