title: Effect of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) on arterial stiffness in subjects with type-2 diabetes and concomitant hypertension.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Substantial pre-clinical and some clinical data are available showing that Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) varieties or its particular ginsenosides exert a vasodilatating effect, thus may modulate vascular function. However, the clinical evidence for American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) is scarce. Therefore, this study evaluates the effect of American ginseng (AG) on arterial stiffness, as measured by augmentation index (AI), and blood pressure (BP), in type 2 diabetes patients with concomitant hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel design, each participant was randomized to either the selected AG extract or placebo at daily dose of 3g for 12 weeks as an adjunct to their usual antihypertensive and anti-diabetic therapy (diet and/or medications). AI and BP were measured by applanation tonometry at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 64 individuals with well-controlled essential hypertension and type 2 diabetes (gender: 22 M:42 F, age:63 ± 9.3 years, BP: 145 ± 10.8/84 ± 8.0 mmHg, HbA1c: 7.0 ± 1.3%, fasting blood glucose (FBG): 8.1 ± 2.3 mmol/L) completed the study. Compared to placebo, 3g of AG significantly lowered radial AI by 5.3% (P=0.041) and systolic BP by 11.7% (P<0.001) at 12 weeks. No effect was observed with diastolic BP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Addition of AG extract to conventional therapy in diabetes with concomitant hypertension improved arterial stiffness and attenuated systolic BP, thus warrants further investigation on long-term endothelial parameters before recommended as an adjunct treatment.
authors: Centre for Applied Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, A. Kovacica 1, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia; Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Disease, Dubrava University Hospital, University of Zagreb, Av. Gojka Suska 6, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: imucalo@pharma.hr.
authors: Iva
authors: I
authors: Mucalo
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Jovanovski
authors: Dario
authors: D
authors: Rahelić
authors: Velimir
authors: V
authors: Božikov
authors: Zeljko
authors: Z
authors: Romić
authors: Vladimir
authors: V
authors: Vuksan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005894:Panax; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018517:Plant Roots; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: ACEi; AG; AI; American ginseng; Arterial stiffness; Augmentation index; BMI; BP; Blood pressure; CAM; CCB; CVD; DBP; FPG; HbA1c; IQOLA SF-36v2; KRG; Korean red ginseng; NO; PPD; PPT; Panax quinquefolius; SBP; Vascular; WHR; angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor; augmentation index; baPWV; blood pressure; body mass index; brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity; calcium channel blocker; cardiovascular disease; complementary and alternative medicine; diastolic blood pressure; fasting plasma glucose; glycated hemoglobin; international quality of life assessment SF-36 Version 2.0; nitric-oxide; protopanaxadiol; protopanaxatriol; systolic blood pressure; waist-to-hip ratio