The effects of Panax ginseng on lipid profile,pro-oxidant: Antioxidant status and high-sensitivity C reactive protein levels in hyperlipidemic patients in Iran

Background: because of the conflicting results from previous studies regarding the efficacy of ginseng on lipid profile and anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative activities of its components,we aimed to evaluate the effects of panax ginseng on lipid profile,pro-oxidant - anti-oxidant status and high-sensitivity c reactive protein (hs-crp) levels. methods: forty iranian hyperlipidemic patients were randomly assigned to placebo (n = 20) or control (n = 20) groups in this double-blind randomized controlled trial. the ginseng or placebo was taken two capsules twice a day for 8 weeks. total cholesterol (tc),triglyceride (tg),low density lipoprotein cholesterol (ldl-c),high density lipoprotein cholesterol (hdl-c),fasting blood glucose,serum creatinine and hs-crp levels and pro-oxidant - anti-oxidant balance (pab) were estimated before and after intervention. results: there were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to changes in serum tg,ldl-c,hdl-c,and tc/hdl-c levels. nor were there significant differences between the two groups with respect to changes in hs-crp level and pab from baseline to week 8. conclusions: our study demonstrates that ginseng does not have significant effects on lipid profile,hs-crp level and pab. further clinical studies,with a larger sample size,more prolonged period of therapy are needed to investigate the therapeutic effects of ginseng.