Therapeutic Effects of Korean Red Ginseng Extract in Egyptian Patients with Chronic Liver Diseases

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fi fth most common malignancy in the world and complicates liver cirrhosis related to hepatitis C virus (HCV) in many cases. We evaluated the therapeutic effect of Korean red ginseng extract (KGE) in patients with chronic liver diseases. Thirty male and female patients with HCC and another thirty with liver cirrhosis were included. Each category was divided into two groups; the fi rst was used as control group, and received medical therapy only and the second group received the medical therapy supplemented with KGE capsules. The treated group with HCC received three KGE capsules/day (900 mg) while the treated group with HCV received two KGE capsules/day (600 mg) for 11 weeks along with their medical therapy. All patients were subjected to clinical examination and laboratory investigations, including liver function tests (at baseline, after 6 weeks of treatment and at the end of the study) and abdominal ultrasonography. Patients showing focal hepatic lesions were subjected to triphasic spiral abdominal computerized tomography and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). HCV RNA was determined quantitatively by Roche for patients in the HCV group. Results showed that the medical therapy alone failed to normalize the liver enzymes or decrease the virus concentration. KGE administration induced a signifi cant improvement in liver function tests, decreased the tumor marker (AFP) levels, and decreased the viral titers in HCV patients. Thus, KGE demonstrated powerful therapeutic effects against HCV and liver cancer.

Effect of Korean Red Ginseng in chronic liver disease

“…The clinical manifestations of HBV and HCV infections are varied; these include acute or fulminant hepatitis and various forms of chronic pathologies which encompass chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and HCC. There is a shortage of literature that assesses the potential of KRG as a treatment option for chronic hepatitis B and C infections [27] . In a clinical study [27] , a number of treatment strategies, which did not involve KRG administration, were shown to be ineffective in normalizing liver enzymes or decreasing viral loads.…”

“…There is a shortage of literature that assesses the potential of KRG as a treatment option for chronic hepatitis B and C infections [27] . In a clinical study [27] , a number of treatment strategies, which did not involve KRG administration, were shown to be ineffective in normalizing liver enzymes or decreasing viral loads. By contrast, KRG administration has been associated with significant improvement in liver function and decrease of the alpha fetoprotein levels.…”

“…KRG has also been associated with several beneficial effects on liver function and liver disease. First, it has been shown to have a hepatoprotective effect against acute and chronic liver injury caused by a variety of hepatotoxins, which may include hydrogen peroxide [19] , alcohol [11] , [18] , [20] , [21] , [22] , carbon tetrachloride [23] , aflatoxin B1 [24] , [25] , diethylnitrosamine [26] , and viruses [13] , [27] . Second, KRG is associated with antiinflammatory and antioxidative effects in the context of NAFLD [10] , [28] .…”

“…Second, KRG is associated with antiinflammatory and antioxidative effects in the context of NAFLD [10] , [28] . Thirdly, KRG has been linked with anticarcinogenic impact in animal models of HCC [26] , [29] and a hepatoprotective influence on HCC patients [27] . Lastly, KRG has been seen with beneficial effects on hepatic regeneration following liver operations such as liver transplantation and partial liver resection [30] , [31] , [32] .…”

“…A number of experimental and clinical studies have been carried out to evaluate the beneficial effects of KRG in the context of CLD [10] , [11] , [12] , [21] , [26] , [27] , [29] , [33] , [34] . In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the beneficial effects of KRG on CLD, a condition encompassing NAFLD, alcoholic liver disease, chronic viral hepatitis, and HCC.…”