-
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Apr 2021Dietary supplements with ginseng, or ginseng alone, are widely used for a broad range of conditions, including erectile dysfunction. Ginseng is particularly popular in... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Dietary supplements with ginseng, or ginseng alone, are widely used for a broad range of conditions, including erectile dysfunction. Ginseng is particularly popular in Asian countries. Individual studies assessing its effects are mostly small, of uneven methodological quality and have unclear results.
OBJECTIVES
To assess the effects of ginseng on erectile dysfunction.
SEARCH METHODS
We conducted systematic searches on multiple electronic databases, including CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, AMED, and loco-regional databases of east Asia, from their inceptions to 30 January 2021 without restrictions on language and publication status. Handsearches included conference proceedings.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We included randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials that evaluated the use of any type of ginseng as a treatment for erectile dysfunction compared to placebo or conventional treatment.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two authors independently classified studies and three authors independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias in the included studies. We rated the certainty of evidence according to the GRADE approach.
MAIN RESULTS
We included nine studies with 587 men with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction, aged from 20 to 70 years old. The studies all compared ginseng to placebo. We found only short-term follow-up data (up to 12 weeks). Primary outcomes Ginseng appears to have a trivial effect on erectile dysfunction when compared to placebo based on the Erectile Function Domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-15 instrument (scale: 1 to 30, higher scores imply better function; mean difference [MD] 3.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.79 to 5.25; I² = 0%; 3 studies; low certainty evidence) assuming a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of 4. Ginseng probably also has a trivial effect on erectile function when compared to placebo based on the IIEF-5 instrument (scale: 1 to 25, higher scores imply better function; MD 2.39, 95% CI 0.89 to 3.88; I² = 0%; 3 studies; moderate certainty evidence) assuming a MCID of 5. Ginseng may have little to no effect on adverse events compared to placebo (risk ratio [RR] 1.45, 95% CI 0.69 to 3.03; I² = 0%; 7 studies; low certainty evidence). Based on 86 adverse events per 1000 men in the placebo group, this would correspond to 39 more adverse events per 1000 (95% CI 27 fewer to 174 more). Secondary outcomes Ginseng may improve men's self-reported ability to have intercourse (RR 2.55, 95% CI 1.76 to 3.69; I² = 23%; 6 studies; low certainty evidence). Based on 207 per 1000 men self-reporting the ability to have intercourse in the placebo group, this would correspond to 321 more men (95% CI 158 more to 558 more) per 1000 self-reporting the ability to have intercourse. Ginseng may have a trivial effect on men's satisfaction with intercourse based on the Intercourse Satisfaction Domain of the IIEF-15 (scale: 0 to 15, higher scores imply greater satisfaction; MD 1.19, 95% CI 0.41 to 1.97; I²=0%; 3 studies; low certainty evidence) based on a MCID of 25% improvement from baseline. It may also have a trivial effect on men's satisfaction with intercourse based on item 5 of the IIEF-5 (scale: 0 to 5, higher scores imply more satisfaction; MD 0.60, 95% CI 0.02 to 1.18; 1 study; low certainty evidence) based on a MCID of 25% improvement from baseline. No study reported quality of life as an outcome. We found no trial evidence to inform comparisons to other treatments for erectile dysfunction, such as phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors. We were unable to conduct any predefined subgroup analyses.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Based on mostly low certainty evidence, ginseng may only have trivial effects on erectile function or satisfaction with intercourse compared to placebo when assessed using validated instruments. Ginseng may improve men's self-reported ability to have intercourse. It may have little to no effect on adverse events. We found no trial evidence comparing ginseng to other agents with a more established role in treating erectile dysfunction, such as phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Coitus; Confidence Intervals; Erectile Dysfunction; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Panax; Patient Satisfaction; Phytotherapy; Placebos; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Young Adult
PubMed: 33871063
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD012654.pub2 -
Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine Jun 2021: Viral respiratory tract infections (RTIs) have been recognized as a global public health burden. Despite current theories about their effectiveness, the true benefits...
: Viral respiratory tract infections (RTIs) have been recognized as a global public health burden. Despite current theories about their effectiveness, the true benefits of dietary supplements on the prevention and treatment of viral RTIs remain elusive, due to contradictory reports. Hence, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of dietary supplements on the prevention and treatment of viral RTIs.: We systematically searched databases of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar through 4 March 2020, to identify randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effects of consuming selected dietary supplements on the prevention or treatment of viral RTIs.: Thirty-nine randomized controlled trials (n = 16,797 participants) were eligible and included. Namely, vitamin D supplementation appeared to improve viral RTIs across cohorts particulate in those with vitamin D deficiency. Among the evaluated dietary supplements, specific strains were used most commonly with selected prebiotics that showed potentially positive effects on the prevention and treatment of viral RTIs. Further, ginseng extract supplementation may effectively prevent viral RTIs as adjuvant therapy. However, longitudinal research is required to confirm these observations and address the optimal dose, duration, and safety of dietary supplements being publicly recommended.
Topics: COVID-19; Dietary Supplements; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Humans; Lactobacillus; Panax; Quercetin; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Respiratory Tract Infections; SARS-CoV-2; Virus Diseases; Vitamin D; Vitamin D Deficiency; beta-Glucans
PubMed: 33858268
DOI: 10.1080/17476348.2021.1918546 -
Current Molecular Pharmacology 2022As one of the effective pharmacological constituents of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, ginsenoside Rh2 (Rh2) exerts a remarkable anticancer effect on various cancer cell...
BACKGROUND
As one of the effective pharmacological constituents of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, ginsenoside Rh2 (Rh2) exerts a remarkable anticancer effect on various cancer cell lines in vitro and strongly inhibits tumor growth in vivo without severe toxicity.
OBJECTIVE
This article reviewed existing evidence supporting the anticancer effects of Rh2 to classify and conclude previous and current knowledge on the mechanisms and therapeutic effects of Rh2, as well as to promote the clinical application of this natural product.
CONCLUSION
This article reviewed the anticancer efficacies and mechanisms of Rh2, including the induction of cell cycle arrest and programmed cell death, repression of metastasis, alleviation of drug resistance, and regulation of the immune system. Finally, this paper discussed the research and application prospects of Rh2.
Topics: Apoptosis; Cell Cycle Checkpoints; Ginsenosides; Panax
PubMed: 33687905
DOI: 10.2174/1874467214666210309115105 -
Phytotherapy Research : PTR Jul 2021Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease affecting the central nervous system, with no curative medicine available. The use of herbal drugs and dietary... (Review)
Review
A systematic review of possible interactions for herbal medicines and dietary supplements used concomitantly with disease-modifying or symptom-alleviating multiple sclerosis drugs.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease affecting the central nervous system, with no curative medicine available. The use of herbal drugs and dietary supplements is increasing among people with MS (PwMS), raising a need for knowledge about potential interactions between conventional MS medicine and herbal drugs/dietary supplements. This systematic review provides information about the safety of simultaneous use of conventional MS-drugs and herbal drugs frequently used by PwMS. The study included 14 selected disease-modifying treatments and drugs frequently used for symptom-alleviation. A total of 129 published papers found via PubMed and Web of Science were reviewed according to defined inclusion- and exclusion criteria. Findings suggested that daily recommended doses of Panax ginseng and Ginkgo biloba should not be exceeded, and herbal preparations differing from standardized products should be avoided, especially when combined with anticoagulants or substrates of certain cytochrome P450 isoforms. Further studies are required regarding ginseng's ability to increase aspirin bioavailability. Combinations between chronic cannabis use and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs should be carefully monitored, whereas no significant evidence for drug-interactions between conventional MS-drugs and ginger, cranberry, vitamin D, fatty acids, turmeric, probiotics or glucosamine was found.
Topics: Dietary Supplements; Ginkgo biloba; Herb-Drug Interactions; Humans; Multiple Sclerosis; Panax; Plants, Medicinal
PubMed: 33624893
DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7050 -
Journal of Ethnopharmacology Mar 2021Immunomodulation has become a crucial modality for cancer treatment. Chinese Herbal Medicines (CHMs) are expected as adjuvant therapy for immunomodulation against...
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
Immunomodulation has become a crucial modality for cancer treatment. Chinese Herbal Medicines (CHMs) are expected as adjuvant therapy for immunomodulation against cancer, but face the key challenge of poor scientific evidence. Changes of natural killer (NK) cells on numbers and/or cytotoxicity are a novel respect to evaluate the immunomodulation of CHMs.
AIM OF THE STUDY
The purpose of this review is to investigate the immunomodulation of Chinese Herbal Medicines (CHMs) on NK cell populations for cancer therapy.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A systematic review was conducted and outside mainstream electronic databases were screened for potential reference articles. This review tried to report and critically analyzed all the correlative studies, especially these clinical trials (3 CHM extracts and 11 CHM formulas).
RESULTS
Evidence-based functions of CHMs against cancer could be summarized as: (1) enhancement of NK cells activity or relative percentage; (2) prevention of tumor growth and metastasis; (3) relief on side-effects or complications of therapeutic strategies (i.e. chemotherapy, radiotherapy and resection). Briefly, most of cellular studies and two thirds animal studies were based on the extract or components of single herbs, whilst most of clinical trials were keen on formula or prescription of CHMs. The main components of CHMs were demonstrated active on promoting the cytotoxicity of NK cells, including Angelica sinensis, Ganoderma lucidum, Panax ginseng, Radix Astragali, Lentinus edodes, etc. CONCLUSIONS: This comprehensive review demonstrated NK cells activity was positively associated with quality of life but not survival benefit of cancer patients. Thus exploring the roles of NK cells in adjuvant therapy against cancer is confirmed to be beneficial to explore the underlying relationship between immunomodulation and quality of life.
Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Humans; Immunomodulation; Killer Cells, Natural; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Neoplasms
PubMed: 33157222
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113561 -
Journal of Ethnopharmacology Mar 2021Fufang Xueshuantong Capsule (FXC) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula composed of four herbs including Panax notoginseng, Astragalus membranaceus, Salvia...
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
Fufang Xueshuantong Capsule (FXC) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula composed of four herbs including Panax notoginseng, Astragalus membranaceus, Salvia miltiorrhiza, and Scrophularia ningpoensis. Long-term and extensive clinical applications have confirmed that FXC could exert significant effects on fundus, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular occlusive diseases.
AIM OF THE REVIEW
To systematically analyze and summarize the existing researches involving quality and efficacy re-evaluation of FXC, point out the typical problems, and further propose some opinions to contribute to future study.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Literatures concerning FXC were collected from online scientific databases including China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, Springer Link up to June 2020. All eligible studies are analyzed and summarized in this review.
RESULTS
This review outlines the chemical profiles, quality control, pharmacokinetic and pharmacological properties of FXC based on reported results. Some problems are pointed out for FXC: the quality control needs further improvement, the pharmacokinetic properties have not been comprehensively investigated, and in-depth and systematic mechanism researches are scarce. Hereon we propose several directions for future study: (a) establishment of feasible HPLC or LC-MS based quantitative methods for simultaneous determination of multiple components to monitor the overall quality; (b) pharmacokinetic studies concerning humans, drug-drug interactions, and correlation with pharmacodynamics; (c) pharmacological mechanism researches integrating multi-omics technologies (gut microbiome, metabolomics, etc.).
CONCLUSIONS
This review highlights the researches on quality and efficacy re-evaluation of FXC, and points out some typical problems. Further in-depth studies should focus on the promotion of quality control, pharmacokinetic properties, and pharmacological mechanism.
Topics: Animals; Drug Contamination; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Humans; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Phytochemicals; Phytotherapy; Quality Control
PubMed: 33068651
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113472 -
Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and... 2020Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by hyperglycemia. Proteins in plant sources that enable the maintenance of the glycemic profile may be of interest in... (Review)
Review
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by hyperglycemia. Proteins in plant sources that enable the maintenance of the glycemic profile may be of interest in the context of T2DM. However, their mechanisms of action are unclear, unlike other bioactive compounds. This systematic review identified and described the mechanisms of action of isolated and purified proteins and peptides extracted from vegetables on the reduction of blood glucose in T2DM in experimental studies. The research was done in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase and Virtual Health Library (VHL) databases in March 2019. The initial search retrieved 916 articles, and, after reading the title, abstract and keywords, 24 articles were eligible for full reading. Then, five articles were eligible to build this systematic review. The evaluation of the evidence and the strength of the recommendations of the studies was evaluated with the SYstematic Review Center for Laboratory animal Experimentation - SYRCLE. Studies with proteins or peptides extracted from soybean (), corn (), peas (), costus () and ginseng () were found, and all of them decreased glycemia but not by the same mechanisms. The mechanism of action of proteins extracted from were similar, acting in the insulin-mediated pathways. The peptide derived from increased GLP-1 expression, and the peptide from reduced NF-kB signaling, both resulting in stimulating the release of insulin. Therefore, bioactive proteins and peptides of plant sources act through biochemical pathways, in the modulation of insulin resistance and the hyperglycemic state. These compounds are promising in scientific research on T2DM, because there is a probable similarity of these proteins with insulin, which enables them to act as insulin-like molecules.
PubMed: 33061503
DOI: 10.2147/DMSO.S256883 -
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy =... Dec 2020Panax Ginseng has been widely used in Asian for thousand years. In order to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ginseng, more and more ginseng clinical trials (GCTs)...
Panax Ginseng has been widely used in Asian for thousand years. In order to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ginseng, more and more ginseng clinical trials (GCTs) have been conducted recently. However, there is a lack of an extensive review summarizing the current status for the quality and quantity of ginseng clinical researches until now. Therefore, clinical trials for ginseng were retrieved from International Clinical Trials Registration Platform and collected through the system retrieval method of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses in PubMed, the Web of Science, the Korean Studies Information Service System, and SCOPUS database. We summarized the clinical characteristics of 152 registered ginseng clinical trials (R-GCTs) and119 published ginseng clinical trials (P-GCTs), such as source register, recruitment status, primary purpose, duration, sample size, conditions, and outcomes. Among them, ginseng has mainly been studied in clinical trials in the single-center and less than 200 subjects. In the most GCTs, healthy subjects and patients with various conditions, such as cardiovascular and metabolic diseases are administrated with ginseng, ginsenosides or the prescriptions containing ginseng for less than 3 months to investigate the protective and therapeutic functions of ginseng. 95 (79.8 %) published articles showed that ginseng has plenty of positive effects. This review could assist the basic researchers and clinical doctors to understand current status and problem of ginseng clinical research, and perhaps could benefit for the reasonable and accurate design of future clinical studies.
Topics: Animals; Clinical Trials as Topic; Ginsenosides; Humans; Panax; Plant Preparations
PubMed: 33059260
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110832 -
Complementary Therapies in Medicine Aug 2020The aim of the review was to assess whether ginseng can be a useful supplementation for seasonal acute upper respiratory infections (SAURIs). (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
The aim of the review was to assess whether ginseng can be a useful supplementation for seasonal acute upper respiratory infections (SAURIs).
METHODS
All clinical studies investigating ginseng efficacy for the treatment or prevention of SAURIs were included in the review. Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar were systematically screened for relevant articles up to May 26th, 2020. The risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane tool (RoB 2).
RESULTS
Nine articles (describing ten trials about P. ginseng or P. quinquefolius) were included in the review. Evidence globally indicated some useful activity of intervention when administered in adjunct to influenza vaccination. The results of our quantitative synthesis suggested a significant effect on SAURIs incidence (RR = 0.69 [95 % C.I. 0.52 to 0.90], p < 0.05), as well as a significant reduction of their duration if only studies with healthy individuals were included in the analysis (MD=-3.11 [95 % C.I.-5.81 to -0.40], p < 0.05). However, the risk of bias was high-to-unclear for most included trials, and publication bias couldn't be excluded.
DISCUSSION
Limitations of existing evidence don't allow to draw conclusions on the topic. Nevertheless, it is not excluded that ginseng supplementation in adjunct to influenza vaccination and standard care might be useful for SAURIs prevention and management in healthy adult subjects, but further high-quality trials are needed to support this hypothesis.
OTHER
This research was not funded. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO under the following code: CRD42020156235.
Topics: Humans; Panax; Plant Extracts; Respiratory Tract Infections; Seasons
PubMed: 32951718
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102457 -
The American Journal of Chinese Medicine 2020is the most widely used Chinese medicinal herb for the prevention and treatment of ischemic diseases. Its main active ingredients are saponins, including ginsenoside...
is the most widely used Chinese medicinal herb for the prevention and treatment of ischemic diseases. Its main active ingredients are saponins, including ginsenoside Rb1, ginsenoside Rg1, and notoginsenoside R1, among others. This review provides an up-to-date overview on the pharmacological roles of constituents in cerebral ischemia. The saponins of induce a variety of pharmacological effects in the multiscale mechanisms of cerebral ischemic pathophysiology, including anti-inflammatory activity, reduction of oxidative stress, anti-apoptosis, inhibition of amino acid excitotoxicity, reduction of intracellular calcium overload, protection of mitochondria, repairing the blood-brain barrier, and facilitation of cell regeneration. Regarding cell regeneration, not only promotes the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells, but also protects neurons, endothelial cells and astrocytes in cerebral ischemia. In conclusion, may treat cerebrovascular diseases through multiple pharmacological effects, and the most critical ones need further investigation.
Topics: Amino Acids; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antioxidants; Apoptosis; Blood-Brain Barrier; Brain Ischemia; Calcium; Cell Self Renewal; Free Radical Scavengers; Ginsenosides; Humans; Neuroprotective Agents; Oxidative Stress; Panax notoginseng; Phytotherapy; Saponins
PubMed: 32907361
DOI: 10.1142/S0192415X20500652