Saponins are steroid or triterpenoid glycosides, common in a large number of plants and plant products that are important in human and animal nutrition. Several biological effects have been ascribed to saponins. Extensive research has been carried out into the membrane-permeabilising, immunostimulant, hypocholesterolaemic and anticarcinogenic properties of saponins and they have also been found to significantly affect growth, feed intake and reproduction in animals. These structurally diverse compounds have also been observed to kill protozoans and molluscs, to be antioxidants, to impair the digestion of protein and the uptake of vitamins and minerals in the gut, to cause hypoglycaemia, and to act as antifungal and antiviral agents. These compounds can thus affect animals in a host of different ways both positive and negative.

/pdf/the-biological-action-of-saponins-in-animal-systems-a-review-21yt7p784a.pdf

The biological action of saponins in animal systems: a review

Therapeutic effects of herbal extracts and constituents in animal models of psychiatric disorders.

Objective: Ginseng is one of the most popular herbal remedies, and a number of health claims are made for it. This systematic review provides an evaluation of the current evidence for or against the efficacy of ginseng root extract. Methods: Searches of the computerised literature databases Medline, Embase, Biosis, CISCOM and the Cochrane Library were performed to retrieve double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trials of ginseng root extract for any indication. Manufacturers and experts were contacted to provide additional information. There were no restrictions regarding the language of publication. The outcome and methodological quality of all trials were independently assessed by two reviewers. Results: Sixteen trials met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. These trials related to physical performance, psychomotor performance and cognitive function, immunmodulation, diabetes mellitus and herpes simplex type-II infections. The evidence found for ginseng root extract is compelling for none of these indications. Conclusion: Based on these data, it is concluded that the efficacy of ginseng root extract is not established beyond reasonable doubt for any of these indications. The widespread use of ginseng as a herbal remedy warrants more rigorous investigations to assess its efficacy and safety.

The efficacy of ginseng. A systematic review of randomised clinical trials.

Although antioxidant systems help control the level of reactive oxygen species they may be overwhelmed during periods of oxidative stress. Evidence suggests that oxidative stress components as well as inflammatory mediators may be involved in the pathogenesis of vascular disorders, where localized markers of oxidative damage have been found. In this regard we investigated the putative antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of blueberry and cranberry anthocyanins and hydroxycinnamic acids against H(2)O(2) and TNFalpha induced damage to human microvascular endothelial cells. Polyphenols from both berries were able to localize into endothelial cells subsequently reducing endothelial cells vulnerability to increased oxidative stress at both the membrane and cytosol level. Furthermore, berry polyphenols also reduced TNFalpha induced up-regulation of various inflammatory mediators (IL-8, MCP-1 and ICAM-1) involved in the recruitment of leukocytes to sites of damage or inflammation along the endothelium. In conclusion, polyphenols isolated from both blueberry and cranberry were able to afford protection to endothelial cells against stressor induced up-regulation of oxidative and inflammatory insults. This may have beneficial actions against the initiation and development of vascular diseases and be a contributing factor in the reduction of age-related deficits in neurological impairments previously reported by us.

Potential role of dietary flavonoids in reducing microvascular endothelium vulnerability to oxidative and inflammatory insults

https://bemri.com/app/download/6538866504/Use+of+ginseng+in+medicine+with+emphasis+on+neurodegenerative+disorders+(1).pdf

Use of ginseng in medicine with emphasis on neurodegenerative disorders.

ADULT rats were prepared with either sham or medial prefrontal cortex lesions and administered, beginning on the third post-operative day, either, 0, 40, or 80 mg kg -1 crude ginseng extract suspended in saline daily for the next 30 days. Later, kinetic functions were evaluated on an elevated rotating rod. No long-term influences of the treatments were observed on this task. Significant positive influences of ginseng were observed in the position reversal task. The learning deficits observed in the saline control brain-damaged rats were significantly attenuated in the ginseng-treated animals. An analysis of trial 2 response accuracy across reversals revealed enhanced cognitive abilities (i.e. acquisition of a win-stay, lose-shift strategy) in both the brain damaged and sham control rats administered ginseng. Generally, administration of the higher dose resulted in better performance in the learning paradigm. The exact mechanism responsible for these promising results remains to be discovered. Several possible mechanisms are discussed.

William F. McDaniel

Papers

Ginseng improves strategic learning by normal and brain-damaged rats.