Effects of Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Mayer) and its isolated ginsenosides and polysaccharides on arterial stiffness in healthy individuals.
BACKGROUND
Preclinical studies indicate a role of Korean red ginseng (KRG) in the modulation of vascular function; however, clinical evidence is scarce. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of KRG root on peripheral blood pressure (BP) and augmentation index (AI), an emerging method to assess cardiovascular risk beyond conventional BP measurements. Furthermore, in an attempt to elucidate which of the major components of KRG is responsible for these effects, the ginsenoside and polysaccharide fractions isolated from the same KRG root were also investigated.


METHODS
The study was designed as an acute randomized, controlled, double blind, crossover trial. A total of 17 healthy fasted individuals (gender: 9 males:8 females, age: 30 +/- 9 years, body mass index: 25 +/- 3 kg/m(2), systolic BP (SBP): 110 +/- 10.1, diastolic BP (DBP): 65 +/- 7 mm Hg) received, on separate occasions, four treatments consisting of: 3 g of either placebo, KRG root, or a KRG root bioequivalent dose of ginsenoside or polysaccharide fractions. BP and AI were measured by applanation tonometry at baseline, 1, 2, and 3 h post-treatment.


RESULTS
Compared to placebo, 3 g of KRG significantly lowered radial AI by 4.6% (P = 0.045), whereas the ginsenoside fraction comparably decreased AI by 4.8% (P = 0.057), and no effect was observed with the polysaccharides. There were no differences in BP between treatments.


CONCLUSIONS
Although preliminary, this study is the first to demonstrate that KRG may improve arterial stiffness as measured by AI. In addition, it appears that ginsenosides may be the principal pharmacologically active component of the root, rather than the polysaccharide fraction. This study supports the results seen with KRG in the preclinical studies and warrants further investigation on acute and long-term endothelial parameters.
Jovanovski
Elena
E
Clinical Nutrition & Risk Factor Modification Center, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Jenkins
Alexandra
A
Dias
Andre G
AG
Peeva
Valentina
V
Sievenpiper
John
J
Arnason
John Thor
JT
Rahelic
Dario
D
Josse
Robert G
RG
Vuksan
Vladimir
V
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004548:Elasticity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D005894:Panax; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D036145:Ginsenosides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011134:Polysaccharides