Red ginseng as an ergogenic aid: A systematic review of clinical trials

Abstract

An ergogenic aid can be defined as an equipment, technique, and substance used for enhancing sports performance. Ergogenic aids can be classified into different forms such as nutritional, pharmacological, and physiological aids. They range from use of accepted techniques such as high altitude training to consumption of illegal substances such as steroid. The efficacy of many of these is controversial, whereas the side effects are evident. An herb is a plant or plant part used for its scent, flavor, or therapeutic properties. In general, taking herb medication is considered as a safe practice. There are different forms of herbs such as tablets, capsules, powders, and fresh leaf. People use herbal medicines to maintain or improve their health. Herbs have been used to improve performance (both endurance and strength), facilitate recovery from work and exercise, maintain health, build muscle mass, and reduce body fat 1-3 . Ginseng is one of the most widely used herbs for human physical and mental performance, which includes several species and is prepared by various methods 4 .The term 'ginseng' usually refers to the species Panax ginseng, known as Korean ginseng or Chinese ginseng. Ginseng root extracts have long been used in traditional oriental medicine to restore energy and enhance well-being 1 . Ginseng is a perennial herb which is indigenous to Korea, China (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer), Himalaya (Panax pseudo-ginseng), Vietnam (e.g. Panax vietnamensis), Japan (e.g. Panax japonicus), and North America (Panax quinquefolium). Ginseng is available in many forms: whole root, root powder (white ginseng), steamed root powder (red ginseng), teas, tinctures, and standardized root extracts containing known and reproducible amounts of ginsenosides. The recognized primary active components of ginseng are a group of 30 different triterpene saponins, also referred to as ginsenosides, which vary in content and relative proportions among different species of ginseng 5,6 .In exercise and sports science, ginseng is believed to be a physical performance enhancer 1 . Chen et al (2012) 1 reported that Panax ginseng supplements may enhance physical and mental performance if taken over a long enough period of time and in sufficient doses. Panax ginseng, when administered at an adequate dosage (between 200 and 400 g/day) for a period of longer than 8 weeks may improve physical

Effects of Acute Supplementation of Panax ginseng on Endurance Performance in Healthy Adult Males of Kolkata, India

“…The mechanism by which PG improve endurance performance might apparently include its ability in enhancing creatine synthesis within the body, influencing carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, anabolic functions such as synthesis of DNA, RNA and proteins, possessing biological active properties like adaptogenic, anti-stress, anti-fatigue, anti-hypertensive and antioxidant, vasodilation, bradycardia, as well as efficacy in improved psychomotor performance. [3,31] From the discussion of this study, it could be postulated that the active ingredients in PG were sufficiently absorbed during the trials to elicit positive effects among recreational runners. There were differences in opinions among different studies, which might be due to difference in study design of those studies, lack of availability of…”

“…Previous studies also suggested that PG showed a beneficial role on fuel homeostasis by sparing muscle glycogen, promoting FFA oxidation (lipolysis) and inhibiting lipogenesis during endurance exercise, thus enhancing exercise performance. [31] Exercise induced oxidative stress was estimated by serum levels of LPO, SOD, catalase and total thiol. In this study, serum level of LPO decreased significantly (p<0.05) in PG than PL trial, thereby reducing the lipid peroxidation of cells whereas the levels of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, catalase and total-thiol) were found to be increased significantly (p<0.05) in PG than PL trial for combating with this exercise induced oxidative stress.…”

Trends in use, pharmacology, and clinical applications of emerging herbal nutraceuticals

“…Ginseng is used to promote rejuvenation and longevity, for frailty and stress, weakness and fatigue, both mental and physical (Ogawa‐Ochiai & Kawasaki, ), and as supportive treatment for diabetes, cardiovascular disease and many others (Mancuso & Santangelo, ). Recently, a number of systematic reviews have critically evaluated the clinical evidence for and against the effectiveness of ginseng in a number of conditions, such as erectile dysfunction (Borrelli, Colalto, Delfino, Iriti, & Izzo, ), chronic fatigue (Arring, Millstine, Marks, & Nail, ), hypertension (Lee, Lim, Jun, Choi, & Lee, ), diabetes (Gui, Xu, Xu, & Yang, ), Alzheimer's disease (Wang et al, ) and as an ergogenic aid (Lee, Jung, & Lee, ).…”

Ergogenic Activities of Some Plants of Family Araliaceae on Mus musculus

“…Ergogenic is defined as the equipment, techniques and substances used to enhance sports performance. Ergogenic aids are classified into various forms, such as nutritional, pharmacological and physiological aids [1]. Ergogenic also means tonic which is an ingredient used to increase stamina, endurance, and to minimize fatigue [2].…”