Estrogen bioassay of ginseng extract and ArginMax, a nutritional supplement for the enhancement of female sexual function.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether ArginMax (The Daily Wellness Co., Sunnyvale, CA) or the Panax ginseng extract it contains has any estrogenic activity. ArginMax for Women, a nutritional supplement for optimization of sexual health, contains L-arginine, ginseng, ginkgo, damiana, multivitamins, and minerals.


METHODS
A human endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line, Ishikawa, which contains an alkaline phosphatase (AP) enzyme sensitive to estrogen stimulation, was used in a bioassay to determine whether Panax ginseng or ArginMax contained estrogenic components.


RESULTS
Neither ArginMax nor Panax ginseng stimulated AP at any of the concentrations tested.


CONCLUSIONS
No estrogenic activity was evident in the sample of Panax ginseng extract tested or in a sample of ArginMax containing this extract in combination with other ingredients.
Polan
Mary Lake
ML
Department of Gynecology/Obstetrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.
Hochberg
Richard B
RB
Trant
Aileen S
AS
Wuh
Hank C K
HC
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000187:drug effects; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry; D004967:Estrogens / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006027:Glycosides / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008903:Minerals / Q000737:chemistry*; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*; D028321:Plant Preparations; D013997:Time Factors; D014815:Vitamins / Q000737:chemistry*
C117405:ArginMax; D004967:Estrogens; D006027:Glycosides; D008903:Minerals; D010936:Plant Extracts; D028321:Plant Preparations; D014815:Vitamins; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase