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DCA Publikationer Review of recent reported clinical effects of ginseng DJF rapport Havebrug, nr. 32, 2006 Af Tanja B. Bistrup, Kim Brøsen & Karsten Kristiansen, University of Southern Denmark and Martin Jensen & Lars P. Christensen, Research Centre Aarslev  Ginseng has been used as an herbal remedy in Asia for thousands of years and it has been claimed effective in improving several disorders and general health functions including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, immune functions, vitality, sexual function, cognitive and physical performance. But early clinical trials (from before the mid 1990s) aimed to test the efficacy of ginseng used for any of the claimed indications have yielded contradictory results.
The aim of this review was to collect and report the results of more recent clinical trials of ginseng (Panax species). We would like the review to allow identification of any possible interesting results or indications that deserve further investigation in the future. The review indicates that an obvious future research area is the use of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) in the treatment of diabetes. Other possible areas where positive effects could be expected are cancer, lung infections and perhaps hypertension. But further studies are still needed to evaluate the possible clinical effects of ginseng. |