Journal of Ginseng Research

The Korean Society of Ginseng (고려인삼학회)
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Cognitive function improvement effects of gintonin-enriched fraction in subjective memory impairment: An assessor- and participant-blinded placebo-controlled study

  • Rami Lee (Ginsentology Research Laboratory and Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University) ;
  • Han Sang Lee (Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital) ;
  • Won-Woo Kim (Ginsentology Research Laboratory and Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University) ;
  • Manho Kim (Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Seung-Yeol Nah (Ginsentology Research Laboratory and Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University)
  • Received : 2023.04.26
  • Accepted : 2023.06.14
  • Published : 2023.11.01
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Abstract

Background: Gintonin is a new material of ginseng that acts through the ginseng-derived lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor ligand. The gintonin-enriched fraction (GEF) inhibits amyloid plaque accumulation in the cortex and hippocampus, improves cognitive dysfunction by increasing acetylcholine levels, and promoted hippocampal neurogenesis in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease. We evaluated the effect of the GEF on the cognitive performance of subjects with subjective memory impairment (SMI). Methods: In this eight-week, randomized, assessor- and participant-blinded, placebo-controlled study, participants with SMI were assigned to three groups receiving placebo, GEF 300 mg/day or GEF 600 mg/day. The Korean versions of the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (K-ADAS), Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE), and Stroop color-word test (K-SCWT) were also evaluated along with the safety profiles. Results: One hundred thirty-six participants completed the study. After eight weeks, we analyzed intergroup differences in primary or secondary outcome score changes. When we compared the GEF group with the placebo group, we observed significant improvements in the K-ADAS and K-SCWT scores. The GEF group did not show a significant improvement in K-MMSE and BDI scores compared to the placebo group. No adverse events were observed in the gintonin and placebo groups for eight weeks. Conclusion: The GEF is safe and effective in improving subjective cognitive impairment related to both the K-ADAS and K-SCWT in this study. However, further large-scale and randomized controlled studies are warranted to secure other cognitive function tests besides the K-ADAS and K-SCWT, and to confirm the findings of the current study.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by a grant from the Ministry of Health and Welfare (HU22C0168) to M. Kim and a National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korean government (MSIT) (2023R1A2C1003481) to S.Y. Nah.

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