Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Communication
  • Published:

Variable effects of American ginseng: a batch of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) with a depressed ginsenoside profile does not affect postprandial glycemia

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 57, pages 243–248 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Background: We have repeatedly reported that American ginseng (AG) with a specific ginsenoside profile significantly decreases postprandial glycemia. Whether this effect is reproducible using AG with a different profile is unknown. We therefore investigated the effect of a different batch of AG on glycemia following a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

Methods: Using a randomized, single blind design, 12 normal subjects (six males and six females, aged 31±3 y, body mass index (BMI) 28±2 kg/m2) received 6 g AG or placebo 40 min before a 75 g OGTT. The protocol followed the guidelines for the OGTT, with venous blood samples drawn at −40, 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 min. Ginsenosides in the AG were assessed by established methods for HPLC-UV.

Results: Repeated measures analysis of variance demonstrated that there was no significant effect of the AG on incremental plasma glucose (PG) or insulin (PI) or their areas under the curve Indices of insulin sensitivity (insulin sensitivity index (ISI)) and release (ΔPI30-0/ΔPG30-0) calculated from the OGTT were also unaffected. The AG contained 1.66% total ginsenosides, 0.90% (20S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD) ginsenosides, and 0.75% (20S)-protopanaxatriol (PPT) ginsenosides, with the following key ratios: PPD:PPT of 1.2, Rb1:Rg1 of 8.1, and Rb2:Rc of 0.18.

Conclusion: The present batch of AG was unable to reproduce the postprandial hypoglycemic effects we observed previously. Possible explanations for this discrepancy include marked decrements in total ginsenosides and the key ratios PPD:PPT, Rb1:Rg1, and Rb2:Rc. These data suggest that the ginsenoside profile of AG might play a role in its hypoglycemic effects. The involvement of other components cannot, however, be precluded.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Angell, M & Kassirer, JP (1998). Alternative Medicine—the risks of untested and unregulated remedies. New Engl. J. Med., 339, 839–841.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Attele, AS, Wu, JA & Yuan, CS (1999). Ginseng pharmacology: multiple constituents and multiple actions. Biochem. Pharmacol., 58, 1685–1693.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Awang, DVC (2000). The neglected ginsenosides of North American ginseng (panax quinquefolius L.). J. Herbs Spices Med. Plants, 7, 103–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chan, TWD, But, PPH, Cheng, SW, Kwok, IMY, Lau, FW & Xu, HX (2000). Differentiation and Authentication of Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolius, and Ginseng Products by Using HPLC/MS. Analy. Chem., 72, 1281–1287.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cui, JF (1995). Identification and quantification of ginsenosides in various commercial ginseng preparations. Eur. J. Pharm. Sci., 3, 77–85.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eisenberg, DM, Davis, RB, Ettner, SL, Appel, S, Wilkey, S, Van Rompay, M & Kessler, RC (1998). Trends in Alternative Medicine use in the United States, 190–1997: Results of a Follow-up National Survey. J.A.M.A., 280, 1569–1575.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fitzloff, JF, Yat, P, Lu, ZZ, Awang, DVC, Arnason, JT, van Breeman, RB, Hall, T, Blumethal, M & Fong, HHS (1998). Perspectives on the quality control assurance of ginseng products in North America. In Advances in Ginseng Research: Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Ginseng, H Huh, KJ Choi, YC Kim ed. pp138–145, Seoul: Korean Society of Ginseng

  • Fontanarosa, PB & Lundberg, GD (1998). Alternative medicine meets science. J.A.M.A., 280, 1618–1619.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Han, HJ, Park, SH, Koh, HJ, Nah, SY, Shin, DH & Choi, HS (1999). Protopanaxatriol ginsenosides inhibit glucose uptake in primary cultured rabbit renal proximal tubular cells by arachidonic acid release. Kidney Blood Press Res., 22, 114–120.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harkey, MR, Henderson, GL, Gershwin, ME, Stern, JS & Hackman, RM (2001). Variability in commercial ginseng products: an analysis of 25 preparations. Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 73, 1101–1106.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hasegawa, H, Matsumiya, S, Murakami, C, Kurokawa, T, Kasai, R, Ishibashi, S & Yamasaki, K (1994). Interactions of ginseng extract, ginseng separated fractions, and some triterpenoid saponins with glucose transporters in sheep erythrocytes. Planta Med., 60, 153–157.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hershfield, NB (1998). Herbal medicine: show me the proof!. Can. Med. Assoc. J., 158, 1689–1690.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hong, SJ, Fong, JC & Hwang, JH (2000). Effects of crude drugs on glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Kaohsiung J. Med. Sci., 16, 445–451.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kadish, AH & Hall, DA (1965). A new method for the continuous monitoring of blood glucose by measurement of dissolved oxygen. Clin. Chem., 11, 869–875.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Konno, C, Sugimyama, K, Kano, M & Hikino, H (1984). Isolation and hypoglycemic activity of panaxans A, B, C, D, and E glycans of Panax ginseng roots. Planta Med., 50, 434–436.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Konno, C, Murakami, M, Oshima, Y & Hikino, H (1985). Isolation and hypoglycemic activity of panaxans Q, R, S, T and U, glycans of Panax ginseng roots. J. Ethnopharmac., 14, 69–74.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leiter, LA (2000). Alternative and ‘Alternative’ diabetes therapies. C.J.D.C., 24, 21–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levin, JS, Glass, TA, Kushi, LH, Schuck, JR, Steele, L & Jonas, WB (1997). Quantitative methods in research on complementary and alternative medicine. A methodological manifesto. NIH Office of Alternative Medicine. Med. Care, 35, 1079–1094.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li, TSC, Mazza, G, Cottrell, AC & Gao, L (1996). Ginsenosides in roots and leaves of American ginseng. J. Agric. Food., 44, 717–720.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li, W, Gu, C, Zhang, H, Awang, DV, Fitzloff, JF, Fong, HH & van Breemen, RB (2000). Use of high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to distinguish Panax ginseng CA Meyer (Asian ginseng) and Panax quinquefolius L. (North American ginseng). Anal. Chem., 72, 5417–5422.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liverey, JH, Hodgkinson, SC, Roud, HR & Donald, RA (1980). Effect of time, temperature and freezing on the stability of immunoreactive LH, FSH, TSH, growth hormone, prolactin and insulin in plasma. Clin Biochem, 13, 151–155.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ma, Y, Mai, L, Malley, L & Doucet, M (1996). Distribution and proportion of major ginsenosides and quality control of ginseng products. Chin. J. Med. Chem., 6, 11–21.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matsuda, M & DeFronzo, RA (1999). Insulin sensitivity indices obtained from oral glucose tolerance testing: comparison with the euglycemic insulin clamp. Diabetes Care, 22, 1462–1470.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oppel, L (1998). Evaluating unconventional therapies. Can. Med. Assoc. J., 159, 759

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oshima, Y, Konno, C & Hikino, H (1985). Isolation and hypoglycemic acitivity of panaxans I, J, K, and L, glycans of Panax ginseng roots. J. Ethnopharmac., 14, 255–259.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oshima, Y, Sato, K & Hikino, H (1987). Isolation and hypoglycemic activity of quinquefolans A, B, and C, glycans of Panax quinquefolium roots. J. Nat. Prod., 50, 188–190.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, DI, Clark, PM, Hales, CN & Osmond, C (1995). Understanding oral glucose tolerance: comparison of glucose or insulin measurements during the oral glucose tolerance test with specific measurements of insulin resistance and insulin secretion. Diabetes Med., 12, 931

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sievenpiper, JL, Arnason, JT, Xu, Z, Leiter, LA & Vuksan, V (2001). Differential effects of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) With different compositions on postprandial glycemia. Diabetes Nutr. Metab., 14, 169–170, (abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Vuksan, V, Sieveniper, JL, Koo, VYY, Francis, T, Beljan-Zdravkovic, U, Xu, Z & Vidgen, E (2000a). American ginseng reduces postprandial glycemia in nondiabetic and diabetic individuals. Arch. Intern. Med., 160, 1009–1013.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vuksan, V, Stavro, MP, Sievenpiper, JL, Beljan-Zdravkovic, U, Leiter, LA, Josse, RG & Zheng, Xu (2000b). Similar postprandial glycemic reductions with escalation of dose and administration time of American ginseng in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care, 23, 1221–1226.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vuksan, V, Stavro, MP, Sievenpiper, JL, Koo, VY, Wong, E, Beljan-Zdravkovic, U, Francis, T, Jenkins, AL, Leiter, LA, Josse, RG & Xu, Z (2000c). American ginseng improves glycemia in individuals with normal glucose tolerance: Effect of dose and time escalation. J. Am. Coll. Nutr., 19, 738–744.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vuksan, V, Sievenpiper, JL & Xu, Z et al (2001a). American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) attenuates postprandial glycemia in a time, but not dose, dependent manner in healthy individuals. Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 73, 753–758.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vuksan, V, Sievenpiper, JL, Xu, Z, Beljan-Zdravkovic, U, Jenkins, AL, Arnason, JT, Bateman, R, Leiter, LA, Josse, RG, Francis, T & Stavro, MP (2001b). Ginseng and diabetes: A new way to use an old medicine. C.J.D.C., 25, (Suppl 2) 111 120

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, X, Sakuma, T, Asafu-Adjaye, E & Shiu, GK (1999). Determination of ginsenosides in plant extracts from Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolius L. by LC/MS/MS. Anal. Chem., 71, 1579–1584.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • WHO Study Group (1994). Prevention of diabetes mellitus, WHO Technical Report series no. 844 Geneva: WHO

  • Wolever, TMS, Jenkins, DJA, Jenkins, AL & Josse, RG (1991). The glycemic index: methodology and clinical implications. Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 54, 846–854.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yamamoto, A (2001). Improvement of transmucosal absorption of biologically active peptide drugs. Yakugaku Zasshi, 121, 929–948.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yokozawa, T, Kobayashi, T, Kawai, A, Oura, H & Kawashima, Y (1984). Stimulation of lipid and sugar metabolism in ginsenoside-Rb2 treated rats. Chem. Pharm. Bull., 32, 2766–2772.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yokozawa, T, Kobayashi, T, Oura, H & Kawashima, Y (1985). Studies on the mechanism of the hypoglycemic activity of ginsenoside-Rb2 in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Chem. Pharm. Bull., 33, 869–872.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank MuscleTech Research and Development Incorporated, Mississauga, for generously providing the main funding for this study. We also thank Chai-Na-Ta Corp., Langley, BC for providing the AG and placebo capsules. This work was presented as a poster at the 19th International Symposium on Diabetes and Nutrition, Diabetes and Nutrition Study Group (DNSG) of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Dusseldorf, Germany 28 June–1 July, 2001 (Sievenpiper et al, 2001). JLS was in receipt of an Ontario Graduate Scholarship during the conduct of this work.

VV has received research and travel funding from Chai-Na-Ta Corp., Langley, BC and MuscleTech Research and Development Incorporated.

Author information

Author notes

  1. V Vuksan: Guarantor: V Vuksan.

  2. J L Sievenpiper, J T Arnason, L A Leiter and V Vuksan: Contributors: JLS was the Phd student assigned to the project. He wrote the grant, participated in the design, coordinated testing and laboratory analyses, performed the statistical analyses, and wrote the paper. JTA performed and provided interpretation of the ginsenoside analyses and revised intellectual content. LAL was a co-supervisor of the project. He participated in the design and planning of the study, supervised the patients medically, and revised intellectual content. VV was the senior supervisor and principal investigator of the project. He supervised all aspects of the research directly and provided final input into design, analyses, interpretation, and revision of intellectual content.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario

    J L Sievenpiper, L A Leiter & V Vuksan

  2. Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Centre, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada

    J L Sievenpiper, L A Leiter & V Vuksan

  3. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada

    J T Arnason

Authors
  1. J L Sievenpiper
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J T Arnason
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. L A Leiter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. V Vuksan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to V Vuksan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sievenpiper, J., Arnason, J., Leiter, L. et al. Variable effects of American ginseng: a batch of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) with a depressed ginsenoside profile does not affect postprandial glycemia. Eur J Clin Nutr 57, 243–248 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601550

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601550

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links