title: Ethanol extraction preparation of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L) and Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer): differential effects on postprandial insulinemia in healthy individuals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ginsenosides are the proposed bioactive constituent of ginseng, especially for the attenuation of postprandial glycemia (PPG). The efficacious proportion of total and specific ginsenosides, remains unknown. Alcohol extraction of whole ginseng root can be used to selectively manipulate the ginsenoside profile with increasing alcohol concentrations producing high yields of total ginsenosides and varying their individual proportions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to compare the acute efficacy of different ethanol-extraction preparations of American ginseng (AG) and Korean red ginseng (KRG), with their whole-root origins, on PPG and insulin parameters in healthy adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following an overnight fast, 13 healthy individuals (Gender: 5M:8F, with mean ± SD, age: 28.9 ± 9.2 years, BMI: 26.3 ± 2.7 kg/m(2) and fasting plasma glucose: 4.21 ± 0.04 mmol/L) randomly received 3g of each of the following 10 different ginseng treatments on separate visits: whole root KRG and AG; 30%, 50% or 70% ethanol extracts of KRG and AG and 2 cornstarch placebos. Treatments were consumed 40 min prior to a 50 g oral glucose challenge test with capillary blood samples collected at baseline, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 min. Insulin samples were collected at 0, 30, 60 and 120 min.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference in attenuation of PPG among the tested ginseng preparations. Measures of Insulin Sensitivity Index (ISI) showed increased insulin sensitivity (IS) with KRG-30% and AG-50% extracts compared to placebo (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The insulin sensitizing effects of KRG-30% and AG-50% extracts suggest that other root parts, including other ginsenosides not typically measured, may influence PPG and insulin parameters. There is potential for AG and KRG extracts to modulate IS, an independent predictor of type 2 diabetes.
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; Department of Nutritional Sciences and Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S3E2.
authors.forename: Leanne R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: De Souza
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: Alexandra L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Jenkins
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: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jovanovski
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Disease, Dubrava University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rahelić
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; Department of Nutritional Sciences and Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S3E2; Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, St. Michael׳s Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: v.vuksan@utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vuksan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D005894:Panax; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019518:Postprandial Period; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Alcohol extracts; American ginseng; Complimentary alternative medicine; Insulin sensitivity; Korean red ginseng; Postprandial glycemia