title: Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) root fractions: differential effects on postprandial glycemia in healthy individuals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Variations in ginsenoside profile may predict the postprandial glucose (PPG)-lowering efficacy of ginseng. Previously we reported differential PPG-lowering effects with two Korean red ginseng (KRG) root. FRACTIONS: body and rootlets, of variable ginsenoside profiles. Whether this effect is reproducible with a different KRG source is unclear. We therefore tested two root fractions from a KRG source with elevated ginsenoside levels to assess its effect on PPG.
  
  
  METHODS
  After a 12-h overnight fast, 13 healthy individuals (6M:7F; age=28 ± 10 y; BMI=24.1 ± 3 kg/m2; FBG=4.77 ± 0.04 mmol/L) randomly received either 3g of KRG-body, rootlets or placebo, on three separate visits. Treatments were consumed 60 min prior to a standard test meal with capillary blood samples at -60, 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 min.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The KRGrootlets had>6 fold total ginsensosides than the KRG-body but did not significantly affect PPG. Despite a reduced ginsenoside profile, KRG-body lowered PPG levels at 45, 60, 90 and 120 min during the test (p<0.05), rendering an overall reduction of 27% in incremental area under the glucose curve compared to the control (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Comparing the results with a previously studied batch of KRG suggests a potential therapeutic dose range for ginsenosides. This observation should be clinically verified with acute screening and ginsenoside composition analysis.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Center and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, 70 Richmond St. E., Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5C1N8.
authors.forename: Leanne R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: De Souza
authors.forename: Alexandra L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Sievenpiper
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jovanovski
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rahelić
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vuksan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009864:Ontario; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots; D019518:Postprandial Period; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D036145:Ginsenosides; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts