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Ginseng as a Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Postmenopausal Symptoms

  • Shim, Myeong-Kuk (College of Life Science, Institute of Biotechnology, Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Sejong University) ;
  • Lee, Young-Joo (College of Life Science, Institute of Biotechnology, Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Sejong University)
  • Published : 2009.06.30

Abstract

Ginseng is a popular herbal medicine that has been used for thousands of years. A number of its components have been isolated and characterized, including ginsenosides, polysaccharides, peptides, polyacetylenic alcohols, and fatty acids. The lipophilic characteristics of ginsenosides have raised the possibility of their efficacy as steroid hormones. Several in-vitro studies have reported their pharmacological function as steroid hormones, especially estrogen, but no human study to date has confirmed their efficacy as alternatives to synthetic estrogen.

Keywords

References

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