REVIEW article
Front. Pharmacol.
Sec. Ethnopharmacology
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1650565
The potential of Medicinal Food plant Panax ginseng C. A. Mey. in managing chronic diseases via Gut Microbiota Regulation: A systematic review of mechanisms and evidence
Provisionally accepted
- 1Shandong First Medical University Affiliated Hospital Neck, Jinan, China
- 2Qingdao Haici Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- 3Qingdao Haici Traditional Chinese Medicine Medical Group North Campus, Qingdao, China
- 4Institute of Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Research, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China., Jinan, China
- 5Shandong First Medical University Affiliated Hospital Neck, Jinan, China, Jinan, China
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Panax ginseng C.A. Mey. (PG), a well-documented medicinal food plant with generally recognized as safe status, exhibits therapeutic potential for managing metabolic disorders (T2DM, obesity), inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), and neurodegenerative conditions via modulation of the gut microbiota (GM). This systematic review of 102 studies reveals that ginsenosides (Rb1, Rg1, Rg3) undergo biotransformation mediated by the gut microbiota (GM) into bioactive metabolites (e.g., compound K), enhancing their bioavailability by 3-to 5-fold (p < 0.01). Three core mechanisms were identified: (1) inhibition of the TLR4/NF-κB pathway reduces pro-inflammatory cytokine levels by 40-60%; (2) upregulation of tight junction proteins (ZO-1/claudin-4) strengthens intestinal barrier function by 2.3-fold; and (3) selective GM modulation increases the relative abundance of probiotics (Lactobacillus ↑2.1-fold, Bifidobacterium ↑1.8-fold) while decreasing pathogenic bacteria (Clostridium ↓65%), collectively enhancing short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production by 3.2-fold and activating AMPK/SIRT1 signaling. Clinical evidence supports PG's efficacy: 15.2% reduction in fasting blood glucose levels in T2DM, 28.5% decrease in diamine oxidase (DAO) activity in IBD, and improvements in cognitive function scores (Mini-Mental State Examination scores increased by 2.4 points) in mild cognitive impairment. Emerging research further reveals a "microbiota-gut-brain axis" mediated by GM-derived metabolites acting via G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and vagal pathways.
Keywords: Medicinal food plant, Panax ginseng C. A. Mey., Gut Microbiota, Pharmacology, plant metabolites, Toxicology
Received: 20 Jun 2025; Accepted: 30 Jul 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Gao, Wang, Chen, Wang and Liu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Wensheng Wang, Institute of Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Research, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China., Jinan, China
Yongmei Liu, Shandong First Medical University Affiliated Hospital Neck, Jinan, China, Jinan, China
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