Ginseng helps against flu

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MunichThe root of the ginseng plant has been used in Asian medicine for centuries, among other things to strengthen the immune system. American researchers showed that the medicinal plant can also be used to treat and prevent flu.

Sang-Moo Kang's team from George State University tested how red ginseng extract works when infected with the influenza A virus. To do this, the scientists infected human lung epithelial cells with the flu virus and then treated them with the extract. In a second experiment, mice suffering from the flu were given the juice of the medicinal plant.

Works against inflammation

The result: the lung cells treated with ginseng survived longer than those that had not received any medicinal plant extract. A closer molecular examination showed that the ginseng inhibited inflammatory processes in the cells. In the mice, too, the rodents treated with ginseng survived longer than control animals. The researchers found that the ginseng had stimulated their immune system. They produced specific proteins that acted against the virus. The scientists also observed that the medicinal plant counteracted inflammation in the rodents' bronchi.

Inhibits RSV infections

Kang and colleagues are currently investigating whether ginseng is also effective against RSV infections. The respiratory syncytial virus also affects the lungs and airways, causing inflammation there. The first results are also positive here, said Kang. The medicinal plant helped in the cell test: not only were inflammatory processes in the lung cells inhibited, but the replication of the virus in the cells was also slowed down with ginseng extract.

Influenza viruses are always changing. This makes it difficult to prevent or treat the flu with a targeted vaccination. Ginseng therapy, on the other hand, is independent of the virus type. How much ginseng extract is necessary to prevent flu in humans and to what extent the disease can be treated with the medicinal plant, further studies have yet to show. (away)

Source: Kang, S.M. et al .: Immunomodulatory Activity of Red Ginseng against Influenza A Virus Infections, Nutrients, June 2014.

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