Ginseng extract helps increase resistance against many influenza viruses

Ginseng root or root part of ginseng plant is one of the most commonly used herbs and is sold directly without prescription to treat fatigue. Although ginseng has been used by humans for thousands of years, researchers have recently begun to examine ginseng's therapeutic and pharmacological abilities including anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory properties. . Their research also shows that ginseng works on the immune system, affecting the production of viruses and is an effective remedy to prevent influenza.

The findings in a recent study show that the use of red ginseng extract (red ginseng) in Korea can prevent infection by many different influenza viruses. Experiments in mice have also demonstrated that long-term use of ginseng will prepare the immune system for better resistance to future pathogens. The effect of ginseng on the influenza virus does not differentiate it, making it different from the vaccine prevention solutions from vaccines and prescription antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu.

Red ginseng extract

Korean red ginseng extract is produced by evaporating and drying the fresh root of 6-year-old ginseng. Ginseng roots are then boiled with water and ripple - the liquid floating on the material settles her. This is a preparation step to extract red ginseng. Due to biological effects, extracts of plants are often tested on animals. Although the human body's beneficial effects from red ginseng extract are well known, its antiviral mechanism is still very vague.

In previous studies, the effects of ginseng were often tested on rats by mouth and also the most common method when a healthy person uses ginseng. Researchers have found that rats given ginseng have a moderate to high resistance to pandemic influenza viruses in 2009. Although it does not completely prevent infection, experimental mice still lost weight, but the results showed better survival. In addition, the researchers also realized that if ginseng was used after illness, the protective effect of ginseng was not as effective as before.

Cross protection capability

However, most adults who use ginseng are immune to the flu either through previous exposure to the virus or vaccination. The researchers also tested ginseng administration for rats instead of oral dosages and the results showed that the resistance of mice was significantly improved and they could fight many strains of influenza. different through cross protection operation.

Infection with rats with a mixture of influenza virus and ginseng extract caused better clearance of lung viruses and reduced inflammatory cytokine levels but also increased antiviral cytokine levels. From laboratory tests, researchers who know Korean red ginseng extract can limit the development of flu viruses. This extract possesses many mechanisms for fighting infectious diseases and can be very beneficial if used in healthy mice with a history of exposure or before being infected.

In addition, recent studies published in Nutrients also prove that ginseng improves the viability of lung epithelial cells when a person is infected with the flu virus . In addition, ginseng treatment reduced the expression of inflammatory aid genes by partial intervention with oxygen-containing chemical reaction molecules formed by influenza viruses.

Mice that were given ginseng for longer periods (about 60 days) showed many effects on the immune system such as stimulating the production of antiviral proteins after infection with the influenza virus. Ginseng also prevents the infiltration of cells that cause pneumonia in mice. Therefore, ginseng may contain many potential beneficial effects in preventing influenza virus infection by affecting the immune system in many ways.

If a person uses ginseng in small doses for many years, there will be no significant side effects. But although ginseng seems to be a very promising dose to prevent influenza, it should be noted that the beneficial results of ginseng are all carried out on healthy people in normal doses. Based on animal studies, the researchers also emphasized that ginseng has almost no or little beneficial protective effects if used after the body has experienced a series of infectious symptoms. infection.