General

Scientific Names: Panax ginseng C. A. Mey.

Common Names: Ren Shen, Shen.

BOTANICAL:

中药材基原: 为五加科植物人参Panax ginseng C.A.Mey.的干燥根。

植物形态：为多年生草本，高达65厘米，主根肥大，圆柱形或纺锤形，黄白色。茎直立，单生。叶为掌状复叶。浆果核果状，熟时红色。

生药材鉴定: 红参：全长6-17厘米 。主根长3-10厘米；表面红棕色，半透明，偶有不透明的暗褐色斑块，具纵沟、皱纹及细根痕，上部可见环纹，下部有的具2-3条支根。根茎上有茎痕。质硬而脆，折断面平坦，角质样。

白参：主根长3-15厘米，直径0.7-3厘米，表面淡黄白色，上端有较多断续的环纹，下部有2-3条支根，全体可见加工时的点状针刺痕，微较甜。

生晒山参：主根粗短，多具2个支根而呈人字形或圆柱形，长2-10厘米，直径1-2厘米。表面灰黄色，具纵纹，
上端有细密而深陷的环状横纹，须根细长，有明显的疣状突起（习称珍珠点）。根茎细长，常与主根等长或更长，上部具密集的茎痕，不定根较粗，靠近主根的一段根茎较光滑而无茎痕（习称圆芦）。

生晒参、红参、生晒山参均以条粗、质硬、完整者为佳。白参以条粗、完整、皮较细、淡黄白色者为佳。

Pharmacology

Main ingredients: ginsenoside Ro, Ra, Rb1, Rb2, Rb3, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, Rg1, Rg2, Rh, 20-glucoginsenoside Rf panaxynol, beta-elemene beta-sitosterol, beta-sitosterol glucoside D-glucose, D-fructose, sucrose, maltose, trisaccharide A,B,C amino acids, peptides,choline, ATP, arginine.

1. He K, et al., A dammarane glycoside derived from ginsenoside Rb3. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 2005 Feb; 53(2):177-9.
2. Kim YS, et al., Ginsenoside Rh2 induces apoptosis via activation of caspase-1 and -3 and up-regulation of Bax in human neuroblastoma. Arch Pharm Res. 2004 Aug; 27(8):834-9.
3. Jia WW, et al., Rh2, a compound extracted from ginseng, hypersensitizes multidrug-resistant tumor cells to chemotherapy. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2004 Jul; 82(7):431-7.
4. Takei M, et al., Dendritic cells maturation promoted by M1 and M4, end products of steroidal ginseng saponins metabolized in digestive tracts, drive a potent Th1 polarization. Biochem Pharmacol. 2004 Aug 1; 68(3):441-52.
5. Min KT, et al., Effect of ginseng saponins on the recombinant serotonin type 3A receptor expressed in xenopus oocytes: implication of possible application as an antiemetic. J Altern Complement Med. 2003 Aug; 9(4):505-10.
   
   
   

Efficacy

IN VITRO:

1. Lee TK, et al., Radioprotective potential of ginseng. Mutagenesis. 2005 Jul; 20(4):237-243. Epub 2005 Jun 14.
2. Luo HM, et al., [Effect of ginsenoside Rg1 on the influence of neprilysin expression induced by LPS in BT325 cell line]. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2004 Sep; 29(9):890-3. Chinese.
3. Shin HJ, et al., Enhancement of antitumor effects of paclitaxel (taxol) in combination with red ginseng acidic polysaccharide (RGAP). Planta Med. 2004 Nov; 70(11):1033-8.
4. Wang ZB, et al., [Inhibiting effects of Panax notoginseng extracts on proliferation of GES-1 cells and MNNG-transformed GES-1 cells]. Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao. 2004 Nov; 2(6):445-9. Chinese.
5. Loo WT, et al., The inhibitory effect of a herbal formula comprising ginseng and carthamus tinctorius on breast cancer. Life Sci. 2004 Nov 26; 76(2):191-200.
6. Kim OS, et al., Establishment of in vitro test system for the evaluation of the estrogenic activities of natural products. Arch Pharm Res. 2004 Sep; 27(9):906-11.
7. Jia WW, et al., Rh2, a compound extracted from ginseng, hypersensitizes multidrug-resistant tumor cells to chemotherapy. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2004 Jul; 82(7):431-7.
8. Helms S. Cancer prevention and therapeutics: Panax ginseng. Altern Med Rev. 2004 Sep; 9(3):259-74. Review.
9. Zeng XL, et al., [Induction of differentiation by ginsenoside Rh2 in hepatocarcinoma cell SMMC-7721]. Ai Zheng. 2004 Aug; 23(8):879-84. Chinese.
10. Takei M, et al., Dendritic cells maturation promoted by M1 and M4, end products of steroidal ginseng saponins metabolized in digestive tracts, drive a potent Th1 polarization. Biochem Pharmacol. 2004 Aug 1; 68(3):441-52.
11. Sparreboom A, et al., Herbal remedies in the United States: potential adverse interactions with anticancer agents. J Clin Oncol. 2004 Jun 15; 22(12):2489-503. Review.
12. Oh GS, et al., 20(S)-Protopanaxatriol, one of ginsenoside metabolites, inhibits inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expressions through inactivation of nuclear factor-kappaB in RAW 264.7 macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. Cancer Lett. 2004 Mar 8; 205(1):23-9.
13. Block KI, et al., Immune system effects of echinacea, ginseng, and astragalus: a review. Integr Cancer Ther. 2003 Sep; 2(3):247-67. Review.
14. Nakaya TA, et al., Panax ginseng induces production of proinflammatory cytokines via toll-like receptor. J Interferon Cytokine Res. 2004 Feb;24(2):93-100.
15. Li XH, et al., [Effect of panax notoginseng saponin on procoagulant activity and differentiation induction in NB4 cells]. Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2004 Jan; 24(1):63-6. Chinese.
16. Yu SM, et al., Herbal supplement use among US women, 2000. J Am Med Womens Assoc. 2004 Winter; 59(1):17-24.
17. Oh SH, et al., A ginseng saponin metabolite-induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells involves a mitochondria-mediated pathway and its downstream caspase-8 activation and Bid cleavage. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2004 Feb 1; 194(3):221-9.
18. Lee TK, et al., Ginseng reduces the micronuclei yield in lymphocytes after irradiation. Mutat Res. 2004 Jan 10; 557(1):75-84.
19. Min KT, et al., Effect of ginseng saponins on the recombinant serotonin type 3A receptor expressed in xenopus oocytes: implication of possible application as an antiemetic. J Altern Complement Med. 2003 Aug; 9(4):505-10.
20. Choi HH, et al., A novel ginseng saponin metabolite induces apoptosis and down-regulates fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 in myeloma cells. Int J Oncol. 2003 Oct; 23(4):1087-93.
21. Block KI. Integrative cancer care and the art of medicine. Integr Cancer Ther. 2003 Mar; 2(1):3-4.
22. Choo MK, et al., Antiallergic activity of ginseng and its ginsenosides. Planta Med. 2003 Jun; 69(6):518-22.
23. Fang F, et al., [Ginsenoside Rg1 may protect SHSY5Y cells from apoptosis induced by MPP+ through JNK way]. Yao Xue Xue Bao. 2003 Mar; 38(3):176-80. Chinese.
24. Lee Y, et al., A ginsenoside-Rh1, a component of ginseng saponin, activates estrogen receptor in human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2003 Mar; 84(4):463-8.
25. Choi CH, et al., Reversal of P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance by protopanaxatriol ginsenosides from Korean red ginseng. Planta Med. 2003 Mar; 69(3):235-40.
26. Keum YS, et al., Inhibitory effects of the ginsenoside Rg3 on phorbol ester-induced cyclooxygenase-2 expression, NF-kappaB activation and tumor promotion. Mutat Res. 2003 Feb-Mar; 523-524:75-85.
27. Yun TK. Experimental and epidemiological evidence on non-organ specific cancer preventive effect of Korean ginseng and identification of active compounds. Mutat Res. 2003 Feb-Mar; 523-524:63-74. Review.
28. Su M, et al., [Morphological changes and inhibiting effect on human gastric cancer cell SGC-7901 caused by aining]. Zhong Yao Cai. 2002 May; 25(5):339-42. Chinese.
29. Lee YJ, et al., Ginsenoside-Rb1 acts as a weak phytoestrogen in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Arch Pharm Res. 2003 Jan; 26(1):58-63.
30. Suh SO, et al., Effects of red ginseng upon postoperative immunity and survival in patients with stage III gastric cancer. Am J Chin Med. 2002; 30(4):483-94.
    
    
    

IN VIVO:

1. Panwar M, et al., Evaluation of chemopreventive action and antimutagenic effect of the standardized Panax ginseng extract, EFLA400, in Swiss albino mice. Phytother Res. 2005 Jan; 19(1):65-71.
2. Lee JY, et al., Antitumor promotional effects of a novel intestinal bacterial metabolite (IH-901) derived from the protopanaxadiol-type ginsenosides in mouse skin. Carcinogenesis. 2005 Feb; 26(2):359-67. Epub 2004 Oct 21.
3. Shi X, et al., Effects of san qi on gastric secretion and protective factors of gastric mucosa in the rat with precancerous lesion of stomach. J Tradit Chin Med. 2003 Sep; 23(3):220-4.
   
   
   

CLINICAL:

1. Chang YS, et al., Panax ginseng: a role in cancer therapy? Integr Cancer Ther. 2003 Mar; 2(1):13-33. Review.
2. Xie FY, et al., [Clinical observation on nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with combined therapy of radiotherapy and ginseng polysaccharide injection]. Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2001 May; 21(5):332-4. Chinese.
   
   

Safety

用药忌宜： 因本品补气作用较强，故不宜用于实证，如外感初起，或里热炽盛，或肝阳上亢，以及湿阻、食滞等证。
反藜芦、恶莱菔子、畏五灵脂。 服人参时，不可同时服用萝卜、茶叶等食物。