| Korean red ginseng's (KRG) effect on vascular parameters and accountability of active components remains poorly characterized clinically. The objective was therefore, to establish a dose-response relationship and contribution of ginsenoside and polysaccharide components by systematically evaluating vascular efficacy of KRG in a series of 3 crossover, placebo-controlled RCT. Study-1 tested escalating doses of KRG on systolic and diastolic blood pressure and showed an insignificant dose-response effect in individuals with hypertension. Study-2 evaluated the relationship of KRG and its isolated ginsenoside and polysaccharide fractions on pulse-wave reflections in healthy individuals, and demonstrated significant improvement in augmentation index with KRG, verifing that its efficacy lies within the ginsenoside fraction. These effects were subsequently translated in study-3 into significant improvement in endothelium-dependant vasodilation with KRG and ginsenosides in healthy individuals. The studies provide a mechanistic basis to clarify vascular effects of KRG and put forward a foundation for component-based standardization of KRG. |
