The effect of Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Mayer) on vascular function and influence of derived ginsenosides and polysaccharides.

摘要

Korean red ginseng's (KRG) effect on vascular parameters and accountability of active components remains poorly characterized clinically. The objective was therefore, to establish a dose-response relationship and contribution of ginsenoside and polysaccharide components by systematically evaluating vascular efficacy of KRG in a series of 3 crossover, placebo-controlled RCT. Study-1 tested escalating doses of KRG on systolic and diastolic blood pressure and showed an insignificant dose-response effect in individuals with hypertension. Study-2 evaluated the relationship of KRG and its isolated ginsenoside and polysaccharide fractions on pulse-wave reflections in healthy individuals, and demonstrated significant improvement in augmentation index with KRG, verifing that its efficacy lies within the ginsenoside fraction. These effects were subsequently translated in study-3 into significant improvement in endothelium-dependant vasodilation with KRG and ginsenosides in healthy individuals. The studies provide a mechanistic basis to clarify vascular effects of KRG and put forward a foundation for component-based standardization of KRG.