Journal of Ginseng Research

The Korean Society of Ginseng (고려인삼학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

The Efficacy of Ginseng on the Cognitive Function

  • Heo, Jae-Hyeok (Department of Neurology, Seoul Medical Center) ;
  • Kim, Man-Ho (Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital)
  • Published : 2009.09.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Ginseng is one of the most popular herbs throughout the world. Ginsenosides, the active constituent of ginseng, have been suggested to have diverse effects on cardiovascular, immune, mood and endocrine systems as well as cognitive performance. Many studies have revealed the beneficial effect of ginseng on cognition in normal human subjects and in animals. Recently, a few studies showing effects of ginseng on the patients with Alzheimer's disease have been reported. However, the underlying mechanism is not clear at this stage and it is still obscure whether ginseng is cognitive stimulant or disease modifying agent. More detailed studies exploring the relationship between clinical efficacy and pathophysiology are required.

Keywords

References

  1. Ferri CP, Prince M, brayne, C, Brodaty H, Fratiglioni L, Ganguli M, Hal K, Hasegawa K, Hendrie H, Huang Y, Jorm A, Mathers C, Menezes PR, Rimmer E, Scazufca M. Alzheimer's Disease International.: Global prevalence of dementia: a Delphi consensus study. Lancet 366: 2112-2117 (2005) https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(05)67889-0
  2. Lian XY, Zhang Z, Stringer JL. Protective effects of ginseng components in a rodent model of neurodegeneration. Ann Neurol. 57: 642-648 (2005) https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.20450
  3. Attele AS, Wu JA, Yuan CS. Ginseng pharmacology: multiple constituents and multiple actions. Biochem Pharmacol. 58: 1685-1693 (1999) https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-2952(99)00212-9
  4. Tachikawa E, Kudo K, Harada K, Kashimoto T, Miyate Y, Kakizaki A, Takahashi E. Effects of ginseng saponins on responses induced by various receptor stimuli. Eur J Pharmacol. 369: 23-32 (1999) https://doi.org/10.1016/S0014-2999(99)00043-6
  5. Cheng Y, Shen LH, Zhang JT. Anti-amnestic and anti-aging effects of ginsenoside Rg1 and Rb1 and its mechanism of action. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 26: 43-49 (2005)
  6. Zhang JT, Liu Y, Qu ZW, Zhang XL, Xiao HL. Influence of ginsenoside Rb1 and Rg1 on some central neurotransmitter receptors and protein biosynthesis in mouse brain. Acta Pharm Sin. 23: 12-16 (1988)
  7. Liu M, Zhang JT. Influence of ginsenoside Rb1 and Rg1 on some central neurotransmitter receptors and protein biosynthesis in mouse brain. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 17: 171-174 (1996)
  8. Chen XC, Chen Y, Zhu YG, Fang F, Chen LM. Protective effect of ginsenoside Rg1 against MPTP-induced apoptosis in mouse substantia nigra neurons. Acta Pharamcol Sin. 23: 829-834 (2002)
  9. Ying Y, Zhang JT, Shi CZ, Qu ZW, Liu Y. Study on the nootropic mechanism of gnsenoside Rb1 and Rg1 influence on mouse brain development. Acta Pharm Sin. 29: 241-245 (1994)
  10. Shen LH, Zhang JT. Ginsenoside Rg1 promotes proliferation of hippocampal progenitor cells. Neurol Res. 26: 422-428 (2004) https://doi.org/10.1179/016164104225016047
  11. Kim HJ, Woo DS, Lee G, Kim JJ. The relaxation effects of ginseng saponin in rabbit corporal smooth muscle: is it a nitric oxide donor? Br J Urol. 82: 744-748 (1998)
  12. Liao B, Newmark H, Zhou R. Neuroprotective effects of ginseng total saponin and ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg1 on spinal cord neurons in vitro. Exp Neurol. 173: 224-234 (2002) https://doi.org/10.1006/exnr.2001.7841
  13. Huong NT, Matsumoto K, watanabe H. The antistress effect of majonoside-R2, a major saponin component of Vietanamese ginseng: neuronal mechanisms of action. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharrmacol. 20: 65-76 (1998) https://doi.org/10.1358/mf.1998.20.1.485634
  14. Liu M, Zhang JT. Protective effects of ginsenoside Rb1 and Rg1 on cultured hippocampal neurons. Acta Pharm Sin. 30: 674 (1995)
  15. Tohda C, Matsumoto N, Zou K, Meselhy MR, Komatsu K. A$\beta$(25-35)-induced memory impairment, axonal atrophy, and synaptic loss are ameliorated by M1, a metabolite of protopananxadiol-type saponins. Neuropsychopharmacol. 29: 860-868 (2004) https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.npp.1300388
  16. Kurimoto H, Nishijo H, Uwano T, Yamaguchi H, Zhong YM, Kawanishi K, Ono T. Effects of nonsaponin fraction of red ginseng on learning deficits in aged rats. Physiol Behav. 82: 345-355 (2004) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2004.04.001
  17. Bao HY, Zhang J, Yeo SJ, Myung CS, Kim HM, Kim JM, Park JH, Cho J, Kang JS. Memory enhancing and neuroprotective effects of selected ginsenosides. Arch Pharm Res. 28: 335-342 (2005) https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02977802
  18. Kim S, Ahn K, Oh TH, Nah SY, Rhim H. Inhibitory effects of ginsenosides on NMDA receptor-mediated signals in rat hippocampal neurons. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 296: 247-254 (2002) https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-291X(02)00870-7
  19. Wang LC, Wang B, Ng SY, Lee TF. Effects of ginsengsaponins on beta-amyloid-induced amnesia in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 103: 103-108 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2005.07.010
  20. Chen F, Eckman EA, Eckman CB. Reductions in levels of the Alzheimer's amyloid beta peptide after oral administration of ginsenosides. FASEB J. 20: 1269-1271 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.05-5530fje
  21. D'Angelo L, Grimaldi R, Caravaggi M, Marcoli M, Perucca E, Lecchini S, Frigo GM, Crema A. A double-blind, placebo- controlled clinical study on the effect of a standardized ginseng extract on psychomotor performance in healthy volunteers. J Ethnopharmacol. 16: 15-22 (1986)
  22. Sorensen H, sonne J. A double masked study of the effects of ginseng on cognitive functions. Curr Ther Res. 57: 959-968 (1996) https://doi.org/10.1016/S0011-393X(96)80114-7
  23. Reay JL, Kennedy DO, Scholey AB. Effects of Panax ginseng, consumed with and without glucose, on blood glucose levels and cognitive performance during sustained 'mentally demanding' tasks. J Psychopharmacol. 20: 771-781 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881106061516
  24. Lee ST, Chu K, Sim JY, Heo JH, Kim M. Panax ginseng enhances cognitive performance in Alzhimer Disease. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 22: 222-226 (2008) https://doi.org/10.1097/WAD.0b013e31816c92e6
  25. Heo JH, Lee ST, Chu K, Oh MJ, Park HJ, Shim JY, Kim M. An open-label trial of Korean red ginseng as an adjuvant treatment for cognitive impairment in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Eur J Neurol. 15: 865-868 (2008) https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-1331.2008.02157.x
  26. Schenk D, barbour R, Dunn W, Gordon G, Grajeda H, Guido T, Hu K, Huang J, Johnson-Wood K, Khan K, Kholodenko D, Lee M, Liao Z, Leiberburg I, Motter R, Mutter L, Soriano F, Shopp G, Vasquez N, Vandevert C, Walker S, Wogulis M, Yednock T, Games D, Seubert P. Immunization with amyloid- beta attenuates Alzheimer-disease-like pathology in the PDAPP mouse. Nature 400: 173-177 (1999) https://doi.org/10.1038/22124
  27. Akhondzadeh S, Abbasi SH. Herbal medicine in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 21: 113-118 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1177/153331750602100211

Cited by

  1. Effect of Korean Red Ginseng on Cognitive Function and Quantitative EEG in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease: A Preliminary Study vol.22, pp.4, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2015.0265