Complementary Medicine

Asian Journal of Andrology (2007) 9, 241–244; doi:10.1111/j.1745-7262.2007.00210.x

Study of the efficacy of Korean Red Ginseng in the treatment of erectile dysfunction

Enrico de Andrade1, Alexandre A de Mesquita1, Joaquim de Almeida Claro2, Priscila M de Andrade1, Valdemar Ortiz2, Mário Paranhos1 and Miguel Srougi1

  1. 1Sector of Sexual Medicine, Division of Urological Clinic of São Paulo University, São Paulo, Brazil
  2. 2Discipline of Urology, São Paulo Federal University, São Paulo, Brazil

Correspondence: Dr Enrico de Andrade, Sector of Sexual Medicine, Division of Urological Clinic of São Paulo University, São Paulo, Brazil. Fax: +55-11-6197-0317. E-mail: enricoandrade@uol.com.br

Received 13 January 2006; Accepted 20 January 2006.

Top

Abstract

Aim:

 

To examine the treatment efficacy of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) in impotent men with erectile dysfunction (ED).

Methods:

 

A total of 60 patients presenting mild or mild to moderate ED were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in which the efficacies of KRG and a placebo were compared. The patients received either 1 000 mg (3 times daily) of KRG or a placebo.

Results:

 

The five-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) score after the treatment was significantly higher in the KRG group compared with that before the treatment (from 16.4 plusminus 2.9 to 21.0 plusminus 6.3, P < 0.0001). In contrast, there was no difference before and after the treatment in the placebo group (from 17.0 plusminus 3.1 to 17.7 plusminus 5.6, P > 0.05). In the KRG group, 20 patients (66.6%), reported improved erection, significant in the global efficacy question (P < 0.01); in the placebo group there was no significance. Scores on questions 2 (rigidity), 3 (penetration), 4 and 5 (maintenance), were significantly higher for KRG than those for the placebo when those questions were answered after 12 weeks of each treatment (P < 0.01). When the score in the KRG group was compared to the placebo group after the treatment, there was a significant improvement in total score (IIEF-5 score) in questions 3 and 5 for the KRG-treated group (P < 0.001 and P < 0.0001, respectively). The levels of serum testosterone, prolactine and cholesterol after the treatment were not statistically significant different between the KRG and the placebo group (P > 0.05).

Conclusion:

 

Our data show that KRG can be an effective alternative to the invasive approaches for treating male ED.

Keywords:

penis, impotence, ginseng, penile erection

Top

References

  1. Yakubu MT, Akanji MA, Oladiji AT. Aphrodisiac potentials of the aqueous extract of Fadogia agrestis (Schweinf. Ex Hiern) stem in male albino rats. Asian J Androl 2005; 7: 399–404. | Article | PubMed | ChemPort |
  2. Ilayperuma I, Ratnasooriya WD, Weerasooriya TR. Effect of Withania somnifera root extract on the sexual behaviour of male rats. Asian J Androl 2002: 4: 295–8. | PubMed | ChemPort |
  3. Hong B, Ji YH, Hong JH, Nam KY, Ahn TY. A double-blind crossover study evaluating the efficacy of Korean red ginseng in patients with erectile dysfunction: a preliminary report. J Urol 2002; 168: 2070–3. | Article | PubMed | ChemPort |
  4. Ahn TY, Park HS, Kim KS, Park T. Effect of ginseng on relaxation of penile corpus cavernosal smooth muscle in rabbits. J Urol 1996; 155 (Suppl): 1228.
  5. Attele AS, Wu JA, Yuan CS. Ginseng pharmacology: multiple constituents and multiple actions. Biochem Pharmacol 1999; 58: 1685–93. | Article | PubMed | ISI | ChemPort |
  6. Ryu JK, Lee T, Kim DJ, Park IS, Yoon SM, Lee HS, et al. Free radical-scavenging activity of Korean red ginseng for erectile dysfunction in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus rats. Urology 2005; 65: 611–5. | Article | PubMed |
  7. McKay D. Nutrients and botanicals for erectile dysfunction: examining the evidence. Altern Med Rev 2004; 9: 4–16. | PubMed |
  8. Adimoelja A. Phytochemicals and the breakthrough of traditional herbs in the management of sexual dysfunctions. Int J Androl 2000; 23 (Suppl) 2: 82–4. | Article |
  9. Bakircioglu ME, Hsu K, El-Sakka A, Sievert KD, Lin CS, Lue TF. Effect of a Chinese herbal medicine mixture on a rat model of hypercholesterolemic erectile dysfunction. J Urol 2000; 164: 1798–801. | Article | PubMed | ChemPort |
  10. Mahady GB, Gyllenhaal C, Fong HH, Farnsworth NR. Ginsengs: a review of safety and efficacy. Nutr Clin Care 2000; 3: 90–101. | Article |
  11. Tachikawa E, Kudo K, Harada K, Kashimoto T, Miyate Y, Kakizaki A, et al. Effects of ginseng saponins on responses induced by various receptor stimuli. Eur J Pharmacol 1999; 369: 23–32. | Article | PubMed | ChemPort |
  12. O'Hara M, Kiefer D, Farrell K, Kemper K. A review of 12 commonly used medicinal herbs. Arch Fam Med 1998; 7: 523–36. | Article | PubMed | ChemPort |
  13. Choi HK, Seong DH, Rha KH. Clinical efficacy of Korean red ginseng for erectile dysfunction. Int J Impot Res 1995; 7: 181–6. | PubMed | ChemPort |
  14. D'Angelo L, Grimaldi R, Caravaggi M, Marcoli M, Perucca E, Lecchini S. A double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study on the effect of a standardized ginseng extract on psychomotor performance in healthy volunteers. J Ethnopharmacol 1986; 16: 15–22. | Article | PubMed | ChemPort |
  15. Saito H, Tsuchiya M, Naka S, Takagi K. Effects of Panax Ginseng root on conditioned avoidance response in rats. Jpn J Pharmacol 1977; 27: 509–16. | Article | PubMed | ChemPort |
  16. Tsang D, Yeung HW, Tso WW, Peck H. Ginseng saponins: influence on neurotransmitter uptake in rat brain synapto-somes. Planta Med 1985; 3: 221–4. | Article | PubMed |
  17. Kimura T, Saunders PA, Kim HS, Rheu HM, Oh KW, Ho IK. Interactions of ginsenosides with ligand-bindings of GABA(A) and GABA(B) receptors. Gen Pharmacol 1994; 25: 193–9. | PubMed | ISI | ChemPort |

Extra navigation

.

naturejobs

More science jobs
Post a job for free

natureproducts


ADVERTISEMENT