Title: Therapeutic impacts of Indian and Korean ginseng on human beings – a review

Authors: R. Seenivasagam, S. Sathiyamoorthy, K. Hemavathi

Addresses: Division of Drug Discovery and Development, Center of Molecular and Computational Biology, Department of Botany, St. Joseph College, P.B. 27094, 36, Langford Road, Bangalore, Karnataka 560027, India. ' Korean Ginseng Center and Ginseng Genetic Resource Bank, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, 449-701, South Korea. ' Department of Bioinformatics, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA University, Thanjavur-613 401, India

Abstract: Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha or Indian ginseng) is a small woody shrub or herb of the Solanaceae family. Ashwagandha is an herb which can compare favourably to the world|s most renowned herbal tonics such as ginseng (Panax ginseng), astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus) and South American suma (Pfaffia paniculata). All these have been held in high regard for its ability to increase vitality, energy, endurance and stamina. Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) is used in China as a preventative tonic to stimulate the entire body to overcome stress, fatigue and weakness. It contains 13 different ginsenosides. Panaxans help to lower blood sugar, polysaccharides work to enhance the immune system and its antioxidant properties are immune-stimulating to protect the body from disease and stress. It balances the release of stress hormones by supporting the organs that produce them. This article investigates the therapeutic and clinical effects of Indian and Korean ginseng.

Keywords: traditional medicine; cancer; immunology: medicinal plants; ginseng alkaloids; herbal medicine; India; Korea; Withania somnifera; Ashwagandha; Panax ginseng; China; herbal tonics; therapeutic effects; clinical effects.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIS.2011.041727

International Journal of Immunological Studies, 2011 Vol.1 No.3, pp.297 - 317

Published online: 30 Dec 2014 *