title: Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng) ameliorates type 1 diabetes and restores immune cell compartments.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Historical records reveal that in traditional medicine, a disease similar to diabetes was treated with ginseng. Korean red ginseng has been considered beneficial as a dietary supplement for its anti-diabetic potential.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to investigate the prophylactic potential of Korean red ginseng (KRG) extract (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer Radix Rubra) in a well-established mouse model of Type 1 diabetes (T1D).
  
  
  METHODS
  The prophylactic effect of KRG extract was evaluated in mice fed with KRG extract for two weeks prior to induction of diabetes by streptozotocin (STZ) administration. Glucose levels and glucose challenge test results of KRG-treated diabetic mice were compared to those of untreated diabetic mice and healthy control mice. Examination of the immune compartments in lymphoid organs and immunohistochemical staining of pancreas for islet cell morphology and insulin producing beta cells were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  KRG extract significantly lowered blood glucose levels to an average of 250mg/dl from 350mg/dl and improved glucose challenge testing when applied as prophylaxis. Histological findings indicated that KRG extract protected against STZ-induced destruction of pancreatic tissue and restored insulin secretion. Strikingly, this effect was accompanied by restoration of lymphocytes in secondary lymphoid organs, suggesting that KRG extract facilitated immune homeostasis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first report to demonstrate the prophylactic function of KRG extract in ameliorating the hyperglycemia of T1D. Immune compartments of diabetic mice were found to be preserved in KRG-treated mice suggesting that Korean red ginseng may benefit T1D patients, not only for its hypoglycemic but also for its immunomodulatory effects.
authors.affiliation: Global Research Lab, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Young Joo
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Nayoung
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chung
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hee Sonn
authors.forename: Jung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eun Lee
authors.forename: Sung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tae Kim
authors.forename: In
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ho Baeg
authors.forename: Kyung-Mi
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002460:Cell Line; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D005894:Panax; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts