Effects of Ginseng on Neurological Disorders

Bahk

Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci

et al. 2020

Objective To test clinical effectiveness and tolerability of Korean Red Ginseng augmentation (RGA) in major depressive disorder (MDD) patients with difficult-to-treat. Methods Thirty six patients were enrolled in this 6 weeks, prospective, clinical trial. Rating scales were Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Patient Health Questionnaire-15, Clinical Global Impression-improvement (CGI-I), and Patient Satisfaction Score. The primary endpoint was a remission rate measured by MADRS score at the end of study (≤ 10). Clinical outcomes and tolerability were assessed at baseline, week 2, and week 6. Results Among 36 patients, 26 patients completed the study and 28 patients had post-baseline visit data. The remission rate by MADRS score was 39.3% (11/28) and 57.1% by CGI-I scores of 1 or 2 at the end of the study. The mean change of MADRS score was significantly decreased by 44.4% from baseline to the end of study. The most frequent adverse events were headache (7/28, 25.0%) during the study. Conclusion Our study indicates the putative effectiveness and tolerability of RGA for treating MDD with difficult-to-treat in clinical practice. However, adequately powered, randomized, controlled trials will be needed to confirm these results.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effectiveness and Tolerability of Korean Red Ginseng Augmentation in Major Depressive Disorder Patients with Difficult-to-treat in Routine Practice

Bahk

Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci

et al. 2020

“…In a 3-nitropropionic acid-induced Huntington’s disease mouse model, administration of Withania somnifera (root extracts) restored levels of the antioxidant enzymes and attenuated lipid peroxidation [ 130 ]. In a rat Alzheimer’s disease model, Panax ginseng extract has been shown to enhance the ability of memory and learning, decrease oxidative damage, and prevent the NF-κB and receptors for advanced glycation end product (RAGE) expressions in the hippocampus and cortex of rats induced by advanced glycation end product (AGE) [ 131 ].…”

Section: Nutraceuticals In Nds: Multi-targeted Avenuementioning

confidence: 99%

Elucidating the Multi-Targeted Role of Nutraceuticals: A Complementary Therapy to Starve Neurodegenerative Diseases

Behl

Kaur

Sehgal

et al. 2021

IJMS

The mechanisms underlying multifactorial diseases are always complex and challenging. Neurodegenerative disorders (NDs) are common around the globe, posing a critical healthcare issue and financial burden to the country. However, integrative evidence implies some common shared mechanisms and pathways in NDs, which include mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, intracellular calcium overload, protein aggregates, oxidative stress (OS), and neuronal destruction in specific regions of the brain, owing to multifaceted pathologies. The co-existence of these multiple pathways often limits the advantages of available therapies. The nutraceutical-based approach has opened the doors to target these common multifaceted pathways in a slow and more physiological manner to starve the NDs. Peer-reviewed articles were searched via MEDLINE and PubMed published to date for in-depth research and database collection. Considered to be complementary therapy with current clinical management and common drug therapy, the intake of nutraceuticals is considered safe to target multiple mechanisms of action in NDs. The current review summarizes the popular nutraceuticals showing different effects (anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuro-protectant, mitochondrial homeostasis, neurogenesis promotion, and autophagy regulation) on vital molecular mechanisms involved in NDs, which can be considered as complementary therapy to first-line treatment. Moreover, owing to its natural source, lower toxicity, therapeutic interventions, biocompatibility, potential nutritional effects, and presence of various anti-oxidative and neuroprotective constituents, the nutraceuticals serve as an attractive option to tackle NDs.

“…The Panax ginseng Meyer root has been traditionally used in China, Korea, and Japan for thousands of years for many conditions, including the age-related decline of cognitive function, general weakness, and enhancing longevity [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. In Europe, ginseng preparations are recognized as a general tonic or adaptogen in cases of fatigue, weakness, and decreased mental and physical capacity at daily doses equivalent to 600-2000 mg of powdered herbal substance [3,4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Network Pharmacology of Red Ginseng (Part I): Effects of Ginsenoside Rg5 at Physiological and Sub-Physiological Concentrations

Panossian¹,

Abdelfatah

Efferth

2021

Pharmaceuticals

Numerous in vitro studies on isolated cells have been conducted to uncover the molecular mechanisms of action of Panax ginseng Meyer root extracts and purified ginsenosides. However, the concentrations of ginsenosides and the extracts used in these studies were much higher than those detected in pharmacokinetic studies in humans and animals orally administered with ginseng preparations at therapeutic doses. Our study aimed to assess: (a) the effects of ginsenoside Rg5, the major “rare” ginsenoside of Red Ginseng, on gene expression in the murine neuronal cell line HT22 in a wide range of concentrations, from 10−4 to 10−18 M, and (b) the effects of differentially expressed genes on cellular and physiological functions in organismal disorders and diseases. Gene expression profiling was performed by transcriptome-wide mRNA microarray analyses in HT22 cells after treatment with ginsenoside Rg5. Ginsenoside Rg5 exhibits soft-acting effects on gene expression of neuronal cells in a wide range of physiological concentrations and strong reversal impact at high (toxic) concentration: significant up- or downregulation of expression of about 300 genes at concentrations from 10−6 M to 10−18 M, and dramatically increased both the number of differentially expressed target genes (up to 1670) and the extent of their expression (fold changes compared to unexposed cells) at a toxic concentration of 10−4 M. Network pharmacology analyses of genes’ expression profiles using ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) software showed that at low physiological concentrations, ginsenoside Rg5 has the potential to activate the biosynthesis of cholesterol and to exhibit predictable effects in senescence, neuroinflammation, apoptosis, and immune response, suggesting soft-acting, beneficial effects on organismal death, movement disorders, and cancer.