Eleuthero, the Siberian ginseng

Eleutherococcus senticosus, Siberian ginseng, Stekelpanax, Taiga root, all names for one and the same medicinal plant with adaptogenic effect. An inventory of scientific research. The eleuthero, as the shrub is now officially called, is a low shrub with light brown branches that are full of spines. The shape of the leaves is obovate with a pointed top, double serrate, dark green, lighter in color below and hairy along the veins. Small greenish-yellow flowers appear in July, usually in clusters. In autumn the shrub has small, black, shiny fruits. The taiga root originates from Manchuria, Korea and China, but can also grow in Western Europe. You can find specimens in the National Botanical Garden of Meise.

History

Since the composition (contents) of Eleutherococcus senticosus was only investigated in the second half of the twentieth century, the plant has only recently been accepted as a medicinal plant. Due to the shortage and the high price that people had to pay for real ginseng, a replacement herb with the same toning properties was sought. Through a screening of the plant family of the Araliaceae, one came across Eleutherococcus senticosus, the root of which could compete with that of the ginseng root in terms of working profile and even exceeded some of its effects. In addition, it was a plant that was found in abundance in Russia. Already in 1962, Eleutherococcus senticosus was officially considered a medicinal plant and included in the Soviet Pharmacopeia. In 1971, an official ethanolic extract was exported to the United States and subsequently the alcoholic extract was exported as a tonic around the world, the USA, Canada, Australia and several European countries. It was sold in the form of tablets, capsules, syrup and liquid extracts; both in pharmacies and health stores. Since 1997, the dried and cut underground roots of E. senticosus have also been registered as officina in the DAB (German Medical Book).

Some studies on the immune system

38 healthy people received 6 grams of a liquid Siberian ginseng extract. This stimulated the immune system by increasing the number of T-lymphocytes, activated T-cells, T-helper cells, cytotoxic cells, natural killer cells and B-lymphocytes by between 30% and 85%. Two other studies in healthy people with lower doses but over several days also showed increased lymphocyte activity.

Summary of the scientific research

This literature can also be found on the PubMed website http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

• Steinmann GG, Esperester A, Joller P. Immunopharmacological in vitro effects of Eleutherococcus senticosus extracts. Arzneimittelforschung 2001;51:76-83.
• Bu Y, Jin ZH, Park SY, et al. Siberian ginseng reduces infarct volume in transient focal cerebral ischemia in Sprague-Dawley rats. Phytother Res 2005;19:167-169.
• Kropotov AV, Kolodnyak OL, Koldaev VM. Effects of Siberian ginseng extract and ipriflavone on the development of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. Bull Exp Biol Med 2002;133:252-254.
• Park EJ, Nan JX, Zhao YZ, et al. Water-soluble polysaccharide from Eleutherococcus senticosusstems attenuates fulminant hepatic failure induced by D-galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide in mice. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 2004;94:298-304.
• Miyanomae T, Frindel E. Radioprotection of hemopoiesis conferred by Acanthopanax senticosusHarms (Shigoka) administered before or after irradiation. Exp Hematol 1988;16:801-806.
• Yi JM, Kim MS, Seo SW, et al. Acanthopanax senticosus root inhibits mast cell-dependent anaphylaxis. Clin Chim Acta 2001; 312:163-168.
• Fujikawa T, Soya H, Hibasami H, et al. Effect of Acanthopanax senticosus Harms on biogenic monoamine levels in the rat brain. Phytother Res2002;16:474-478.
• Fujikawa T, Yamaguchi A, Morita I, et al. Protective effects of Acanthopanax senticosus Harms from Hokkaido and its components on gastric ulcer in restrained cold water stressed rats. Biol Pharm Bull 1996;19:1227-1230.
• Hibasami H, Fujikawa T, Takeda H, et al. Induction of apoptosis by Acanthopanax senticosus HARMS and its component, sesamin in human stomach cancer KATO III cells. Oncol Rep 2000;7:1213-1216.
• Farnsworth NR, Kinghorn AD, Soejarto DD, Waller DP. Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus): current status as an adaptogen. In: Wagner H, Hikino H, Farnsworth NR, eds. Economic and Medicinal Plant Research Vol 1. New York, NY: Academic Press; 1985:155-215.
• Asano K, Takahashi T, Miyashita M, et al. Effect of Eleutherococcus senticosus extract on human physical working capacity. Planta Med 1986;3:175-177.
• Eschbach LF, Webster MJ, Boyd JC, et al. The effects of Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) on substrate utilization and performance. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 2000;444-451.
• Bohn B, Nebe CT, Birr C. Flow-cytometric studies with Eleutherococcus senticosus extract as an immunomodulatory agent. Arzneimittelforschung1987;37:1193-1196.
• Aicher B, Gund HJ, Schutz A. Eleutherococcus senticosus: therapy for acute grip pole infections. Pharm Ztg 2001;41:11-18. [Article in German]
• Gaffney BT, Hugel HM, Rich PA. The effects of Eleutherococcus senticosus and Panax ginseng on steroidal hormone indices of stress and lymphocyte subset numbers in endurance athletes. Life Sci 2001;70:431-442.
• Facchinetti F, Neri I, Tarabusi M. Eleutherococcus senticosus reduces cardiovascular response in healthy subjects: a
• randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Stress Health 2002;18:11-17.
• Hartz AJ, Bentler S, Noyes R, et al. Randomized controlled trial of Siberian ginseng for chronic fatigue. Psychol Med 2004;34:51-61.
• Kwan CY, Zhang WB, Sim SM, et al. Vascular effects of Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus): endothelium-dependent NO- and EDHF-mediated relaxation depending on vessel size. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 2004;369:473-480.
• McRae S. Elevated serum digoxin levels in a patient taking digoxin and Siberian ginseng. CMAJ1996;155:293-295.
• Dasgupta A, Wu S, Actor J, et al. Effect of Asian and Siberian ginseng on serum digoxin measurement by five dioxin immunoassays. Significant variation in digoxin-like immunoreactivity among commercial ginsengs. Am J Clin Pathol 2003;119:298-303.
• Markowitz JS, Donovan JL, DeVane CL, et al. Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) effects on CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 activity in normal volunteers. Am Soc Pharmacol Exp Ther2003;31:519-522.