[Effects of tissue cultured ginseng on gastric secretion and pepsin activity]

Effects of the tissue cultured and cultivated ginseng on gastric secretion and pepsin activity were investigated. Fifty percent ethanol extracts of both cultured and cultivated ginsengs reduced gastric secretion and acid output in pylorus-ligated rats. They did not affect pepsin activity. The tissue cultured ginseng inhibited histamine and pentagastrin-induced acid secretion in rats, whereas the cultivated ginseng showed no such effect. They also suppressed acid secretion induced by 2-deoxy-D-glucose and baclofen [beta-(p-chlorophenyl)-gamma-aminobutyric acid], which are known to stimulate gastric acid secretion via the central nervous system. However, they had no effect on acid secretion induced by vagal stimulation. These results suggest that both tissue cultured and cultivated ginsengs may have an inhibitory effect on gastric secretion. The effect seems to be due to the inhibition of acid secretion via the central nervous system.