Ginseng, the natural effectual antiviral: Protective effects of Korean Red Ginseng against viral infection

Im, Kyungtaek; Kim, Jisu; Min, Hyeyoung

Ample studies have been conducted to demonstrate the antiviral activities of RGE and purified compounds present in ginseng on influenza virus A infection in vitro and in vivo. RGE treatment improved the viability of human alveolar epithelial A549 cells upon H1N1 infection accompanied by a decrease in virus-induced cytokine secretion and reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation [29] . Protopanaxatriol-type ginsenoside Re has been shown to protect human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) from avian H9N2/ G1 influenza-induced apoptosis by inhibiting virus-induced interferon-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) production [30] . The inhibitory effects of RGE on viral replication were also tested in MadineDarby canine kidney (MDCK) cells using the 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus [31] . In in vivo studies, RGE, ginseng polysaccharide (GP), or ginseng saponin was orally administered to mice or ferrets prior to viral infection, and their protective effects were evaluated by measuring body weight, survival rate, lung viral titers, cytokine production, histopathology, etc. The antiviral effects on the H1N1 strain have been most widely tested, and those on H3N2, H9N2/G1 (avian influenza), and H5N1 were also examined. In detail, RGE has been reported to have antiviral effects on H1N1, H3N2, and H5N1 [31, 32] ; GP has effects on H1N1 and H3N2 [33] ; and saponin has an effect on H1N1 [34] . The antiviral activities of RGE, GP, and ginseng saponin fraction have also been compared using the H1N1 strain. Yin et al [34] showed that GP was the most effective in improving the symptoms of influenza virus infection, followed by RGE and saponin in that order.