Ginseng exhibits notably beneficial effects on cardiovascular system health, alongside therapeutic properties against various cardiovascular ailments. A recent review article clarifies which of these effects are actually verifiable.
Researchers from the Southwest Medical University (China) analyzed the findings of studies concerning ginseng’s influence on the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases spanning from 1998 to 2025, publishing their results in the Journal of Ginseng Research.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, ginseng ($\textit{Panax ginseng}$) is a well-established medicinal herb, and it is also garnering increasing attention within contemporary medicine. A growing body of research substantiates its prophylactic and therapeutic capabilities, particularly concerning cardiovascular system disorders.
The scientific team presented a comprehensive review article summarizing the research outcomes from recent decades and outlining those ginseng effects currently considered proven.
According to the experts, during the 1998 to 2002 timeframe, investigations primarily concentrated on ginseng’s potential therapeutic impact in managing heart failure and the underlying mechanisms, as well as the modulating effects of ginsenosides on apoptosis following myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.
A systematic examination of adverse effects and drug interactions also held a central focus during this phase, aiming to evaluate ginseng as a credible alternative therapeutic agent for cardiovascular conditions, the research team clarifies.
Furthermore, the investigators managed to elucidate several mechanisms through which ginseng safeguards the cardiovascular system. They note that its action is primarily exerted via antioxidant and anti-ischemic properties, alongside the regulation of vascular function.
Between 2003 and 2007, research centered, among other things, on the mechanisms involved when ginseng alleviates doxorubicin-induced heart failure, and the signaling pathways by which ginseng modulates the cardiovascular system and delivers its antioxidant effects. Other potentially significant molecular mechanisms were also explored.
The research team reports that ginsenosides originating from ginseng confer a protective benefit to the cardiovascular system through diverse signaling avenues, notably by modulating cardiomyocyte apoptosis and endothelial function.
It was identified by the experts that ginsenoside Rg1 is a key active component, and preliminary investigations into its clinical applicability have already taken place.
From 2008 through 2012, researchers systematically characterized the active constituents and clinical advantages of ginseng as a traditional remedy while also investigating the molecular mechanisms by which ginsenosides regulate blood pressure, they explain.
Research during this period also concentrated on ginseng’s therapeutic targets in preventing and treating heart failure, according to the experts. Other small-scale clinical trials were gradually conducted, including assessing its suitability as an adjunctive therapy for cardiovascular diseases.
From 2013 to 2018, ginseng research pertaining to cardiovascular disease management saw systematic intensification, and progress was made in the pharmacological deployment of ginsenosides for cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment, the research group explains.
Between 2019 and 2022, the potential benefits of ginseng for addressing cardiovascular complications linked to COVID-19 became a primary research thrust. Other investigative areas, as noted by the experts, encompassed its influence on inflammatory responses, platelet aggregation, and vascular function.
Additionally, this period highlighted standardized preparation protocols and the assessment of clinical usability for ginseng formulations; initial explorations into novel domains like metabolic syndrome and COVID-19-related cardiovascular sequelae were also undertaken.
The researchers emphasize that the standardized quality control of ginseng preparations, alongside the study of their clinical deployment, represents a crucial transition from foundational scientific inquiry to practical clinical application.
Moreover, standardized quality oversight of ginseng products and the examination of their clinical utility mark a vital shift from basic science toward real-world clinical practice. For the 2023 to 2025 period, priority research areas, per the experts, focused, in part, on exploring the ‘dose-response’ relationship of ginseng compounds in altering cardiovascular risk factors, along with uncovering additional mechanisms through which ginsenosides counteract atherosclerosis.
More recently, there has been a surge of interest in ginseng’s potential advantages in cardio-oncology, specifically concerning its protective mechanisms against chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity and possible neuroprotective effects.
Overall, current research findings underscore the substantial potential of ginseng in both the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, with numerous patients already reaping benefits from this medicinal herb. Nevertheless, ginseng is positioned to offer even greater contributions to cardiovascular health protection in the future.
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