By Nicole Chiu - Contributing Health Journalist

Probably one of the most well known herbs, Ginseng has been identified as a natural healer for over 5000 years, since the Chinese started developing practices in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The botanical name ‘panax’ is Greek for ‘all curing’.

New research, published in the Phytotherapy Research Journal, has now uncovered Ginseng’s links with treating obesity and diabetes.

A molecular basis found in red ginseng called ginsenoside Rg3, was identified in the research as an inhibitor towards the differentiation in cells that store energy as fat. The study found that ginsenoside Rg3 was thus an inhibitor in the cell’s process of fat storage.

Obese leptin-deficient mice were used in the study, which were administered with wild ginseng doses. The mice consumed the ginseng orally in 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg portions over 4 weeks. These mice showed weight loss and a decrease in blood glucose levels in comparison to the control mice.

The same researchers also conducted a follow-up study where they identified saponins from the ginseng as contributing towards inhibition of energy gain, as well as normalization of hypothalamic neuropeptides and serum biochemicals, which are all part of the weight gain control processes in the body.

Another study in Phytomedicine involved identifying whether crude saponins obtained from the stems and leaves of ginseng would have any effect towards obesity prevention and inhibition of lipase activity in vitro. In this study, two groups of female mice were fed fattening diets over 8 weeks. One had additional saponins and the other group did not. The results indicated that crude saponins inhibited pancreatic lipase activity.

In a separate experiment as part of the study published in Phytomedicine, rats were administered the oral lipid emulsion of crude saponins, and the results indicated that crude saponins also inhibited the elevations of plasma triacylglycerol. With long term administration of crude saponins together with fattening diets, the weight in the rats decreased compared to the controls.

In supporting the claims that ginseng improves diabetes control, the Journal of the American College of Nutrition published a study which provide further evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of ginseng use with diabetes. The study identified American Ginseng as being useful in the improvement of diabetes control, and risk reduction of associated side effects such as hyperlipidemia and hypertension. American ginseng was also identified having an improving effect on insulin resistance by acting in the digestive tract, which increases insulin secretion.

Another study was conducted involving Korean red ginseng, published in the Journal of Ethno pharmacology. The study investigated the Korean red ginseng’s stimulation of insulin release in rats. The results indicated a significant provocation of stimulated insulin release compared to the controls. The experiments were also separated into different glucose concentrations, which showed that ginseng stimulated insulin release independently from glucose involvement.

Ginseng’s effects on reducing cell death in pancreatic beta-cells, along with its effects in increasing insulin production, have been reported in the Journal of Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Other studies have also revealed American ginseng’s effects on blood glucose in type II diabetes patients as well as diabetes induced animals. The studies found ginseng decreased the blood glucose levels of the test subjects.

All these data have been evidence to the fact that ginseng improves hyperglycemia and may alter mitochondrial function, as well as apoptosis cascades, ensuring cell viability in pancreatic islet cells.