Ginseng the wonder herb

The name Ginseng is derived from the Chinese word 'Jen-shun'. Approximately five thousand years ago, Ginseng was mentioned in the book "Pen Ysao Ching" or the Classic of Herbs written by the Chinese king Shen Nung. He described it as a stimulator for human energy and mental development. It was thought that it acts as an active agent in resisting aging and curing erectile dis function.
Recent research suggests that Ginseng acts as an Adaptogen. In 1968, Israel I. Brekhman and Dr. I. V. Dardymov described about adaptogens. Usually adaptogens can help fulfill the loss and wear and tear of body elements without any side effects.In effect, adaptogens help restoring the balance of the different glands in human body and it is also claimed that it can restore normalcy of hypothalamic pitutary adrinal axis(HPA) and can control secretion of endoxinal hormone. All adaptogens have antioxidant properties but all antioxidants may not have adaptogenic properties.

Usually three types of ginseng are found in our mother earth. 1)Oriental Ginseng, 2)American Ginseng and 3)Siberian Ginseng.


Like all other herbs, ginseng is also composed of different types of chemicals. The efficacy of any herb is actually the synergic effect of these combined chemicals. Ginseng roots are mainly composed of carbohydrate(starch,cellulose and free sugar). Fresh ginseng roots are sweet in taste because of containing approx.25% of sucrose. Overall ginseng roots consists of more than 60% of starch and sucrose.

Oriental Ginseng(Panax Ginseng)
It is known as Ren Shen in China and is also called as Chinese or Korean Ginseng. These small type of shrubs blossoms with red or yellow bunch of flowers in the month of june and july. With the growth of the plant, ginsenoside the effective component also increases in amount. Very young plants may have only four ginsenosides but in a six year plant the number may be more than double. Plants of five to six years age are preferred to get high quality ginseng.

Chemical composition
The main constituent of Oriental Ginseng is Panaxidol. This is an actylenic compound. These roots have very small(5%) of saponin. Saponin is mainly a sugar compound embedded with triterpenoid cytocide type of steroid molecules. The quality of ginseng extract depends on the amount of saponin present in it. Saponins are generally termed as ginsenoside presently. It was found in a research conducted in 1999, that Oriental Ginseng contains thirty four types of ginsenosides. Other components include volatile oil, beta-elemin, sterols,acetylenes, polysaccharides, starch, flavonoids, peptides,vitamins(B1,B2,B12,pantothenic acid,biotin), minerals,enzymes and choline.

Benefits
This sweet taste herb enhances the functions of heart, spleen and lung. It helps restore energy after excessive physical labor, stress and also helps in secretion of the necessary glands to calm down our mind and cure insomnia. Of course there is no definite proof of it enhancing sexual potency, as modern research suggest.

American Ginseng(Panacis quinquifolli)
It is also known as Ji yang shen and is popular in the whole world including China and other Asian countries. Highest quality of American Ginseng are available in the Wisconsin region of America. Besides, it is also available plenty in North America or Canada. The height of these plants are only 50cm. maximum and these grow steadily through out the year. Usually three leaves are attached around the stem. The leaves may be up to 25cm.in length. The plants are covered by greenish white flowers during the month of june july. The bright red fruits of these plants are fleshy in nature. The fleshy roots re tubular in shape with both ends roughly pointed. These plants grow well in approximately 75% shaded areas.

Chemical composition
These herbs contain about twenty types of ginsenosides. Among these, dimeran type ginsenosides are maximum in number. Dimeran type of ginsenosides are of two types viz. 20(S)Protopanaxidiol(ppd) and 20(S)Protopanaxitriol(ppt). American Ginseng contains sufficient amount of ppd(Rb1,Rd) and ppt(Re). Among other compounds it contains acetic acid, adenine, alanine, adenosine, alpha aminobutyric acid, glycine, histadine, biotin, boron, aluminium, calcium, magnesium, vanadium, vitaminB12, zinc, oleic acid, citric acid, sulphur, lilolenic acid, lilonic acid etc. Rb1 type of ginsenoside helps curing sleep disorder and thus reducing mental stress and fatigueness. Besides, it also helps increasing appetite, and in reducing nervous weekness and tension. It has been observed, American Ginseng contains maximum amount of ginsenosides during the end of summer and when the plants are more than five years old. The weight of the roots are also found to be double during that time.

Benefits
This slightly bitter taste herb is beneficial for heart, lung and kidney. It also improves blood deficiency, reduces blood sugar, recovers stroke related damage, reduces attention deficit hyper activity disorder(ADHD) and it's hormone like action gives relief in menopausal syndrome. Other than these, it improves memory power, appetite, lung function, reduces stomach disorder, sciatica, cold, cough, bronchitis, constipation, cystitis etc.

Siberian Ginseng
Siberian Ginseng mainly grows in Siberia and in some regions of China and Korea. Although it belongs to ginseng family but the species is different. Siberian Ginseng grows well in above 800 meters sea level and in the forest cover of spruce and cedar trees. These shrub type plants are usually 2-3 meters in height. It's long flexible stem is gray in color and the leaves are spreaded like our palm. It's male and female plants are different, the male plants bear small bunch of violet colored flowers and the female plants have flowers, yellowish green in color. The black fruits are fleshy and egg shaped.

Chemical composition
These type of plants vary in their chemical components according to seasonal changes. The components in it's are maximum in october while it is minimum in july. The main constituents of these plants are eleutherocide, not ginsenoside. Eleutherocides may be of ten types. The methanoic extract of the roots contain different eleutherocides(isofraxidin, sesamin, syringin), other than glucose, sucrose, betulinic acid, vitaminE, beta carotine, caffeic acid, and beta sitosterol. The eleutherocides obtained from roots, leaves and fruits have been differentiated from A to M. The molecular structures of these are also different. Some of the more recent compounds isolated are 7SR,8RS dihydroxydehydrodiconiferyl alcohol, 7,8 trans dihydroxydehydrodiconiferyl alcohol-4-O-betaglucopyranoside, and (-)syringaresinol-4-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside. Besides these, some other compounds isolated are anti platelet compound, 3,4-hydrobenzoic acid, phenyl propan-O-polysaccharide, isofraxidin and minimum ten othr phenolic compounds.

Benefits
Siberian Ginseng helps reducing physical and mental stress, increases mental concentration and stress bearing ability, complements the activities of hypothalamus/pitutary/adrenal axis, accelerates the functions of glycolysis and adrenal hormone, reduces blood sugar and activities of adrenal cortex(anti alarm), thus inhibiting mental stress, increases muscular activities, helps storage of glycogen, creatinine phosphate, enhances synthesis of messenger and ribosomal RNA, and disintigration of lipids, helps excretion of harmful chemicals from our body and thus protecting us from the harmful side effects of some cancer drugs. This herb may have the potential of keeping normal and healthy functioning of kidney and liver. Besides, it is also used for curing chronic cold, cough and also muscle cramps.



Warning
Persons who are suffering from cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, asthma, schizophrenia and nerve problems, are advised to consult medical practitioner before using this herbal product.

The saponin content in ginseng varies from type to type. The amount of saponin depends on the family, maturity of the roots, place of origin, time of plantation etc. The density of ginsenocide is more on the cortical tissue or outer layer of the roots. Red ginseng was found to have more gisenoside than white ginseng, while processing after cultivation. during processing of red ginseng, melanin ginsenoside is converted to ginsenoside by hydrolysis. Human organs can not absorb acidic melanin compounds easily. Bacterias in our digestive organ converts melanin ginsenoside to ginsenoside, thus helping absorb it. Besides ginsenoside, other active components present are acetylenic panaxinol,panaxidol, peptide glycones, polysaccharides, pyran derivatives, flavones, volatile oil, beta elements,sterols,enzymes,vitaminB1,B2,B12 etc.



How it acts:
It has been proved that two types of ginsenosides present in ginseng have two distinctive qualities.These stimulates the central nervous system and resists mental stress.It influences the organo chemical neurotransmitter system of our brain. It is believed that ginsenoside acts in helping protect nerves by dopaminergic process and resist recepting acetylcholine in brain, hence acting as a stress relieving agent. After consumption of ginseng, maximum amount of it's ppd type of ginsenosides are converted to ppd monoglucoside,20-ortho-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-20(S)-protopanaxadiol(M1) by anarobic metabolism. M1 is found in plasma and urine, even after 12 hours of consuming ginseng. This proves that the ultimate state of ppd type ginsenocide is M1. Acetylenic panaxinol, panaxidiol and panaxitriol helps curing cancer because of it's cytotoxic effects. And it's polysaccharides helps developing our immunity system.

Many researches have been conducted on the potential benefits of Ginseng. It have been found that the three types of ginseng do not have the same medicinal effects in all respects, because of their different chemical components. An overall medicinal applications of Ginseng is given as under.

Increasing mental concentration and improving health:


Using quality ginseng(extract,capsule or tablet), have shown to give good results in memory improvement. For improving standard of health, ginseng have given better result than multivitamins, when experimented on 501 nos. of patients.

Improving stamina and endurance:



A mixture of ginseng, astragalus, creatine and glutamine, used as food supplementary, have shown to improve muscular strength, stamina and endurance.

Erectile improvement:



Experiments on male mice with american ginseng have proved penile erection successfully. Korean ginseng also have proved this efficacy when experimented on 90 male recipients.

Heart health and blood pressure related effects:
Low density lipoproteins present in american ginseng, have oxidative resistant properties. It helps in creating a primary protection by secretion of nitric oxide from the endothelium and neuronal cells. It also gives protection against myocardial ischemia.

Protection of liver:
Have little role.

Protection against UV ray:


Siberian ginseng is quite effective in it.

Controlling blood sugar:



Found beneficial when applied on 36 patients with Type2 diabetes mellitus for eight weeks. Diabetes patients suffer from eye, kidney, nerve and blood vessel related problems.It have been observed that anti oxidant properties of ginseng helps in reducing diabetic problems. Because of it, the oxidative action on vascular tissues, eye and kidney are reduced substantially.Also it have been proved that besides controlling blood sugar, ginseng helps in reducing cholesterol and triglyceride, thus reducing body weight and improving mental stamina. Ginseng also increases insulin secretion and C-peptide. For these reasons, ginseng can be used as an anti diabetic agent. Particularly it has a strong effect in controlling diabetic microvasculopathy.

Protection against cancer:



Ginseng has a role in case of some types of cancer e.g. 7,12-Dimethylbenzoanthracene influenced papilloma, metastatis of lung etc. Rh2 ginsenocide inhibits increasing of B16 melanoma cells. In a Korean research, it was observed that protection of cancer depends on higher amount of consumption and for longer periods.

Protecting breast cancer:



Recent research suggests, ginseng has substantial role in improving standard of life for these type of patients.Both red and white ginseng have tumor resistive properties. Because of it, in recent years, use of ginseng among breast cancer patients have increased substantially. Although many are still skeptical about it's efficacy in this case.

Stress relieving power:



Because of it's adaptogenic power, it have been observed that using this herb, swimmers can endure long time swimming, it can help preventing tension related ulcer, it accelerates growth of hepatic ribosomes and increases interferon production.

Anti aging property:



Ginseng can help prevent aging signs in face and body and it is at the top of all other herbs used for this purpose in China. All three types of ginseng are equally active in increasing human stamina and longer life.

Immunity power:
Ginseng can increase immunity against influenza and many other type of diseases. It have been observed that antibody and killer cells are more powerful in ginseng users than common people.

Attention deficit hyper activity disorder(ADHD):



Some symptoms of ADHD are dementia, memory problem, absent mindedness, not listening to others, taking decisions randomly etc. Recently at a research conducted, some kids and adults suffering from ADHD, were given a mixture of ginseng and ginkobiloba. A remarkable improvement was found after four weeks throughout which they were administered the mixture. American ginseng when mixed with some other natural components e.g. bacopa,choline,GABA,magnesium, zinc and valerian, also gave the desired results.

Increasing sperm count:



Ginseng increases the weight of seminal vesicle and prostrate gland, thus increasing sperm count, which have been proved by experiments.

Safe guarding skin:



Ginseng extracts when used externally, can protect the skin from wrinkles and also helps development of fresh skin.

Resisting poison effects:



Ginseng has some poison resisting components. These can resist the poison effects of chloroform, amphetamines, and some other compounds.

Increasing performance of oxygen:
Ginseng plays a main role in supplying oxygen in cells and tissues and helps rejuvenate them. It have been proved that ginseng rejuvenates nerve cells damaged due to lack of oxygen and plays active role in curing nervous diseases e.g. Alzheimers and Perkinsons disease.

Doses:
Through many researches and experiments the optimum doses for humans have been decided as follows.
An adult person can intake one to nine grams of ginseng everyday. For cancer patients, this can be increased from 3.2grams to 47grams per day.

Side effects:



A recent survey report says that in America only, six million people consumes ginseng daily. Among them, a negligible few have reported to have been affected by harmful effects instead of it's immense benefits. The effect of ginseng among females is almost like estrogen. They are advised not to take ginseng during pregnancies.Usually the side effects found after using ginseng, are nervous weakness and tension. But after a few days or after reducing the doses, these uneasiness doesn't persists.The reason for it is the presence of the component methylxanthine in ginseng. On prolonged use, it may cause problem in mental attentiveness. Hence, doctors should be consulted about the duration of it's usage. Generally, it is recommended to be used intermittently followed with a short duration gap. Some diabetic patients have been reported to suffer from hypoglycemia after using ginseng. Diabetic patients should therefore consult their doctors before using ginseng. Persons suffering from high blood pressure, should also consult doctors before using this herb.

Different brands of ginseng are available according to the types of ginseng and also depending on the other suitable ingredients added to it. So it is advised to use any particular brand according to one's specific needs, as recommended by doctors. A few are shown here as example.

For further information on this amazing herb, some of these might be helpful.

1)Tang W and Eisenbrand G, Chinese Drugs of Plant Origin, 1962 Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
2)Liberti LE and Der Merderosian A, Evaluation of commercial ginseng products, Journal of Pharmaceutical Science 1978, 10:1487-1489.
3)Han KH, et al, Effects of red ginseng on blood pressure in patients with essentially hypertension and white coat hypertension, American Journal of Chinese Medicine 1998,26(2):199-209.
4)Dharmananda S, Panax Ginseng: A clinical study of it's effects on risk factors of cardiovascular diseases, Bulletin of the Oriental Healing Arts Institute 1983,8(1):1-13.
5)LiCP,LiRC, An introductory note on ginseng, American Journal of Chinese medicine 1973,1(2):249-261.
6)Bahrke MS, Morgan WP, Evaluation of ergonogenic properties of ginseng: an update,Sports Medicine2000,29(2):113-33.
7)Vuksan V,et al, American ginseng reduces postprandial glycemia in nondiabetic subjects and subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus,Archives of Internal Medicine,2000-160:1009-13.
8)Brown DJ, Herbal Prescription for Better Health,1966(2nd. edition2002) Prima Publishing, Rocklin,CA.
9)Hall T, Lu ZZ, et al, Evaluation of consistency of the standard Asian ginseng product in the ginseng evaluation program, Herbalgram 2001,52,31-45.
10)Vogler B, Pittler MH, Ernst E, The efficacy of ginseng, a systematic review of randomized clinical trials, Eur J Clin Pharmacol, 1999:55-567-575.