NIS - libdoc.who.int - World Health Organization

WHO monographs on medicinal plants commonly used in the Newly Independent States (NIS)
preparation twice daily for two consecutive training periods of 10 weeks.
No significant changes were observed during the first 10-week period,
but ginseng appeared to prevent the loss of physical fitness (as measured
by oxygen uptake and oxygen pulse) during the second 10-week period
(25). Two further studies with athletes given 100 mg of a standardized
ginseng extract twice daily for 9 weeks reported significant improvement
in aerobic capacity and reduction in blood lactate and heart rates (26, 27),
but placebos or controls were not used in either of the two studies. Further
extension of these studies using placebo-controlled, double-blind trials
demonstrated significant improvement in the ginseng group as compared
with the placebo group (28). Similar results were reported in
another study on athletes, and the differences between the ginseng and
placebo groups lasted for approximately 3 weeks after the last ginseng
dose (29). The effects of 1200 mg of Radix Ginseng in a placebo-controlled,
double-blind cross-over study in fatigued night nurses were
assessed and the results were compared with placebo and with effects on
nurses engaged in daytime work (22). Ginseng restored ratings on tests of
mood, competence, and general performance, and the study concluded
that ginseng had anti-fatigue activity (22).
Aqueous and standardized ginseng extracts were tested in a placebocontrolled,
double-blind study for immunomodulatory actions (85). Sixty
healthy volunteers were divided into three groups of 20 each and were
given either a placebo or 100 mg of aqueous ginseng extract or 100 mg of
standardized ginseng extract, every 12 hours for 8 weeks. Blood samples
drawn from the volunteers revealed an increase in chemotaxis of polymorphonuclear
leukocytes, the phagocytic index, and the total number of
T3 and T4 lymphocytes after 4 and 8 weeks of ginseng therapy, as compared
with the placebo group. The group receiving the standardized extract
also increased their T4:T8 ratio and the activity of natural killer cells.
The conclusion of this study was that ginseng extract stimulated the immune
system in humans, and that the standardized extract was more effective
than the aqueous extract (85).
Psychomotor activity
A double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study assessed the effect of
standardized ginseng extract (100 mg twice daily for 12 weeks) on psychomotor
performance in 16 healthy individuals (23). Various tests of
pyschomotor performance found a favourable effect on attention, processing,
integrated sensory–motor function, and auditory reaction time.
The study concluded that the drug was superior to the placebo in improving
certain psychomotor functions in healthy subjects (23).
150