title: The Effects of Panax Ginseng on Lipid Profile, Pro-oxidant: Antioxidant Status and High-sensitivity C Reactive Protein Levels in Hyperlipidemic Patients in Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Because of the conflicting results from previous studies regarding the efficacy of ginseng on lipid profile and anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative activities of its components, we aimed to evaluate the effects of Panax ginseng on lipid profile, pro-oxidant - anti-oxidant status and high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty Iranian hyperlipidemic patients were randomly assigned to placebo (n = 20) or control (n = 20) groups in this double-blind randomized controlled trial. The ginseng or placebo was taken two capsules twice a day for 8 weeks. Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), fasting blood glucose, serum creatinine and hs-CRP levels and pro-oxidant - anti-oxidant balance (PAB) were estimated before and after intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to changes in serum TG, LDL-C, HDL-C, and TC/HDL-C levels. Nor were there significant differences between the two groups with respect to changes in hs-CRP level and PAB from baseline to week 8.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study demonstrates that ginseng does not have significant effects on lipid profile, Hs-CRP level and PAB. Further clinical studies, with a larger sample size, more prolonged period of therapy are needed to investigate the therapeutic effects of ginseng.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahdy Hassanzadeh
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Delui
authors.forename: Hedayatollah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fatehi
authors.forename: Morteza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manavifar
authors.forename: Maral
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amini
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghayour-Mobarhan
authors.forename: Mahdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zahedi
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferns
keywords: High sensitivity C reactive protein; Panax ginseng; lipid profile; pro-oxidant – anti-oxidant status