Panax Ginseng (Korean Ginseng)

What is Panax ginseng?

Panax ginseng (Korean ginseng) is an herbaceous plant used in traditional Chinese medicine for a wide variety of preventative purposes. It belongs to the Araliaceae family and is the most widely used species within the Panax genus for medicinal purposes. The roots of the plant, typically harvested in early autumn from mature specimens aged at least 4 years, are the primary source of bioactive compounds and are usually the parts used in supplements. While there are 13 identified species of ginseng, the two most prevalent in supplements and the food industry are Panax ginseng, grown in China and Korea, and Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng), grown in regions of the United States and Canada. Panax ginseng supplements are often used to enhance mood, cognition, and immune function. Ginseng is also used as an ingredient in food and edible products (e.g., chewing gums, candies, and coffee). It is essential to distinguish genuine Panax ginseng from other herbal products marketed under the name of ginseng. Notably, Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus, also known as eleuthero), Brazilian ginseng (Pfaffia paniculata), and Indian ginseng (ashwagandha) are among the commercially available alternatives that do not originate from the Panax genus. Although they carry similar names, they do not contain the same bioactive compounds, and therefore they have completely different mechanisms of action and effects.

What are the different types of Panax ginseng?

There are multiple types of Panax ginseng that can be obtained by treating the plant with different mechanical processing methods. Depending on the method used, the ginsenoside composition in the plant changes. Red ginseng, also known as Korean red ginseng, is obtained by steaming Panax ginseng at 95–100°C, followed by drying it. This processing method leads to significant changes in the bioactive profile of the plant. While Panax ginseng typically contains ginsenosides Rb1, Ro, and Re as its main components, Korean red ginseng is characterized by a high content of ginsenoside Rb(3), which can be metabolized to Rb(2) by intestinal bacteria. Additionally, Korean red ginseng contains ginsenoside Rg(3), which is unique to this variety. Another variety of ginseng, black ginseng, is obtained by subjecting Panax ginseng to nine cycles of steaming at a temperature of 98°C. However, black ginseng is not as commonly used in traditional medicine or supplements. White Ginseng is a term used to refer to Panax ginseng that has been cultivated and then air dried, as opposed to steam dried. The air drying process involves peeling and drying the root until the moisture content is reduced to below 12% and the root acquires a yellowish-white color.

What are Panax ginseng’s main benefits?

Research on the effects of Panax ginseng on mood and cognition yields mixed findings. One study found that Panax ginseng may have a dose-dependent calming effect on mood, but subsequent research failed to replicate these results. Moreover, supplementation with Panax ginseng showed initial improvements in mental health at the 4-week mark, but this effect diminished by the end of the 8-week intervention period. Overall, the evidence suggests that Panax ginseng's effects on mood may be short-lived, lasting between 1 and 4 weeks before diminishing. Similarly, the potential cognitive benefits of Panax ginseng remain inconclusive due to variations in study methodologies and inconsistent results. While some studies reported enhancements in reaction time and accuracy with Panax ginseng supplementation, others failed to establish significant cognitive improvements. Thus, further research is necessary to validate these effects and elucidate the mechanisms underlying Panax ginseng's impact on cognition. Additionally, Panax ginseng extracts appear to have some immunomodulatory properties and to reduce the occurrence of the flu in humans when taken alongside flu vaccination.

What are Panax ginseng’s main drawbacks?

Panax ginseng supplements are generally considered safe. A systematic review assessing the safety of ginseng use in humans reported a low incidence of harm, with side effects primarily related to gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and cramps. However, high doses and long-term usage may lead to the development of the so-called “ginseng abuse syndrome”, characterized by symptoms such as hypertension, nervousness, sleeplessness, diarrhea, and skin eruptions when taking 3 grams of Panax ginseng per day. Higher dosages (15 grams per day or more) have also been associated with depersonalization, confusion, and depression. Furthermore, Panax ginseng exhibits mild inhibitory effects on some enzymes from the CYP450 family, such as CYP1A2, CYP2C9, and CYP3A4, which are involved in the metabolism of certain medications. This interaction appears to be of small significance and is unlikely to be clinically meaningful.