Effect of Panax ginseng Extract on Growth Responses of Human Intestinal Bacteria and Bacterial Metabolism

The growth responses of a variety of human Intestinal bacteria to extracts of Pun(1.vKy'n.ieny and five other oriental medicinal Araliaceae were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The extracts enhanced the growth of Bifidobncterilim breve and B. longum in Media with or without carbon sources, suggesting the bifid factor (5) might be involved in the phenomenon. This effect was most pronounced with water extract of p. ginseng, the growth of 27 bifidobacteria strains belonging to B. ndolexcentium, H. longlrm, and 1. breve and B. iniuntis being greatly stimurated, whereas seven B. bifidum strains and other bacteria such as clostridia and 5.fcherirhia coli had little or no ability to utilizes it (or growth. Methanol extracts of p, ginseng were found to selectively inhibit growth of various clostridia including C. perfringens and C. Paraputrificum, but this effect was not observed on other bacteria including bifidobacteria. The effect of ginseng extract intake(600 mg/day for two weeks) on the fecal microflora, pH, volatile fatty acids, ammonia, putrefactive products, and -glucuronidase, -glucosidase and nitroreductase activities, and on the blood components (triglyceride, total cholesterol and ammonia) were investigated using seven healthy human volunteers. The total concentration of fecal microflora including Bri'idobucterilim app. during the period of ginseng extract intake was significantly unaffected from the proceeding and sub sequent control periods. However, the frequency of occurrence of subjects having C. perfringens was significantly decreased. The fecal pH value was also significantly decreased, suggesting that the intake might increase the activity of Bifidobacterium spp. Other biochemical properties in faces did not changed significantly. The levels of ammonia and triglycerid in blood were decreased with ginseng extract intake. These results may be an indication of at least one of the pharmacological actions of P ginseng as an adaptogen.