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Variable effects of American ginseng: a batch of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) with a depressed ginsenoside profile does not affect postprandial glycemia

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 57, pages 243–248 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Background: We have repeatedly reported that American ginseng (AG) with a specific ginsenoside profile significantly decreases postprandial glycemia. Whether this effect is reproducible using AG with a different profile is unknown. We therefore investigated the effect of a different batch of AG on glycemia following a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

Methods: Using a randomized, single blind design, 12 normal subjects (six males and six females, aged 31±3 y, body mass index (BMI) 28±2 kg/m2) received 6 g AG or placebo 40 min before a 75 g OGTT. The protocol followed the guidelines for the OGTT, with venous blood samples drawn at −40, 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 min. Ginsenosides in the AG were assessed by established methods for HPLC-UV.

Results: Repeated measures analysis of variance demonstrated that there was no significant effect of the AG on incremental plasma glucose (PG) or insulin (PI) or their areas under the curve Indices of insulin sensitivity (insulin sensitivity index (ISI)) and release (ΔPI30-0/ΔPG30-0) calculated from the OGTT were also unaffected. The AG contained 1.66% total ginsenosides, 0.90% (20S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD) ginsenosides, and 0.75% (20S)-protopanaxatriol (PPT) ginsenosides, with the following key ratios: PPD:PPT of 1.2, Rb1:Rg1 of 8.1, and Rb2:Rc of 0.18.

Conclusion: The present batch of AG was unable to reproduce the postprandial hypoglycemic effects we observed previously. Possible explanations for this discrepancy include marked decrements in total ginsenosides and the key ratios PPD:PPT, Rb1:Rg1, and Rb2:Rc. These data suggest that the ginsenoside profile of AG might play a role in its hypoglycemic effects. The involvement of other components cannot, however, be precluded.

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Acknowledgements

We thank MuscleTech Research and Development Incorporated, Mississauga, for generously providing the main funding for this study. We also thank Chai-Na-Ta Corp., Langley, BC for providing the AG and placebo capsules. This work was presented as a poster at the 19th International Symposium on Diabetes and Nutrition, Diabetes and Nutrition Study Group (DNSG) of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Dusseldorf, Germany 28 June–1 July, 2001 (Sievenpiper et al, 2001). JLS was in receipt of an Ontario Graduate Scholarship during the conduct of this work.

VV has received research and travel funding from Chai-Na-Ta Corp., Langley, BC and MuscleTech Research and Development Incorporated.

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Author notes

  1. V Vuksan: Guarantor: V Vuksan.

  2. J L Sievenpiper, J T Arnason, L A Leiter and V Vuksan: Contributors: JLS was the Phd student assigned to the project. He wrote the grant, participated in the design, coordinated testing and laboratory analyses, performed the statistical analyses, and wrote the paper. JTA performed and provided interpretation of the ginsenoside analyses and revised intellectual content. LAL was a co-supervisor of the project. He participated in the design and planning of the study, supervised the patients medically, and revised intellectual content. VV was the senior supervisor and principal investigator of the project. He supervised all aspects of the research directly and provided final input into design, analyses, interpretation, and revision of intellectual content.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario

    J L Sievenpiper, L A Leiter & V Vuksan

  2. Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Centre, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada

    J L Sievenpiper, L A Leiter & V Vuksan

  3. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada

    J T Arnason

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  1. J L Sievenpiper
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Correspondence to V Vuksan.

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Sievenpiper, J., Arnason, J., Leiter, L. et al. Variable effects of American ginseng: a batch of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) with a depressed ginsenoside profile does not affect postprandial glycemia. Eur J Clin Nutr 57, 243–248 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601550

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