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Review
. 2019 Dec 9;24(24):4501.
doi: 10.3390/molecules24244501.

Review of Ginseng Anti-Diabetic Studies

Wei Chen  1   2   3 , Prabhu Balan  2   3 , David G Popovich  1
Affiliations
Review

Review of Ginseng Anti-Diabetic Studies

Wei Chen et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

Ginseng is one of the most valuable and commonly used Chinese medicines not only in ancient China but also worldwide. Ginsenosides, also known as saponins or triterpenoids, are thought to be responsible for the beneficial effects of ginseng. In this review, we summarize recent publications on anti-diabetic studies of ginseng extracts and ginsenosides in cells, animals, and humans. It seems that the anti-diabetic effect of ginseng is positive for type 2 diabetic patients but has no significant impact on prediabetes or healthy adults. Regulation of insulin secretion, glucose uptake, anti-oxidative stress, and anti-inflammatory pathways may be the mechanisms involved with ginseng's anti-diabetic effects. Taken together, this summary provides evidence for the anti-diabetes effects of ginseng extracts and ginsenosides as well as the underlying mechanisms of their impact on diabetes.

Keywords: anti-diabetes; blood glucose; ginseng; ginsenosides; insulin.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Chemical structures of triterpenoid saponins mentioned in this study. Glc, Rha, Arap, Araf, and Xyl refer to β-d-glucopyranosyl, α-l-rhamnopranosyl, α-l-arabinopyranosyl, α-l-arabinofuranosyl, and β-d-xylopyranosyl, respectively.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The potential mechanism of ginseng extracts (ginsenosides) on type 2 diabetes. Bcl-xL: B-cell lymphoma-extra-large; CASP3: caspase-3; CAT: catalase; eNOS: endothelial nitric oxide synthase; G6Pase: glucose-6-phosphotase; GLP-1: glucagon-like peptide-1; GLUT: glucose transporter protein; GSH (-PX): glutathione peroxidase; IL: interleukin; MAPK: mitogen-activated protein kinase; MDA: malondialdehyde; PEPCK: phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase; SOD: superoxide dismutase; T-AOC: total anti-oxidative capacity; TC: total cholesterol; TG: triglycerides.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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