title: Evaluation of an extract of North American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) in Candida albicans-infected complement-deficient mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ginseng is a widely consumed aromatic herb that is purported to have health benefits. Several studies report a beneficial impact of ginseng or its derivatives on Candida albicans infection in mice and suggest that its immune-modulatory properties contribute to this effect. However, these studies generally administered ginseng to experimental animals by injection, whereas people typically ingest ginseng. Furthermore, although disseminated candiasis is typically a disease of immune-impaired hosts, previous studies have generally used immune competent host species in the assessments.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the efficacy of an ingested extract of ginseng against Candida albicans infection in DBA/2J mice, which are highly susceptible to Candida albicans infection. A ginseng extract was added to the drinking water for two days before and for the remainder of the study after intravenous inoculation of mice with Candida albicans. Mice were evaluated for morbidity, mortality, Candida albicans titers, and concentrations of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ingestion of the ginseng extract did not significantly affect overall morbidity or mortality. However, ingestion of the extract was associated with significantly lower renal titers of Candida albicans and with significantly lower concentrations of some inflammatory cytokines in kidney and/or serum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Assessment of morbidity, mortality, inflammatory markers, and renal titers after spontaneous ingestion of ginseng by susceptible hosts represents a comprehensive approach to characterizations of therapeutic efficacy against infectious agents. Our findings extend previous reports of the efficacy of ginseng against Candida albicans by demonstrating significant reductions in infectious load and some markers of inflammation in susceptible mice. Our data therefore support further assessment of the immune-modulatory properties of this widely consumed herb and its components.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL 62794, United States.
authors.forename: Rita A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Trammell
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pikora
authors.forename: Laura L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Linda A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Toth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000172:deficiency; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D005894:Panax; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D010936:Plant Extracts; D003165:Complement System Proteins