Ginseng leaf-stem: bioactive constituents and pharmacological functions

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Natural Product Chemistry
• Herbal Medicine

Background:

• Ginseng root is traditionally favored, yet leaf-stem extracts possess comparable active compounds.
• Ginseng leaf-stems are more abundant and less expensive than ginseng roots.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the pharmacological effects of ginseng leaf-stem extracts.
• To assess adverse effects associated with excessive ginseng leaf-stem consumption.
• To compare the therapeutic potential and availability of ginseng leaf-stem versus root.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of pharmacological studies on ginseng leaf-stem.
• Analysis of active ingredients and their concentrations in ginseng leaf-stem extracts.
• Evaluation of reported health benefits and adverse effects.

Main Results:

• Ginseng leaf-stem extract contains abundant active ingredients like ginsenosides and polysaccharides.
• These compounds exhibit significant pharmacological activities, including central nervous, cardiovascular, reproductive, and metabolic system effects.
• Reported benefits include anti-fatigue, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, anti-cancer, antioxidant, and anti-aging properties.

Conclusions:

• Ginseng leaf-stem extracts demonstrate comparable pharmacological activities to ginseng root extracts.
• Leaf-stem offers advantages in terms of cost and availability, suggesting potential for broader therapeutic use.
• Further research is recommended to fully explore and utilize ginseng leaf-stem.