Latest research presented at the International Ginseng Symposium by the Korean Society of Ginseng
Ginseng and red ginseng help improve memory… also shown to prevent bone and muscle loss
Clinical results show improved blood pressure in patients with hypertension and diabetes

Red ginseng is widely recognized as a representative health functional food that helps strengthen the immune system. It is one of about 20 functional ingredients officially approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for immune support, and is also acknowledged for benefits such as improving blood circulation, relieving fatigue, and enhancing memory and concentration. These effects are attributed to the synergistic action of compounds such as saponins, red ginseng polysaccharides, amino sugars, and minerals, which are formed during the steaming and drying process of six-year-old ginseng.

Recently, new potential benefits of regular red ginseng intake have been continuously revealed through ongoing research. At the 13th International Ginseng Symposium, held at Lotte Hotel in Seoul, the Korean Society of Ginseng presented a wide range of findings. In particular, studies suggesting improvements in memory, prevention of muscle and bone loss, and blood pressure regulation in patients with hypertension and diabetes have drawn significant attention.

Red ginseng improves memory impairment in PTSD-induced mice

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that impairs memory formation following severe trauma and is often accompanied by neuroinflammation. A joint research team led by Professor Se-Kwan Oh from Ewha Womans University College of Medicine and Professor Bom-Bi Lee from Kyung Hee University conducted an experiment on 48 mice aged 6–8 weeks. The mice were divided into six groups, exposed to acute stress, and then administered red ginseng extract daily at doses ranging from 20 to 100 mg/kg for 14 days.

Cognitive and learning abilities were evaluated using the Morris water maze and passive avoidance tests. The group that received red ginseng extract demonstrated performance comparable to the non-stressed group, successfully locating the exit at a similar speed. In contrast, the stressed group without red ginseng treatment showed delayed learning ability.

The researchers also analyzed inflammatory cytokines associated with stress. Red ginseng reduced pro-inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8), while increasing the anti-inflammatory marker interleukin-12 (IL-12). It also suppressed NF-κB activity in the hippocampus and restored the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA to 252.51% of normal levels.

Previous studies by the same team in 2015 showed similar effects in aged mice. When 18-month-old mice with induced cognitive decline were given approximately 200 mg/kg of red ginseng extract daily for three months, tests such as the Y-maze and Morris water maze confirmed that age-related learning and memory decline were significantly suppressed.

Professor Oh noted that these findings scientifically demonstrate that red ginseng can help improve learning ability and prevent memory decline in various conditions, including aging and PTSD.

Ginseng compounds help prevent muscle loss and protect bone health

Recent studies presented at the symposium also highlighted the effects of ginseng and red ginseng components in preventing muscle and bone loss.

A research team led by Professor Hyuk-Young Kwon at Soonchunhyang University investigated the effects of ginsenoside Rd on muscle cells and strength. Sarcopenia, characterized by muscle loss and functional decline, is associated with various conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, sepsis, obesity, and depression.

In animal studies, aged mice treated with ginsenoside Rd showed significant improvements in muscle strength over time, reaching levels comparable to those of healthy adult mice. Muscle cell size increased, and the proportion of cells containing six or more nuclei rose from 20% to 37%.

The mechanism involves reducing reactive oxygen species induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), activating the pAKT pathway essential for protein synthesis, and suppressing MuRF1, which promotes protein degradation. These findings suggest potential applications in preventing and treating muscle loss, even in cancer patients.

Meanwhile, a research team from the University of Michigan found that red ginseng may help prevent bone loss by maintaining gut microbiota balance. In their study, mice treated with antibiotics showed significant reductions in gut microbial diversity and bone density, whereas those receiving red ginseng extract exhibited preserved microbiota diversity, reduced intestinal damage, and prevention of bone loss in the femur and spine.

Blood pressure improvement in patients with both hypertension and diabetes

These benefits are not limited to animal studies. A clinical trial conducted by Professor Vuksan’s team in Canada involved 80 patients with both type 2 diabetes and hypertension over a 12-week period.

The group that consumed a combination of Korean red ginseng and American ginseng showed a significant reduction of approximately 3.98 mmHg in central systolic blood pressure. While no significant changes were observed in vascular function indicators such as pulse wave velocity and reactive hyperemia index, the results suggest that ginseng can effectively support blood pressure management when used alongside standard medical therapy.

Source: 서울경제 (www.sedaily.com)