Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng)

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    Giulia Guerrini

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    Nick Milazzo, Conni Covington
    Last Updated: April 3, 2024

    Panax quinquefolius, commonly referred to as “American ginseng”, appears to be useful in preventing some viral upper respiratory tract infections. It may also have hypoglycemic properties (may reduce blood glucose) and improve cognition. However, more research is needed.

    What is Panax quinquefolius?

    Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng) is a perennial plant that belongs to the Araliaceae family. It is native to the eastern region of North America, including Quebec and Manitoba (Canada), as well as Georgia, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin (United States).[4][5]

    American ginseng is used in a variety of products, including cosmetics (e.g., hair products, shower gels), supplements, drugs, food, and beverages (e.g., energy drinks). It is available in various forms, including tablets, extracts, and whole, sliced, or powdered root.[5][4]

    What are Panax quinquefolius’s main benefits?

    American ginseng shows promise in preventing certain viral upper respiratory tract infections . Evidence from randomized controlled trials using 200–400 mg twice daily of a specific American ginseng extract (CVT-E002) indicates a lower risk of developing recurrent colds as well as reduced cold or flu symptom severity in adults whether they had been vaccinated against influenza or not.[1][6][7] However, a study administering the same extract in decremental (decreasing) doses to children aged 3–12 did not yield significant results compared to a placebo. Given that this study primarily focused on safety, further research in pediatric populations is warranted to assess the efficacy of American ginseng.[8]

    Additionally, American ginseng may offer benefits for diabetes management. Oral co-administration of 3 grams per day of an American ginseng extract (CNT 2000) alongside conventional therapy for 8 weeks resulted in decreased levels of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting glucose in individuals with type 2 diabetes*.[3] However, it’s important to note that the extract used in this study may not match the composition of commercially available American ginseng supplements, necessitating further investigation before generalizing the findings.

    Can Panax quinquefolius improve cognition?Can Panax quinquefolius reduce high blood pressure?Can Panax quinquefolius enhance physical workout capacity?

    What are Panax quinquefolius’s main drawbacks?

    One 4-week randomized controlled trial found that American ginseng reduced the anticoagulant effect of warfarin when the two were combined.[9] However, the study included participants without clotting disorders who received warfarin for only 3 days, making it challenging to determine the relevance of this interaction for individuals who regularly take warfarin.

    Another study indicated that American ginseng may increase oxidative stress in postmenopausal women when administered at low dosages (1 gram per day) over a period of 4 months.[10]

    How does Panax quinquefolius work?

    The bioactive compounds responsible for American ginseng's health properties are known as ginsenosides or panaxosides. These compounds are glycosides consisting of an aglycone (a non-sugar part) and one or more sugar chains.[4] Additionally, American ginseng has a polysaccharide (multiple sugars) component, which appears to be responsible for its immunomodulatory properties.[5]

    Although all species within the Panax genus contain ginsenosides, their composition varies. American ginseng is particularly rich in the ginsenosides Rb1, Rd, and Re, whereas Panax ginseng contains mainly the Rb1, Rb2, and Rg1 types. The composition of ginsenosides and polysaccharides in American ginseng can also be affected by factors such as the environment in which it is cultivated and the age of the plant.[4][11][5]

    What are other names for Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng)?

    Note that Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng) is also known as:

    • Ginseng (USA)
    • Wild American ginseng
    • Occidental ginseng
    • Xi yang shen
    • North American ginseng

    Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng) should not be confused with:

    Dosage information

    American ginseng is typically used in dosages of 200–400 mg once or twice daily.[1][2]

    Some condition-specific studies, such as studies assessing the effect of American ginseng on diabetes, blood pressure, or workout capacity, have used larger dosages (2–3 grams daily) of standardized extracts for up to 12 weeks.[3]

    Frequently asked questions

    What is Panax quinquefolius?

    Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng) is a perennial plant that belongs to the Araliaceae family. It is native to the eastern region of North America, including Quebec and Manitoba (Canada), as well as Georgia, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin (United States).[4][5]

    American ginseng is used in a variety of products, including cosmetics (e.g., hair products, shower gels), supplements, drugs, food, and beverages (e.g., energy drinks). It is available in various forms, including tablets, extracts, and whole, sliced, or powdered root.[5][4]

    What are Panax quinquefolius’s main benefits?

    American ginseng shows promise in preventing certain viral upper respiratory tract infections . Evidence from randomized controlled trials using 200–400 mg twice daily of a specific American ginseng extract (CVT-E002) indicates a lower risk of developing recurrent colds as well as reduced cold or flu symptom severity in adults whether they had been vaccinated against influenza or not.[1][6][7] However, a study administering the same extract in decremental (decreasing) doses to children aged 3–12 did not yield significant results compared to a placebo. Given that this study primarily focused on safety, further research in pediatric populations is warranted to assess the efficacy of American ginseng.[8]

    Additionally, American ginseng may offer benefits for diabetes management. Oral co-administration of 3 grams per day of an American ginseng extract (CNT 2000) alongside conventional therapy for 8 weeks resulted in decreased levels of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting glucose in individuals with type 2 diabetes*.[3] However, it’s important to note that the extract used in this study may not match the composition of commercially available American ginseng supplements, necessitating further investigation before generalizing the findings.

    Can Panax quinquefolius improve cognition?

    Whether American ginseng can improve cognition remains somewhat uncertain, although some promising results have emerged.

    Research suggests that a single oral dose of 100 mg, 200 mg, or 400 mg of a standardized extract of American ginseng before cognitive testing may improve short-term working memory at all doses and reaction time at the lowest dose compared with a placebo.[2] Working memory was also improved in a second study involving older adults.[12]

    A separate study including people with schizophrenia found that supplementation with HT1001 American ginseng standardized extract (100 mg daily) improved visual working memory when taken for 4 weeks. While other physical symptoms, such as abnormal gait (abnormal walking) or muscle rigidity, also showed improvement, no notable effects were observed on verbal working memory, verbal fluency, sustained attention, or immediate or delayed auditory memory.[11]

    Can Panax quinquefolius reduce high blood pressure?

    The evidence for the use of American ginseng to reduce high blood pressure is still conflicting.

    Two randomized controlled trials found that supplementation with a specific American ginseng extract reduced systolic blood pressure, but not diastolic blood pressure, in individuals with type 2 diabetes compared to a control.[3][13] However, another study including people with hypertension but without diabetes, which used 6 different American ginseng preparations over an 8-day period, failed to find a significant effect on blood pressure.[14] More research is required to reach a definitive conclusion, as factors such as the duration of treatment, the type of American ginseng extract used, and the baseline medical condition of the participants may influence the outcomes.

    Can Panax quinquefolius enhance physical workout capacity?

    A preliminary study involving physically active male college students suggested that daily supplementation with American ginseng for 4 weeks prior to high-intensity exercise did not enhance aerobic workout capacity. However, creatine kinase levels, which are an indicator of muscle damage, were lower in the group taking American ginseng compared to a placebo.[15] It's important to note that this study had a small sample size of only 13 participants.

    What are Panax quinquefolius’s main drawbacks?

    One 4-week randomized controlled trial found that American ginseng reduced the anticoagulant effect of warfarin when the two were combined.[9] However, the study included participants without clotting disorders who received warfarin for only 3 days, making it challenging to determine the relevance of this interaction for individuals who regularly take warfarin.

    Another study indicated that American ginseng may increase oxidative stress in postmenopausal women when administered at low dosages (1 gram per day) over a period of 4 months.[10]

    How does Panax quinquefolius work?

    The bioactive compounds responsible for American ginseng's health properties are known as ginsenosides or panaxosides. These compounds are glycosides consisting of an aglycone (a non-sugar part) and one or more sugar chains.[4] Additionally, American ginseng has a polysaccharide (multiple sugars) component, which appears to be responsible for its immunomodulatory properties.[5]

    Although all species within the Panax genus contain ginsenosides, their composition varies. American ginseng is particularly rich in the ginsenosides Rb1, Rd, and Re, whereas Panax ginseng contains mainly the Rb1, Rb2, and Rg1 types. The composition of ginsenosides and polysaccharides in American ginseng can also be affected by factors such as the environment in which it is cultivated and the age of the plant.[4][11][5]

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