Ginseng

Study: A 2014 RCT (NCT02161198) involving 72 healthy volunteers (aged 50–75) in South Korea. Participants received 6 g/day of Y-75 (Ginsan, an acidic polysaccharide from Korean Panax ginseng) or placebo for 14 weeks in a double-blind, parallel design. Outcomes included natural killer (NK) cell activity, phagocytic activity, and TNF-α level

Findings: Y-75 significantly increased NK cell cytotoxic activity by 35.2% (8 weeks) and 40.2% (14 weeks), phagocytic activity by 25.2% and 39.4%, and TNF-α levels by 38.2% and 44.5%, respectively (p<0.05 vs. placebo). No serious adverse events were reported; mild side effects included headache and gastrointestinal discomfort (e.g., bloating), with no significant difference from placebo. The study confirmed Y-75’s immunomodulatory efficacy and high safety profile.

Study: A 2024 RCT in South Korea involving men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Participants received red ginseng oil (RXGIN, dose not specified) or placebo for an unspecified duration. Outcomes included International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and safety parameters

Findings: RXGIN significantly improved IPSS scores compared to placebo, indicating efficacy for LUTS. No serious adverse events were reported; mild side effects included gastrointestinal issues (e.g., dyspepsia) and headache, similar to placebo. The study supports red ginseng oil’s safety and potential for LUTS management.

Study: A 2013 systematic review of 30 RCTs (1,415 studies screened) from eight Korean medical databases, assessing ginseng (Korean or American, fresh/white/red) for various conditions (e.g., exercise capacity, cognitive performance, erectile dysfunction, cancer). The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool evaluated methodological quality

Findings: Nine RCTs showed benefits in healthy individuals (exercise capacity, quality of life, sleep); six RCTs supported ginseng for erectile dysfunction (0.5–2 g/day red ginseng); four RCTs indicated potential for gastric/colon cancer. Efficacy was inconsistent due to small sample sizes and variable preparations. Side effects were mild (e.g., headache, insomnia, gastric upset, constipation), with no significant difference from placebo. No serious adverse events were noted, but blinding issues due to ginseng’s taste/smell were a limitation.

Study: A 2023 umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, CNKI, Wanfang) evaluating ginseng’s effects on various health outcomes (e.g., fatigue, glucose metabolism, cardiovascular function)

Findings: Ginseng showed beneficial effects on general fatigue (not disease-specific), glucose metabolism, psychomotor function, and pulmonary disease. A 2023 meta-analysis of 19 studies (2,413 participants) suggested small benefits for general fatigue and chronic fatigue (with herbal formulas, not ginseng alone). Evidence for physical performance was weak. Side effects included mild gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., dyspepsia) and potential bleeding risks, with no serious adverse events. Drug interactions (e.g., with warfarin, hypoglycemic agents) were noted. Methodological quality was low, requiring larger RCTs.

Study: A 2015 systematic review of 45 RCTs (595 articles screened) from MEDLINE and four Korean databases (2005–2015), focusing on Panax ginseng as a monopreparation. Studies with combination therapies or non-oral administration were excluded. Outcomes included efficacy and adverse events in healthy individuals and patients with various conditions

Findings: Twenty-nine studies showed positive effects (e.g., on glucose metabolism, cognitive function), while 15 showed no effect. Sixteen studies reported mild adverse events (hot flushes, insomnia, dyspepsia), five reported none, and 23 did not mention adverse events. No serious adverse events were noted, with symptoms similar to placebo. Limitations included small sample sizes (most <200) and short durations (50% were 8–12 weeks). Larger, longer-term studies were recommended.

Study: A 2020 systematic review of 152 registered ginseng clinical trials (R-GCTs) and 119 published trials (P-GCTs) from databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Korean Studies, SCOPUS) and WHO’s ICTRP (2002–2017). Trials covered conditions like cognitive function, glucose metabolism, and cardiovascular health.

Findings: 79.8% of published trials (95/119) reported positive effects (e.g., on sexual function, cognitive behavior). Most trials were single-center with <200 participants and <3 months duration. Side effects were mild (e.g., gastrointestinal, headache), with no significant difference from placebo. The review highlighted inconsistent outcomes (20% of trials showed no effect) due to variable preparations and dosages. Recent X posts noted improved CD4/CD8 ratios and Treg cell stability in a 2025 trial for long COVID fatigue (n=216, 12 weeks, Korean red ginseng).