Ginseng (American) (Panax quinquefolius)
Ginseng is probably the most researched and used medicinal herb in the world. There are 11 different varieties of ginseng, eight species of Panax in all, two of which are considered possessing high medicinal value: Asian Ginseng (Panax ginseng) and American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius or P. quinquefolius). The genus name, Panax, comes from the Greek word for panacea, or cure-all. American ginseng is a native perennial found in the temperate nutrient-rich forests in North America. American ginseng is considered an adaptogen. Adaptogens are a class of substances that stimulate the body's resistance to physical, environmental, and emotional stressors. Both Native American healers and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners have utilized it. It is not to be confused with Panax ginseng as it is a different species with slightly different medicinal properties than Asian or Panax ginseng. Both American and Asian ginseng contain compounds called ginsenosides, so some of their effects may be similar.
Uses
American ginseng is thought of as the botanical cousin to Asian ginseng. TCM and Ayurveda consider American ginseng cooling making it better suited for younger, fiery, and overly stimulated (indicating excess heat) individuals. Native Americans used the root of this plant in many medicinal compounds, including a remedy that induces sweating to lower a fever. American ginseng is primarily used for stress, to boost the immune system, for upper airway infections, fatigue, poor mental function, diabetes, and many other conditions. It contains chemicals called ginsenosides, which are shown to affect insulin levels and lower blood sugar.
Chemistry/Pharmacology
The bioactive components of American ginseng are ginseng ginsenosides or triterpenoid saponins. Other important chemical constituents of America ginseng include polyacetylenes, sesquiterpenes, polysaccharides, and peptidoglycans, that have also been isolated along with volatile constituents, organic acids, amino acids, sugars, and other constituents. More than 150 ginsenosides have been isolated from different parts of the American ginseng plant so far.
Clinical Studies
Human studies are limited. Current data suggest that American ginseng may improve glucose control in diabetics and that it is safe for long-term use. It demonstrates a modest effect in reducing number and severity of colds, and enhanced working memory in young and middle-aged healthy adults, and patients with schizophrenia.
Clinical trials have demonstrated that American ginseng can improve cancer-related fatigue. Epidemiological data suggest it may improve survival and quality of life in breast cancer patients.
Biomechanical Mechanism
The saponin glycosides, also known as ginsenosides or panaxosides, are thought responsible for the herb’s biological effects. In lab studies, ginsenosides have both stimulatory and inhibitory CNS effects, can alter cardiovascular tone, enhance humoral and cellular-dependent immunity, and exert anticancer effects. Other lab studies suggest enhanced anticancer activities when combined with antioxidants, synergistic effects with 5-fluorouraci, and protection against oxidative stress in irradiated human lymphocytes.
Related species, such as Panax ginseng, have been the focus of most laboratory and clinical research. Experiments using extracts from these species indicate that ginsenosides stimulate and inhibit the central nervous system. The extracts also stimulate TNF alpha production by alveolar macrophages.
The Rg1 ginsenoside present in American ginseng is associated with improvements in humoral and cell-mediated immune response and increases in T helper cells, T lymphocytes, and NK cells in mice. American ginseng was also shown to lower serum glucose and may affect carbohydrate metabolism.
Several ginsenosides have demonstrated anticancer properties in vitro. Current data suggest that antiproliferative effects of American ginseng are due to compound K, a metabolite of the ginsenoside Rb1, but not Rb1 as previously thought. In a rodent study, the herb significantly attenuated colon carcinogenesis by reducing tumor number and load and was associated with suppression of proinflammatory cytokine activation.
Sources/Articles
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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7116968/?mc_cid=786a6a370a&mc_eid=dd814c72cd
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