Study on the Anti-Fatigue and Lipid-Lowering Effects of American Ginseng Polysaccharides
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.67206/jj0hrd23Keywords:
American ginseng polysaccharides, Panax quinquefolius, anti-fatigue, lipid-lowering, hyperlipidemia, high-fat diet, pancreatic lipase, cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), mouse swimming endurance test, ginsenosides, metabolic disorderAbstract
American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), a perennial herb of Araliaceae family, is mainly cultivated in the United States and Canada and has been successfully introduced in parts of China. Traditional Chinese medicine records that American ginseng is cold in nature with slightly sweet and bitter taste, and can replenish qi, nourish yin, clear heat and promote fluid production. Existing researches on American ginseng mainly focus on ginsenosides, while the lipid-lowering and anti-fatigue activities of its polysaccharides remain insufficiently explored. This study aimed to investigate the dual pharmacological effects of American ginseng polysaccharides. In this experiment, 6-week-old C57 wild-type mice were used as experimental animals. A hyperlipidemia model was established by feeding mice with high-fat feed, and three groups were set up: blank control group, high-fat model group, and American ginseng polysaccharide treatment group. The anti-fatigue capacity of mice was evaluated through the forced swimming test, and serum total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels were detected to assess lipid-lowering efficacy. Swimming test results showed that the swimming time of mice in polysaccharide treatment group was 194±7.87 s, which was significantly longer than 127±6.24 s of high-fat model group and 163±9.84 s of control group (p<0.05), proving the prominent anti-fatigue activity of American ginseng polysaccharides. Lipid detection data demonstrated that the polysaccharides could markedly reduce serum total cholesterol of hyperlipidemic mice, with faster TC decline rate at all detection time points compared with the untreated high-fat group. However, no obvious regulatory effect on serum triglyceride (TG) was observed. The underlying mechanism may be related to improved blood circulation, regulated hepatic glycogen metabolism and enhanced energy conversion efficiency. Compared with ginsenosides, American ginseng polysaccharides have milder and more balanced pharmacological properties, without side effects such as hyperactivity or precocious puberty, hence suitable for most populations. This study verified that American ginseng polysaccharides possess both anti-fatigue and cholesterol-lowering bioactivities, providing experimental basis for developing functional products derived from American ginseng polysaccharides.References
[1] Assinewe VA, Amason JT, Aubry A, Mullin J, Lemaire I. Extractable polysaccharides of Panax quinquefolius L. (North American ginseng) root stimulate TNFalpha production by alveolar macrophages. Phytomedicine. 2002 Jul;9(5):398-404. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1078/09447110260571625
[2] Karu N, Reifen R, Kerem Z. Weight gain reduction in mice fed Panax ginseng saponin, a pancreatic lipase inhibitor. J Agric Food Chem. 2007 Apr 18;55(8):2824-2828. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/jf0628025
[3] Li ZM, Shao ZJ, Qu D, Huo XH, Hua M, Chen JB, Lu YS, Sha JY, Li SS, Sun YS. Transformation Mechanism of Rare Ginsenosides in American Ginseng by Different Processing Methods and Antitumour Effects. Front Nutr. 2022 Apr 4;9:833859. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.833859
[4] Zhang S, Ding C, Liu X, Zhao Y, Ding Q, Sun S, Zhang J, Yang J, Liu W, Li W. Research Progress on Extraction, Isolation, Structural Analysis and Biological Activity of Polysaccharides from Panax Genus. Molecules. 2023 Apr 26;28(9):3733. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28093733
[5] Nakamura S, Sugimoto S, Matsuda H, Yoshikawa M. Medicinal flowers. XVII. New dammarane-type triterpene glycosides from flower buds of American ginseng, Panax quinquefolium L. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 2007 Sep;55(9):1342-1348. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1248/cpb.55.1342
[6] Wang JS, Yin HJ, Guo CY, Huang Y, Xia CD, Liu Q. Influence of high blood glucose fluctuation on endothelial function of type 2 diabetes mellitus rats and effects of Panax Quinquefolius Saponin of stem and leaf. Chin J Integr Med. 2013 Mar;19(3):217-222. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-012-1093-z
[7] Vuksan V, Sievenpiper JL, Xu Z, Wong EY, Jenkins AL, Beljan-Zdravkovic U, Leiter LA, Josse RG, Stavro MP. Konjac-Mannan and American ginsing: emerging alternative therapies for type 2 diabetes mellitus. J Am Coll Nutr. 2001 Oct;20(5 Suppl):370S-380S. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/07315724.2001.10719170
[8] Zhou R, He D, Xie J, Zhou Q, Zeng H, Li H, Huang L. The Synergistic Effects of Polysaccharides and Ginsenosides From American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) Ameliorating Cyclophosphamide-Induced Intestinal Immune Disorders and Gut Barrier Dysfunctions Based on Microbiome-Metabolomics Analysis. Front Immunol. 2021 Apr 22;12:665901. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.665901
[9] Wang XY, Zhang DD, Yin JY, Nie SP, Xie MY. Recent developments in Hericium erinaceus polysaccharides: extraction, purification, structural characteristics and biological activities. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2019;59(sup1):S96-S115. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2018.1521370
[10] Li CX, Liu Y, Zhang YZ, Li JC, Lai J. Astragalus polysaccharide: a review of its immunomodulatory effect. Arch Pharm Res. 2022 Jun;45(6):367-389. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12272-022-01393-3
[11] Fan C, Li S, Li C, Ma S, Zou L, Wu Q. Isolation, identification and cellulase production of a cellulolytic bacterium from intestines of giant panda. Wei Sheng Wu Xue Bao. 2012 Sep 4;52(9):1113-1121.
[12]Zheng Y, Dang B, Zhao Y. Construction of TNF-α and IL-6 Fusion Protein Gene Clone. Global Biomed Front. 2026;2(1). https://doi.org/10.67206/6wseg474 DOI: https://doi.org/10.67206/6wseg474
