The Effect of Korean Red Ginseng on Symptoms and Inflammation in Patients With Allergic Rhinitis

Abstract

Korean red ginseng (KRG) has been traditionally used in Korea for health improvement. However, the clinical effect of KRG intake on the symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis remains unknown. Our study was performed to identify the clinical effects of KRG on patients with allergic rhinitis and to examine the effect of KRG on allergic inflammatory reaction. We evaluated 60 patients with allergic rhinitis. All the patients were treated for 4 weeks. The patients were divided into 3 groups, according to the medication. Twenty patients were treated with KRG, 20 patients with the placebo, and 20 patients with the antihistamine. The patients recorded their symptoms in a daily symptom diary card. The patients checked the peak nasal inspiratory flow rate 2 times a day. Total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and serum-specific IgE were measured by ImmunoCap method before and after 4-week medication. The Th2 cytokines interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5, and IL-10 were checked in the serum before and after the 4-week treatment. The eosinophil counts in the nasal smears were checked. Korean red ginseng group has shown the significant improvement in rhinorrhea, nasal itching, and eye itching. Both the antihistamine and KRG groups showed a significant decrease in total IgE level at the end of treatment. The serum IL-4 level and eosinophil counts in the nasal smears were significantly decreased both in the antihistamine and in the KRG groups. In conclusion, KRG might be a useful treatment modality for patients with allergic rhinitis.

Ginsenoside F1 Attenuates Eosinophilic Inflammation in Chronic Rhinosinusitis by Promoting NK Cell Function

“…Moreover, owing to easy access to sinus mucosa, it was possible to administer G-F1 via the intranasal route, where it was therapeutically effective at a much lower dose (3.5 mg/kg) than via intraperitoneal delivery (50 mg/kg), further ensuring favorable efficacy at a safe dose. This dose was also comparable to the dose effective in patients with allergic rhinitis (3 mg/kg/d; the adult dose recommended by the Korea Ginseng Corporation) [ 56 ]. However, a systematic dose range-finding study would be required to establish the therapeutic effect of G-F1 on ECRS in association with NK cells depending upon the route of administration.…”

American Ginseng Attenuates Eccentric Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage via the Modulation of Lipid Peroxidation and Inflammatory Adaptation in Males

“…These important findings indicated that ginseng supplementation may modulate the resting and post-DH running plasma IL-4 levels in human subjects. In several inflammatory models manipulated by chemicals or diseases, ginseng extract and/or ginsenosides improve severe inflammatory reactions and allergic symptoms by suppressing the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines [ 66 , 67 ]. IL-4 acts as an anti-inflammatory factor by attenuating the apoptotic activities of neutrophils while promoting the inflammation resolution of macrophages [ 68 ].…”

Preventive effects of Korean red ginseng on experimentally induced colitis and colon carcinogenesis

“…Of the numerous ingredients of KRG, saponins (ginsenosides) are potent candidates that exert anti-inflammatory effects. 24 , 25 , 26 A panaxadiol-type ginsenoside, Rg 3 inhibited expression of inflammatory mediators in mouse skin challenged with the tumor promoter, phorbol ester 27 and LPS/IFN-γ-stimulated BV-2 cells. 28 Another type of ginsenosides, 20( S )-protopanaxatriol, inhibited the expression of COX-2 and iNOS through inactivation of NF-κB in LPS-stimulated macrophages.…”