Siberian Ginseng is an adaptogenic herb, helpful for increasing resistance to environmental stress. It may be useful in Alzheimer's disease, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, craniocerebral trauma, normalizing high or low blood pressure, atherosclerosis, neuroses, insomnia and increasing work capacity. Other uses include diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic bronchitis, tuberculosis, improving athletic performance, reducing toxicity of chemotherapy and symptomatic treatment of herpes simplex type II infections. It is also used as a general and immune system stimulant.
Published Clinical Studiescl top
[Effect of eleutherococcus on short-term memory and visual perception in healthy humans]1
Arushanian EB, Baida OA, Mastiagin SS, Popova AP, Shikina IB.
Phannacology Department, Stavropol Medical Academy, ul. Mira 310, Stavropol, 355024 Russia.
Acute administration of a liquid eleutherococcus extract significantly improves short-term memory in healthy humans. The expression of this action depends on the daytime and psychophysiological peculiarities of the volunteers. Administration of the preparation also changes light perception by increasing retinal sensitivity. This effect was more pronounced in humans with weak type of high nervous activity in evening hours.
PMID: 14650206 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Comparative study of antioxidant properties of immunoregulatory peptides.2
Tutel'yan AV, Klebanov GI, Il'ina SE, Lyubitskii OB.
Laboratory of Immunology and Biotechnology, Central Institute of Epidemiology; Department of Biophysics, Russian State Medical University, Moscow. imunofan.bio@ru.net
We studied antioxidant properties of immunofan, bursin, cyclobursin, thymopoietin II fragment, glycine, and Siberian ginseng. Experiments were performed in 2 model systems: Fe(2+)-induced oxidation of multilamellar phospholipid liposomes in a heterogeneous water-lipid system and oxidation of luminol induced by alpha,alpha'-azo-bis(isobutyramidine dihydrochloride) in a homogenous aqueous system. By the ability to entrap lipid peroxyl radicals, antioxidant activity of substances decreased in the following order: Siberian ginseng extract>bursin>cyclobursin>thymopoietin II fragment>immunofan, glycine. Siberian ginseng extract and thymopoietin II fragment interacted with Fe(2+), which contributed to elimination of catalyst of lipid peroxidation from the system. The ability of substances to interact with aqueous peroxyl radicals and luminol radicals decreased in the following order: Siberian ginseng extract>thymopoietin II fragment>immunofan>glycine, cyclobursin, bursin. Substances with high antioxidant activity improved the state of the endogenous antioxidant system and protected cells from oxidative stress. They entrapped reactive oxygen species formed in the cytoplasm, modulated free radical processes, and regulated the synthesis of bioactive molecules.
PMID: 14631497 [PubMed - in process]
Efficacy and safety of herbal stimulants and sedatives in sleep disorders.3
Gyllenhaal C, Merritt SL, Peterson SD, Block KI, Gochenour T.
Program for Collaborative Research in the Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, 833 South Wood Street, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
World-wide use of herbal medicines is increasing, following regulatory and manufacturing developments. Herbs are attractive alternative medications to many patients with sleep disorders, who may be averse to using conventional drugs. We review here the most common herbal stimulants and sedatives. Caffeine, in herbal teas, black tea, coffee, soft drinks and pharmaceuticals, is used widely to control sleepiness, but more research is needed on its use in sleep disorders. Ephedra, and its constituent ephedrine, are used in both stimulant and weight loss preparations, sometimes with caffeine; safety concerns have arisen with this practice. Yohimbe is another herb used in stimulant and body-building preparations which has safety concerns. Asian and Siberian ginseng have been traditionally used for fatigue, and have some supportive experimental evidence for this use. Herbal sedatives also have some evidence for efficacy; the observations that certain plant flavonoid compounds bind to benzodiazepine receptors adds interest to their use. Valerian and kava have received the most research attention; both have decreased sleep onset time and promoted deeper sleep in small studies, and kava also shows anxiolytic effects. German chamomile, lavender, hops, lemon balm and passionflower are reputed to be mild sedatives but need much more experimental examination.
PMID: 12531167 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Antiviral activity of an extract derived from roots of Eleutherococcus senticosus.4
Glatthaar-Saalmuller B, Sacher F, Esperester A.
Labor Dr. Glatthaar, Virologische Testsysteme, Gewebekulturen, Immundiagnostik, Biotechnologie Zentrum Tubingen/Reutlingen, Aspenhaustrasse 25, D-72770, Reutlingen, Germany. labordr.glatthaar@t-online.de
A liquid extract from Eleutherococcus senticosus roots inhibited the productive replication of human rhinovirus (HRV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza A virus in cell cultures infected with these viruses, all of which belong to the RNA type viruses. Analysis of virus production after treatment of the infected cells using plaque-reduction assays showed a strong antiviral activity of the Eleutherococcus extract. In contrast, no effect was detected using the same protocol for cells infected with the DNA viruses, adenovirus (Adeno 5) or herpes simplex type 1 virus (HSV 1). Pre-treatment of cells did not inhibit either virus adsorption or virus replication. The results of the study demonstrate that the Eleutherococcus extract inhibited the replication of all RNA viruses studied so far. This antiviral activity remained stable under the conditions used for drug preparation and storage.
Publication Types:
PMID: 11397509 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
5
The influence of active components of Eleutherococcus senticosus on cellular defence and physical fitness in man.
Szolomicki J, Samochowiec L, Wojcicki J, Drozdzik M, Szolomicki S.
Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Pomeranian University School of Medicine, Powstancow Wlkp. 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland.
The influence of active components of Eleutherococcus senticosus, contained in Taiga Wurzel preparation, were studied on cellular defence and physical fitness in man. 50 healthy volunteers of both sexes were selected, and basic clinical examination and laboratory tests were performed in all subjects. All were randomly subdivided into two study groups: group A with 35 subjects receiving Taiga Wurzel and group B with 15 subjects receiving Echinacea. 20 healthy males were randomly selected from both groups and underwent an ergospirometric study. The preparations were administered for 30 days as follows: Taiga Wurzel 25 drops three times daily, Echinacea 40 drops three times daily. After 1 month blood was drawn for control tests. Changes in the following blood parameters were observed in comparison to initial values in group A: total and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose. No alterations were seen in group B. The ergospirometric test revealed a higher oxygen plateau in group A (Taiga Wurzel). On the basis of the present study the following conclusions were drawn: active components in Eleutherococcus senticosus contained in Taiga Wurzel preparation affect cellular defence and physical fitness, as well as lipid metabolism. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Publication Types:
PMID: 10641044 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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