Immunolite
Through thousands of years of use, Panax Ginseng has established itself as one of the most valuable traditional herbal medicines in many countries in Asia. In China, the earliest application of American ginseng can be traced back to over three hundred years ago. However, its traditional use by North American Aboriginal Peoples has a much deeper history than this. Historical documentation of extensive traditional use and contemporary scientific validation demonstrate that both Panax Ginseng and American Ginseng have the following functions: reduces fatigue, anti-oxidation, anti-aging, enhances anti-hypoxic cardiovascular function, modulates and enhances immunity, improves reproductive performance, regulates cholesterol and blood sugar, reduces genetic mutations, prevents DNA damage, etc.
Among these functions, reduction of fatigue is their most extensive traditional application. This indication is important for restoring health and enhancing immunity in people with chronic disease, especially cardiovascular diseases, or those who are physically weak. Modern research specifies that Ginseng Saponins (Ginsenosides) are the principle chemical components responsible for the pharmacological effects of Panax Ginseng and American Ginseng.
Modern Pharmacological Researches
for Ginseng Saponins
Both Panax Ginseng and American Ginseng belong to the family Araliaceae in the Plant Kingdom. Several plants of this family share extensive traditional use, which is largely owed to their varied content of Ginseng Saponins. Panax Ginseng and American Ginseng contain the highest concentrations of Ginseng Saponins. This likely corresponds to their predominant use among herbal medicines. Extensive scientific research has shown that the pharmacological effects of isolated Ginseng Saponins emulate the traditional indications and contemporary use of the herbs themselves. These include:
Immune System Modulating Effects
Enhance the immune system
They increase the cellular division of T and B lymphocyte cells, which are directly and indirectly responsible for cell-mediated immunity. In vivo studies demonstrate that the Ginseng Saponin Rd enhances and restores the normal responsiveness of lymphocytes to Coenzyme A in cases of inhibited immunity. Moreover, saponins have also demonstrated restorative effects on abnormal phagocytic functions of macrophage cells in mice bearing tumors, as well as reductions in the formation of hemolysins and delayed hypersensitivity reactions.
Anti-tumour and Anti-cancer Effect
There are over 1400 articles on Ginseng Saponins on professional websites for healthcare professionals: www.pubmed.com.
CM NEWS: Ginseng Saponins, a new class of anti-tumour and anti-cancer medicine, Rg3, Rh2 according to Chinese Medicine 2007 (Note1)
Anti-cancer and anti-tumour properties of Ginseng Saponins (Korean Academy of Medical Science, Pharmacopedia)
Adaptogenic Effects of Genseng Saponins
Ginseng is an adaptogen. Adaptogens help the body fight the effects of just about any kind of stress, be it viral, bacterial, emotional, or physical. The effects of stress may be as simple as headaches or colds, but they can also be more serious such as accelerated aging, memory loss, heart disease, cancer, and arthritis.
Adaptogens can help handling stress by providing:
Antioxidant activity
Liver protection and antitoxin activity
Improved blood-sugar metabolism
Less craving for alcohol or sugar
Improved immune resistance
Increased energy and stamina
Improved muscle tone
Increased strength
Faster recovery
Better focus and concentration
Less anxiety
Better sleep
Better motivation and productivity
Memory Enhancement
Panax and American Ginseng Saponins improve and enhance memory. In vivo studies have demonstrated that Ginseng Saponins enhance memory impaired by the application of a muscarine-cholinergic receptor-blocking agent. This suggests that Ginseng Saponins have colinergic modulating functions and are useful in improving long-term memory loss caused by cycloheximide. Other experiment findings show that Ginseng Saponins enhance memory by their ability to prevent deterioration of mental functions due to cerebral hypoxia and ischemia.
Regulating Cholesterols Effects
Experimental results demonstrate that Panax and American Ginseng Saponins improve lipoprotein-cholesterol metabolism in rats with hyperlipidemia. These effects may be beneficial for controlling the occurrence and development of arteriosclerosis.
Anti-hypoxic and Anti-fatigue Effects
The survival time of the hypoxic mice fed a decoction of American Ginseng was significantly increased. Furthermore, both Panax and American Ginseng have been shown to improve physical capacity and delay exhaustion by their ability to extend the duration that mice are able to swim.
Protects Against Genetic Mutation
The impact of Ginseng Saponins on DNA damage in the testicle and spleen of mice treated with cyclophosphamide was studied by observing their DNA synthesis. Research results showed that Ginseng Saponins have obvious protective effects in preventing DNA damage.
Antioxidant Effects
Research has shown that the quantities of propionic aldehyde (oxidant) induced by adriamycin (oxidizing agent) in the blood and myocardial tissues of rats are reduced by Panax and American Ginseng Saponins. Furthermore, Panax and American Ginseng Saponins have demonstrated antioxidant effects by protecting the active properties of the super-oxides dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. Other research shows that all saponins have protective effects against damage to myocardial cells caused by free radicals. Scientists have performed further experiments on the antioxidant effects of 11 types specific American Ginseng Saponins. The results show that out of the eleven types of American Ginseng Saponins, eight exhibited antioxidant effects to varying degrees: -Rb1, -Rb2, Rd, -Rc, -Re, Rg1, Rg2 and –Rh1. Among these 8 saponins, -Rb1 and –Rg1 have the most significant effect at reducing free radicals.
Reducing Myocardial Ischemia and Hypoxia Studies with anaesthetized dogs demonstrated that American Ginseng Saponins increases myocardial blood flow, lowers blood flow resistance coronary arteries, and decreases myocardial oxygen consumption. At the same time, American Ginseng Saponins lower blood pressure. Studies with rats exhibiting myocardial damage also demonstrate that American Ginseng Saponins reduce the degree of myocardial necrosis caused by isoprenaline, decrease the levels of blood serum CK and and free fatty acids (FFA), and cause the activity of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) to decline. In conclusion, the anti-ischemic and anti-hypoxic effects on the myocardium by Ginseng Saponins have been highlighted by various scientific literature.
Anti-inflammatory and Anti-allergic Properties
Recent research results show that the Ginseng Saponin Rh1 has anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy properties. In vitro and in vivo studies show that Rh1 effectively inhibits the release of histamine during passive skin allergic reactions induced by IgE. The inhibitory effect by Rh1 is even stronger than the effect of disodium cromoglycate, a standard anti-allergy medication. It is believed that the ability of Rh1 to alleviate allergic reactions is due to its functions in stabilizing cell membranes, and reducing inflammation. The anti-inflammatory property of Rh1 is due to its inhibitory effects the COX-2 enzyme. As a result, the symptoms of inflammation can be alleviated.