Application of botanical medicines, in Asian countries, to treat a number of health issues, dates back to thousand years ago. In the Western countries, botanical medicines have always been labeled as complementary or alternative medication. Ginseng, known as “ an elixir of life”, has been consumed as a medicinal herb for ages in the Eastern regions. It is the root of Panax ginseng that contains ginseng saponins or ginsenosides.
Modern chromatography has deciphered the existence of more than 40 types of ginsenosides till date. Mechanism of each type of ginsenosides is different from the rest. Each of these mechanisms helps a particular type of ginsenosides to exhibit a bunch of pharmacological benefits. The wide array of liver diseases including cirrhosis, fatty liver, and chronic hepatitis has become a burning concern in this modern life. Mechanism of ginseng or ginsenosides have been said to play an effective role in treating these liver diseases. This article will dive into the deep discussion about the pharmacological effects of ginsenosides on several liver diseases.
Ginseng Effects on Several Liver Functions
General Hepatotoxicity
A number of reasons might be working behind chronic hepatotoxicity including drug abuse, alcohol, poisoning, and liver diseases (liver hepatitis, and hepatocellular). It has been reported that ginseng extracts have effects on hepatocyte. Ginseng contains a lot of hepatotoxins such as hydrogen peroxide, carbon tetrachloride, aflatoxin B1, fumonisin, cadmium chloride, bromobenzene, mercuric chloride, diethylnitrosamine, galactosamine etc. These particles help to deal with hepatotoxicity. Apart from these, Korean red ginseng can treat acute graft-versus-host diseases. This is another rare combination of complications that may appear as an outcome of liver transplantation having a terrific prognosis.
Fatty Liver & Glycogen
Lipid and sugar metabolism depend a lot on liver as well as on adipose tissues. It has been found that ginseng has beneficiary impacts on lipid and sugar metabolism. A study reveals how ginseng decreases hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride, and enhances phospholipid in the rats having high-cholesterol. In this way, it can help to improve fatty liver as well.
Liver Damage Repair & Transplantation
After liver transplantation, most of the patients suffer from a rare complication, known as acute graft-versus-host disease. A number of studies have confirmed that Korean Red Ginseng can cure this disorder successfully. Another study shows the remarkable effects of red ginseng in liver regeneration following a partial hepatectomy in mammals like dogs and rats. This study reveals that ginseng is able to increase liver weight and acceleration of hepatocyte proliferation.
Hepatic Diseases
In order to get a healthy liver, it is a mandate to get rid of the hepatic diseases. It has been said that ginseng has a hepatoprotective property that can deal with diseases like cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis.
Alcohol Intoxication
Alcohol intoxication is one of the main reasons behind liver diseases. According to Modern pharmacological studies, Ginseng contains individual bioactive components like ginsenoside Re 15, ginsenoside Rg3 that help to combat hepatatic diseases caused by alcohol intoxication. A number of publications have admitted that Korean ginseng has potent effects against liver damage.
In Conclusion
With the advent of the time, more and more studies are coming into existence suggesting that ginseng may offer a host of benefits to improve liver functions. Hopefully, this article will help you know pharmacological properties of ginseng in a better way.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17340405
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/cpb1958/23/12/23_12_3095/_article
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21911140