Marathon Ginseng Gardens | Blog Series | Article 2 of 6
The molecular science behind the benefits — explained by the researcher who spent 20 years studying it.
Most people who ask me about ginseng expect me to talk about energy. Or focus. Or something vague about “wellness.”
I am a cardiologist. I talk about Nitric Oxide.
The Two Active Engines: Ginsenosides and Polysaccharides
American ginseng contains over 200 bioactive components. Two major compound classes drive its effects — and most supplement companies only talk about one of them.
Ginsenosides are steroidal saponins with a dammarane triterpenoid structure. The most abundant in American ginseng are Rb1, Re, Rg1, Rc, and Rd, making up over 70% of total saponin content. I hold a patent on the extraction of Ginsenoside Rg2 — one of the most bioactive — for its cardiovascular and neuroprotective promise.
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How to Identify Top Quality Ginseng Look for a standardised preparation containing >5% for Rb1+Rg1+Re or >8% total ginsenosides. This is the clinical benchmark used in my clinical observations under critical situations. Roots from Marathon Ginseng with the five year old roots, consistently test at the high end of this range due the annual accumulation of active ingredients and harsh cold-climate growing conditions. |
What Polysaccharides Are — The Second Engine
Polysaccharides constitute approximately 10% of American ginseng root by dry weight. They are complex, high-molecular-weight carbohydrate chains that work through an entirely different set of biological pathways than ginsenosides — interacting directly with the immune system’s first-line defence cells: macrophages, natural killer cells, T-lymphocytes, and dendritic cells.
Immune activation via MAPK and NF-κB pathways. A landmark 2012 study (Assinewe et al., J Ethnopharmacol, PMID 22521964) demonstrated that high-molecular-weight polysaccharides in North American ginseng activate the MAPK (ERK-1/2), PI3K, p38, and NF-κB signalling pathways in human PBMCs, inducing a Th1 immune transcriptional profile — the biological signature of a coordinated adaptive immune response.
Balanced immunomodulation — not just stimulation. A 2015 study in Pharmaceutical Research (Azike, Charpentier & Lui, PMID 25381063) confirmed that American ginseng polysaccharides both stimulate basal innate immune function and suppress LPS-induced pro-inflammatory overresponse. This balance — turning up the immune system when underactive, tempering it when overactive — is the hallmark of a true immunomodulator.
Synergy with ginsenosides. A 2021 study in Frontiers in Immunology (Zhou et al., PMC 8100215) compared polysaccharides alone, ginsenosides alone, and the two combined. The combined treatment produced the strongest restoration of immune function, reversing lymphocyte subsets and stimulating CD4+ T cells and IgA-secreting cells. Whole root delivers both. This is why I recommend whole root preparations alongside extracts.
Gut barrier protection. The same 2021 study showed that American ginseng polysaccharides help restore gut microbiota diversity and intestinal mucosal barrier integrity under immune stress — directly relevant to cancer treatment, serious illness recovery, or chronic inflammatory conditions.
Standardized ginsenoside products deliver the saponin profile reliably — important for blood sugar, cognition, and cardiovascular support. But whole root preparations and aqueous decoctions preserve the polysaccharide fraction that most capsule extracts lose in processing. For immune support in particular, whole root or full-spectrum aqueous extracts are clinically superior.
The Heart: Nitric Oxide and Blood Pressure
Ginsenoside Rg1 stimulates Nitric Oxide (NO) production in endothelial cells — the same pathway targeted by modern cardiovascular drugs. When I first drank ginseng tea, I expected my heart to race. Instead my blood pressure dropped from 128/90 to 122/85 within 15 minutes. Ginseng was relaxing my blood vessels, not constricting them.
The Brain: Memory, Focus, and Neuroprotection
A 2015 clinical study showed that a single dose of American ginseng significantly improved working memory in healthy middle-aged adults. Research has also demonstrated anxiolytic effects — reducing anxiety without sedation — and neuroprotective properties against ischemic stroke damage.
Blood Sugar: Better Than Most People Realize
Multiple clinical trials have shown that American ginseng reduces postprandial blood glucose in both diabetic and non-diabetic individuals. A 2019 study found that 3g per day significantly reduced fasting blood sugar. The mechanism involves improved pancreatic function, enhanced insulin sensitivity, and better glucose uptake in tissues.
Immunity: The Clinical Trial Results
The Cold-FX trials produced a 48% reduction in respiratory illness risk and 55% shorter duration. CVT-E002, the extract used in those trials, derives significant immune-activating effect from its polysaccharide content. A 2021 review confirmed American ginseng reduced cancer-related fatigue at 2,000 mg/day, which I believe is under dosed. I routine recommend at 5-10 grams a day with marked improvements with no apparent side effects.
The Adaptogen Effect: What It Actually Means
Ginseng meets the three pharmacological criteria for an adaptogen: non-toxic, non-specific stress resistance, and normalization of physiological function. It supports adrenal function, modulates cortisol response, and helps the body maintain homeostasis under chronic stress.
Polysaccharides
1. Assinewe VA et al. J Ethnopharmacol. 2012;142(2):521–529. PMID: 22521964
2. Azike CG, Charpentier PA, Lui EMK. Pharm Res. 2015;32(3):876–897. PMID: 25381063
3. Zhou R et al. Front Immunol. 2021;12:665901. PMC: 8100215
4. Li Y et al. Carbohydr Polym. 2017;157:653–661. PMID: 27842857
Ginsenosides & General
5. Scholey A et al. Psychopharmacology. 2010;212(3):345–356. PMID: 20676609 [Memory]
6. Vuksan V et al. Arch Intern Med. 2000;160(7):1009–1013. PMID: 10761967 [Blood sugar]
7. McElhaney JE et al. J Altern Complement Med. 2006;12(2):153–157. PMID: 16566674 [Cold-FX]
8. Barton DL et al. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2013;105(16):1230–1238. PMID: 23853057 [Cancer fatigue]
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