Ginseng no Benefit in 2 DB Studies of Elderly: In study in geriatric rehab in Norway no benefit. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen 10/97;117:3839-41. Same result in Italy in Aging (Milano) 12/96;8:417-20

Ginseng May Help DM: Two small studies showed help reduce blood glucose rise after 30 min to 2 hr. Arch Int Med 4/10/00

Ginseng Consumers Said Lower CA: Korean study of 4634 people interviewed for Panax ginseng consumption reports cancer RR .40 vs. non-consumers including gastric and lung CA. Yun, Korea Cancer Center, Int J Epidem ‘98;27:359; white ginseng powder and red ginseng (red RR 0.20) most effective in ’95 study by same author. Incr frequency and duration of use linked to stronger effect. No impact breast, cervix, bladder CA. Lung RR 0.55. RR 0.42-48 for oral, liver, colorectal, RR 0.36stomach, RR 0.15-22 for esoph, ovary, panc, larynx.Cancer Epid Biomarker Prev ’95;4:401; fresh sliced ginseng, or tea less effective than extract or powder.

Ginseng (Panax) Inhib Renal CA in vitro: 3 human renal CA cell lines inhibited by ginseng extracts. Sohn, Korea U, Exp Mol Med 3/98;30:47; Int J Epidem ’90;19:871; Several more animal studies not included but on PubMed 3/30 including against liver and breast CA in vitro. Anti-oxidant effects and induces apotosis.

Ginseng (Panax) ginsenoside RH2 induced Melanoma differentiation in vitro: Human melanoma cell cultures blocked at G1 phase and differentiation to epithelial cells and melanin production induced. Xia, Bejing, Yao Hsueh Hsueh Pao ’96;31:742; Long cultivated, ie 4-6 yr, ginseng more anticarcinogenic against mice with lung adenoma induced by benzapyrene. Yun, Korea Cancer Center, Chung Kuo Yao Li Hsueh Pao ’96;17:293; RH2 saponin also induces apopotic changes in hepatoma in vitro. Research with Vietnamese ginseng found anti=carcinogenic effects on Barr Epstein virus.

Ginseng RH2 inhibited Human Ovarian CA in vitro and in nude Mice: Inhibited various human ovarian cancer cell lines in vitro and in nude mice including inducing apoptosis. Nakata, Jap J Cancer Res 6’98;89:733; an intestinal bacterial metabolite of ginseng induced apoptosis in melanoma in mice. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 6’98; Red ginseng inhibited DMBA-induced skin papillomas in mice. J Cell Biochem Suppl ’97;27:7; Inhibited mouse sarcoma growth. J Ethnopharm 2/98 60:71

Ginseng Assoc Decreased Stomach CA: Case control and cohort studies show ginseng decreased risk. Also recent case control study shows broiling or stewing meat increased risk but not pan frying. Salted fish, salty soybean paste stews, increased while tofu, cabbage, spinach, sesame oil decreased risk. Stomach cancer most prevalent cancer in Korea. Pickled vegetables increased risk. Int J Cancer ’97;Suppl 10:7

Influenza: Ginseng Incr Benefit on flu Vaccine: Decr flu or colds by 60% in 8 weeks after flu shot vs. placebo with higher antibody titers after flu shot. U Milan, Scaglione, Drugs Exp Clin Res ’96;22:65-72

Influenza: Ginseng (American) Helped Prevent Influenza in DB: Two DB PC studies of 198 elderly in nursing homes, each a different year, taking 200 mg of a proprietary American ginseng, found seven on placebo sero-converted for influenza infection vs. one on ginseng (OR 7.1). Two on placebo also had confirmed RSV infections. Eastern Virginia Med School. A Placebo-Controlled Trial of a Proprietary Extract of North American Ginseng (CVT-E002) to Prevent Acute Respiratory Illness in Institutionalized Older Adults. McElhaney JE, Gravenstein S, Cole SK, Davidson E, O'neill D, Petitjean S, Rumble B, Shan JJ. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2004 Jan;52(1):13-9

Ginseng Minimal Mental or Motor Benefit: 16 healthy males Korean ginseng 100mg BID 12 week DB. Only better on one of five tests of psychomotor performance. And none of pure motor, recog, or visual reaction tests. J Ethnophrmacol 4/86;16:15-22. Similar result with NIDDM 36 pt 8 wk 100-200 mg with improved FBS and mood but no better than placebo on other measures. Diabetes Care 10/95;18:1373-5

Ginseng Helped Mood, FBS in NIDDM: Finland study DB PC 8wk 36 NIDDM 100-200mg/d ginseng. Improved mood and decreased FBS. Diabetes Care ’95;18:1373;

Ginseng Some Benefit Erectile Dysfunction: DB PC Ginseng vs. trazodone vs. placebo 90 pts. 60% benefit ginseng vs. 30% for the others although no one had full remission. Choi, Int J Impot Res ’95;7:981

Ginseng (Panax) Not Ergogenic in 3 DB Studies: A DB study in 36 males 23-7yo vs. placebo found no ergogenic effect in graded maximal aerobic exercise. J Am Dietetic Ass 97:1110-5 ’97. Same result in DB 21 day 28 subject. J Am Coll Nutr 10/98;17:462-6. Same result with Eleutherococcus senticosus (Siberian ginseng) by EA Dowling at Old Dominion U in Med Sci Sports Exerc 4/96;28:482-9.

Ginseng Claimed to Help ADHD: Ginseng is promoted for insomnia, stress, sexual potency, and depression. A poor quality unpublished study posted at oceansidemedicine.com says 25 ADHD kids Rx DB with American ginseng or American ginseng plus gingko and 79% and 91% showed improvement on at least 3 of 7 measures.