Effect of Ginseng on Renal Function in Patient with Renal Injury

인삼이 신 질환 환자에서 신 기능에 미치는 영향

There are many mechanisms that mediate progression of renal injury, such as abnormalities of nitric oxide (NO) regulation, increased Platelet aggregatlon, and oxygen free radical injury. Ginseng has been known to have NO dependent vasorelaxant effect and antioxidant effect, also inhibit thrombin stimulated platelet aggregation. And these effects of ginseng may have some roles in prevention of renal injury. So we studied 24 patients with mild pathologic proteinuria and hypertension to evaluate the effect of ginseng on progression of renal injury. After 1 month treatment, creatinine clearance was significantly increased especially in the patient group with normal serum creatinine level without specific side effect. The result of this study suggest that ginseng may pre vent or retard the progression of renal injury especially in early stage.