What is Ginseng Ginsenoside Rb1?

Ginsenoside Rb1 is one of a family of compounds that can be extracted from different types of ginseng. It is also classified as a type of triterpene saponin and natural product steroid glycoside.

Ginsenosides are usually administered or taken as a kind of dietary supplement. Thus they are metabolized via the digestive tract, specifically via the gut flora as the primary metabolic mechanism. Ginseng Ginsenoside Rb1 specifically is metabolized into 20(S)-protopanaxadiol or 20-b-O-glucopyranosyl-20(S)-protopanaxadiol; or compound K for short. This is according to a publication back in 2005. Click here to view its details.

What Plant(s) is Ginseng Ginsenoside Rb1 Extracted From

Ginseng Ginsenoside Rb1 can only be extracted from the ginseng plant. Note that different species of ginseng contain different types of ginsenosides.

Ginseng, of course, has had a long history of use as a herbal remedy for a variety of ailments. Rb1 is one of several ginsenosides that can be extracted or isolated from different parts of a ginseng plant. However, most of the Rb1 ginsenosides can be isolated from the root but it can be sourced from other parts of the plant as well albeit in smaller quantities.

Note that different types of ginseng have different effects on the body since they contain different groups of ginsenosides. American ginseng is considered as a “cooling” type of ginseng. People regard it for its calming effect.

On the other hand, Asian ginseng is sometimes referred to as a “heating” kind of ginseng. That means if you are considering stress relief then American ginseng is the better option for you.

The difference between their effects has something to do with their Rb1 ginsenoside levels. Asian ginseng has pretty much equal amounts of both Rb1 and Rg1 ginsenosides. On the other hand, American ginseng has more Rb1 than Rg1.

Note that Ginsenoside Rg1 acts as a kind of natural stimulant while Rb1 acts as a depressant. Ginseng Ginsenoside Rb1 has anti-psychotic and tranquilizing properties, while the other is an enhancer of mental performance. This is according to a study published in the Journal of Phytochemistry (2011). Click here to see the details of the said published study.

American ginseng also appears to be more promising for people who have Type 2 diabetes. This may also be due to its higher concentrations of Ginseng Ginsenoside Rb1.

Mechanism of AMPK Activation by Ginseng Ginsenoside Rb1

Ginseng is traditionally used as an herb to help stimulate AMPK. The number of current studies on this very subject is few in number. One of the few studies that exist does suggest that Ginseng Ginsenoside Rb1 has very little effect if any on regular appetite per se.

However, it reverses the reduction of appetite due surgery or heat. This is in accordance with claims made in traditional or alternative medicine. This is according to a study published in 1989. Click here to see the details of the said study.

According to another study, one of a few, it shows that after administration of Ginseng Ginsenoside Rb1 that there is a possible increase of 37.7% in appetite for a regular diet and a 50% increase in appetite for food that is high in fat.

Now, in spite of the fact that there is an increase in appetite influenced by the intake of ginsenoside Rb1, it has been observed that there is a reduction of weight occurring when it is administered with a diet that is high on fat. This study shows that there are promising hypolipidemic effects and anti-obesity effects of ginseng. To see the details of this study, please click here.

The mechanism for weight loss may be due to the regulation of NPY within the hypothalamus. Studies show that it is possibly a secondary effect to the modulation of IL-1b. To see the details of this study, please click here.

Studies also show that taking ginseng that is rich in ginsenoside Rb1 helps to improve one’s general cognition. Young adults taking certain doses have observed improved reaction times. However, some suggest that this improvement is only secondary to the anti-fatigue effects of ginsenosides. The mechanisms that improve general cognition are currently unknown.

Nevertheless, studies show that it can improve both accuracy and cognitive speed. Note however that the measured effects do not reach statistical significance and results vary from one subject to the other. To see the details on these tests, please click here and here.

Another study demonstrated that these ginsenosides can increase alertness and improve relaxation. To see the double blind study on this subject, please click here.

Ginseng ginsenoside Rb1 has also been studied as a possible memory and learning enhancer. Studies show that it can increase growth of the neurons in the ganglia; the growth is NGF-induced.

Although the exact mechanism for other effects hasn’t been identified, the use of this ginsenoside and its possible effects include antidepressant effects, improved memory, and neuroprotection.

Effects of Taking Ginseng Ginsenoside Rb1

The effects of taking ginseng ginsenoside Rb1 include the following:

• Weight loss (or in some possible instances, weight gain)
• Improved general cognition
• Intellectual efficiency
• Increases alertness
• Improved relaxation

Ginseng Ginsenoside Rb1 Dosage Information

There are varying doses of Ginseng Ginsenoside Rb1 which depends on several factors. One should consult professional medical advice for specific dosages for different uses of this compound especially when there is an underlying medical condition being treated.

For weight loss or as an anti-obesity solution, it is recommended to take panax ginseng that is Ginsenoside-enriched at 12.5-25mg/kg. Note that this is a relatively low dose. On the other hand, a rather stronger dosage that has been used in actual studies go up to 200mg/kg of isolated Ginseng Ginsenoside Rb1.

For improvements in general cognition, doses of 400 mg have shown to be beneficial. Effects have been observed two and a half hours after ingestion.

In actual studies, a dosage of 2mg/kg of body weight for 30 days was used to help enhance memory on test subjects.

When used as an antidepressant, a dose of 100mg/kg of acidic polysaccharide fragment that was sourced from ginseng was used. The same effect was seen when ginsenosides were given to test subjects.