Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of the Standardised Ginseng Extract G115® in Patients with Chronic Bronchitis

A Nonblinded, Randomised, Comparative Pilot Study

  • Clinical Pharmacodynamics
  • Published:
Clinical Drug Investigation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the effects of G115® ginseng extract in reducing the bacterial count in the lungs of patients undergoing an acute attack of chronic bronchitis.

Design

Nonblinded, randomised, comparative pilot trial.

Setting

One centre in Milan, Italy.

Patients

75 patients with acute attacks of chronic bronchitis.

Interventions

All patients received 875mg amoxicillin and 125mg clavulanic acid twice daily for 9 days. They were then further randomised into two groups, one (n = 37) receiving only the antibacterial treatment, the second (n = 38) also receiving 100mg standardised ginseng extract G115® twice daily. The total duration of treatment was 9 days.

Main Outcome Measures and Results

Of the 75 patients included in the trial, 44 were evaluable. Significant group and time effects were found after analysis of the evolution of bacterial count. Significant differences between treatment groups were found on days 4, 5, 6 and 7, while a borderline trend was found on day 8. The log rank test showed a significant difference between the treatment groups after analysis of time to clearance of infection (χ2 = 6.2127, p = 0.0127). The median time to reach the point where no bacteria were detected was lower in the antibacterial plus ginseng group [median 6 days, mean 5.9 days, standard deviation (SD) 0.3] than in those receiving antibacterials alone (median 7 days, mean 6.7 days, SD 0.3).

Conclusions

In the group receiving G115® ginseng extract, bacterial clearance was significantly faster than in those receiving antibacterials alone. These results indicate a beneficial effect of G115® ginseng extract on the reduction of bacterial counts in the bronchial systems of patients with acute attacks of chronic bronchitis. Patients in whom the elimination of bacteria from the bronchial system is particularly difficult may benefit from the use of ginseng.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Table I

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. 1Term used to identify patients who have follow-up data to enter a particular interval in a life-table analysis, but whose most current follow-up data do not extend to the end of the interval. The number of patients withdrawn during this interval is then used for the survival analysis.

References

  1. Singh VK, Agarwai SS, Gupta BM. Immunomodulatory activity of Panax ginseng extract. Planta Med 1984; 50(6): 462–5

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Anthonisen NR, Manfreda J, Warren CPW, et al. Antibiotic therapy in exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Ann Int Med 1987; 106: 196–204

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Bates JM. The role of infection during exacerbation of chronic bronchitis. Ann Int Med 1982; 97: 130–1

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Murphy TF, Sethi S. Bacterial infections in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am Rev Respir Dis 1992; 146: 1067–83

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Singh VK, George CX, Singh N, et al. Combined treatment of mice with Panax ginseng extract and interferon inducer. Planta Med 1983; 47(4): 234–6

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Scaglione F, Ferrara F, Dugnani S, et al. Immunomodulatory effects of two extracts of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer. Drugs Exp Clin Res 1990; 16(10): 537–42

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Scaglione F, Cattaneo G, Alessandria M, et al. Efficacy and safety of the standardised ginseng extract G115® for potentiating vaccination against common cold and/or influenza syndrome. Drugs Exp Clin Res 1996; 22(2): 65–72

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Scaglione F, Cogo R, Cocuzza C, et al. Immunomodulatory effects of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (G115®) on alveolar macrophages from patients suffering with chronic bronchitis. Int J Immunother 1994; 10(1): 21–4

    Google Scholar 

  9. Gross D, Krieger D, Efrat R, et al. Ginseng extract G115® for the treatment of chronic respiratory diseases. Schweiz Z für Ganzheits Medizin 1995; 1: 29–33

    Google Scholar 

  10. Song, ZJ, Johansen HK, Faber V, et al. Ginseng treatment reduces bacterial load and lung pathology in chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia in rats. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 1997; 41(5): 961–4

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, University of Milan, via Vanvitelli 32, 20129, Milano, Italy

    Francesco Scaglione, K. Weiser & M. Alessandria

Authors
  1. Francesco Scaglione
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. K. Weiser
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Alessandria
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Francesco Scaglione.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Scaglione, F., Weiser, K. & Alessandria, M. Effects of the Standardised Ginseng Extract G115® in Patients with Chronic Bronchitis. Clin. Drug Investig. 21, 41–45 (2001). https://doi.org/10.2165/00044011-200121010-00006

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00044011-200121010-00006

Keywords

Search

Navigation