Therapeutic potential of Panax ginseng and its constituents, ginsenosides and gintonin, in neurological and neurodegenerative disorders: a patent review

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Ginseng, Panax ginseng, has been used for various diseases and proven its great efficacy in managing central nervous system diseases.

Area covered: This article covers the therapeutic potential of patents on ginseng and its active constituents to develop therapies for neurodegenerative and neurological disorders, since 2010. The literature review was provided using multiple search engines including Google Patent, Espacenet and US Patent in the field of neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, cognitive, and neurological disorders.

Expert opinion: The gathered data represented outstanding merits of ginseng in treatment of neurodegenerative and neurological disorders. These effects have been mediated by neurogenesis, anti-apoptotic and antioxidant properties, inhibition of mitochondrial dysfunction, receptor-operated Ca²⁺ channels, amyloid beta aggregation, and microglial activation as well as neurotransmitters modulation. However, these compounds have limited clinical application of for the prevention or treatment of neurodegenerative and neurological disorders. This might be due to incomplete data on their clinical pharmacokinetic and toxicity properties, and limited economic investments. There is an increasing trend in use of herbal medicines instead of chemical drugs, so it is time to make more attention to the application of ginseng, the grandfather of medicinal plants, from basic sciences to patients’ bed.

KEYWORDS:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• ginsenoside
• neuroprotective
• Panax ginseng
• Parkinson’s disease
• Patent

Article highlights

• This review focuses on the therapeutic applications of patents comprising ginseng and its constituents in central nervous system diseases.

• Bioavailability and clinical efficacy of ginsenosides have been improved by using some topical preparations and intranasal formulations.

• Efficacy of dammarane triterpenoid glycosides derivatives in the treatment or prevention of neurological disorders has been proposed.

• The combinations of ginseng or its constituents with herbal products or medicines were proposed to enhance their therapeutic efficacy and minimize side effects in neurological disorders.

• Further pre-clinical testing and clinical trials are required in order to support the safety and efficacy of the prepared formulations and compositions.

This box summarizes key points contained in the article.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.