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Ginseng

Ginseng is the name given to the dried roots of the ginseng plants (genus Panax) and, more particularly, to extracts of those roots. The roots and their extracts contain a variety of substances including saponins and sapogenins. Panax ginseng C. A Meyer is a plant grown in the fair east of Asia and it belongs to Araliaceae Panax according to the plant taxonomy. In particular, ginseng grown in Korea is called Korean ginseng and is known to have excellent pharmaceutical properties. Ginseng products are classified into undried ginseng, red ginseng, white ginseng and Taeguk ginseng according to the preparation process. The roots of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer contain several triterpene glycosides named ginsenosides (or panaxosides) which are believed to contribute to the adaptogenic and physical performance enhancing properties of the ginseng extracts. It is used to treat anemia, diabetes mellitus, insomnia, neurasthenia, gastritis, abnormal blood pressure, dyspepsia, overstrain and fatigue. American ginseng, Panax quinquefolium, is another specie of ginseng which has gained popularity as a health supplement having many beneficial health effects. Several groups of scientists have attempted to isolate and elucidate the structure of the polysaccharides present in ginseng. Some of the polysaccharides have been demonstrated to be active in modulating the immune system. Ginseng has been extensively used, mostly in Asia, as a tonic to promote health and well being, and as a medicine in the treatment of various disease conditions. The beneficial attributes of ginseng are attributed to its saponin content, a mixture of dammarane triterpene glucosides referred to collectively as ginsenosides. Some ginsenosides have been isolated, and their structure determined. Such ginsenosides include Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf and Rg. Panax ginseng has been used as the best miraculous medicine in the Orient, such as China, Japan and the like including Korea, for thousands years. Ginseng has nutritious tonic, analgesic, sedative, stomachic and laxative effects. Eleutherococcus senticosus (Siberian Ginseng) is an adaptogenic herb known to improve mood, attention, energy and a sense of well being. It is also known to be immunostimulatory and useful to treat stress and fatigue. Panax Ginseng is known to stimulate the anterior pituitary to release ACTH in a non-stressed state thereby increasing overall alertness and well being. Through modern scientific researches, ginseng has been discovered to have various pharmacological effects, for example, anticancer activity, immunosuppressive activity, therapeutic activity on exposure to radiation, improvement of memory, reduction of side effects from psychotropic drugs, anti-diabetic activity, etc. Ginsenosides (triterpene glycosides) extracted from roots of 4-7 years old plants of ginseng (common name for Panax species) are important constituents of herbal health care products today. Owing to their strong immuno-modulatory, adaptogenic and aphrodisiac actions, ginseng saponins are widely prescribed in several conditions of health disorders such as anaemia, diabetes, asthma, neuroaesthemia, dyspepsia, convulsion and even in cancer and AIDS.

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