Researchers look into the protective effects of American and Asian ginseng against metabolic dysfunction

Researchers from the China Pharmaceutical University revealed that American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) and Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) work differently against metabolic dysfunction. Their findings were published in The American Journal of Chinese Medicine.

• Both American and Asian ginseng are well regarded for their multiple pharmacological uses.
• However, their mechanisms of action for preventing metabolic dysfunction are still unknown.
• In the study, the researchers looked at how each addresses metabolic dysfunction using untargeted metabolomics based on liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF-MS).
• Serum metabolomics and dynamic feces metabolomics revealed significant metabolic distinctions between the two herbs in diet-induced obese mice.
• Both American ginseng and Asian ginseng help lower glucose and lipid metabolism disorder in mice with diet-induced obesity.
• The researchers identified 45 differential metabolites in American ginseng and 32 metabolites in Asian ginseng.
• Metabolic pathways analysis revealed that both types of ginseng treat metabolic disorders in mice by regulating the metabolism of linoleic acids, cysteine and methionine, as well as the synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids.
• American ginseng, in particular, monitors carnitines.

The researchers believe that taurine/hypotaurine metabolism might make American ginseng more effective in managing lipids metabolism disorder than Asian ginseng.

FoodScience.news has more on the other health benefits of ginseng.

Journal Reference:

Zhang WS, Pan A, Yang L, Cai YY, Liu BL, Li P, Qi LW, Li J, Liu Q. AMERICAN GINSENG AND ASIAN GINSENG INTERVENTION IN DIET-INDUCED OBESE MICE: METABOLOMICS REVEALS DISTINCT METABOLIC PROFILES. The American Journal of Chinese Medicine. 2019;47(04):787–801. DOI: 10.1142/S0192415X19500411