Ginseng Berry, Not Root, May Control Diabetes

CHICAGO--Ginseng root has been touted previously as a boon to diabetes treatment, but research announced in the June issue of Diabetes (51,6:1851-1858, 02) (diabetes.diabetesjournals.org/current.shtml) suggests the ginseng berry may have stronger blood sugar controlling properties. The berry contains as much as seven times the concentration of ginsenoside Re, the ginseng constituent responsible for controlling blood sugar, according to Chun-Su Yuan, an assistant professor at the University of Chicago Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care.

Researchers injected obese, diabetic mice with 150 mg/kg of Panax ginseng extract. "On day 12 ... the extract-treated mice became normoglycemic and had significantly improved glucose tolerance," authors stated.

Another benefit noted by researchers was the extract appeared to reduce body weight in the mice, decreasing appetite and increasing energy expenditure. The mice lost 10 percent of their weight in 12 days, while the untreated mice gained weight.