The roles of ginseng and ginsenosides for immune regulation: Relation to immunometabolic responses

Ginseng, a traditional medicinal plant with a long history of clinical application has garnered increasing attention due to its broad immunomodulatory properties. Its principal bioactive component ginsenosides regulate diverse immune activity through complex molecular and cellular mechanisms. Despite growing evidence supporting the role of ginseng in modulating innate and adaptive immunity, current studies remain largely focused on individual immune cell types or isolated signaling pathways. A unifying framework that integrates ginseng-mediated immunometabolic regulation with coordinated immune cell interactions is still lacking. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of the immunomodulatory effects of ginseng and its saponins across innate and adaptive immune compartments. We further delineate the underlying mechanisms with a particular emphasis on key signaling pathways and immunometabolic reprogramming. Notably, we propose that ginseng functions as an immunometabolic regulator that bridges innate and adaptive immunity by orchestrating immune cell crosstalk and restoring immune homeostasis. This conceptual framework not only advances current understanding of ginseng-mediated immune regulation but also highlight its potential as a metabolic modulator in immunotherapy for immune-related diseases.