Ginsenoside

Ginsenosides are a class of steroid-like compounds, triterpene saponins, found exclusively in the plant genus Panax (ginseng). Ginsenosides have been the target of research, as they are viewed as the active compounds behind the claims of ginseng's efficacy. Because ginsenosides appear to affect multiple pathways, their effects are complex and difficult to isolate.

Ginsenosides

Ginsenosides are separated by column chromatography. Ginsenoside content can vary widely depending on species, location of growth, and growing time before harvest.

Rb1

Appears to be most abundant in "Panax quinquefolius" (American Ginseng).

Rb1 seems to affect the reproductive system in animal testicles.

Recent research shows that Rb1 affects rat embryo development [http://www.eshre.com/emc.asp?pageId=450] .

Another study shows that Rb1 may increase testosterone production in male rats indirectly through the stimulation of the luteinizing hormone. Ironically, traditional Chinese medicine asserts that "panax quinquefolius" promotes yin and reduces yang in the body.

It also inhibits chemoinvasion and angiogenesis.

Rb2

Rc

Ginsenoside-Rc is a steroid molecule that can be found in the ginseng plant and is recognized for producing more sedative related results than other ginsenosides, such as ginsenoside-Re or ginsenoside-Rg. The various experiments conducted were able to successfully demonstrate some benefits from this compound. In one particular study on breast cancer and different ginsenosides, it was found that only ginsenoside-Rc was capable of inhibiting the growth of these cancer cells. This suggests that there is a possibility that ginsenoside-Rc may have effects that prevent or limit the development of breast cancer. [http://stinet.dtic.mil/oai/oai?verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA385433]

An experiment was performed on "Caenorhabditis elegans" and their survival in a cholesterol-absent medium with the presence of ginsenoside-Rc. While the lack of cholesterol for "Caenorhabditis elegans" is expected to reduce the lifetime of the worm, results proved otherwise. The consumption of ginsenoside-Rc had elongated the normal life span of the worm. [http://ci.nii.ac.jp/naid/110006473494/en/]

A further study was also able to demonstrate a possible effect of ginsenoside-Rc on the motility of sperm. Data from this experimentation showed a significant increase in motility when the sperm was in a ginsenoside-Rc solution. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0HKP/is_1_29/ai_73711388/pg_1]

Rd

Re

Rf

Present in "Panax ginseng"; not present in "Panax quinquefolius". [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=14705875]

Rg1

Appears to be most abundant in "Panax ginseng" (Chinese/Korean Ginseng).Improves spatial learning and increase hippocampal synaptophysin level in mice, plus estrogen-like activity (which could account for the boosting of "yin" theory)

External links

* [http://www.eshre.com/ecm/main.asp?lan=99&typ=308 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology "Researchers caution over using ginseng in early pregnancy"]
* [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12817698 "Stimulation of the secretion of luteinizing hormone by ginsenoside-Rb1 in male rats"]
* [http://www.hort.cornell.edu/department/faculty/mudge/ginsenosides/Ginsenosides.html Ginsenosides as Quality Indicators in Woods-grown American Ginseng]
* [http://www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/crops/facts/98-067.htm Title: The Effect of Production Practices on the Quality of Ginseng Roots]
* [http://www.kingsu.ab.ca/~hank/HDBMfiles/Ginseng%20lecture/Lecture%20on%20ginseng.htm The King's University College Biology Department]