Korean ginseng was yesterday revealed to have protective and therapeutic effects for those suffering from atrophy and testicular damage owing to the effects of a hormone disrupter.
The finding was made by a research team led by Dr. Kim Si-kwan of the Korea Ginseng Tobacco Research Institute and Dr. Kim Wun-jae of Chungbuk National University Hospital.
The researchers discovered that ginseng had both protective and therapeutic effects against a dioxin variation called TCDD (tetra-chloro-di-benzo-p-dioxin).
"Even more favorable therapeutic effects of Korean ginseng against atrophy and testicular damage might be expected if the duration of the ginseng treatment is extended," said Dr. Kim Wun-jae, a urologist and associate professor of the university.
Dr. Kim Si-kwan suggested that ginseng might be useful for the prevention and therapy of testicular damage resulting from environmental toxins.
To investigate the beneficial effects of ginseng, the research team recently conducted experiments on guinea pigs.
The team divided a total of 80 guinea pigs into a normal group, a TCDD-injected one and a group injected with ginseng after suffering damage from a TCDD hormone disrupter.
The experiment revealed that the TCDD-affected guinea pigs which did not receive a ginseng extract were all dead after 18 days, while the TCDD-damaged pigs which received a dose of
ginseng extract survived.
The results will be published in the British Journal of Urology this month.
TCDD is one of the most potent toxic environmental pollutants. The chemical is still being generated by municipal garbage incinerators in Korea.
TCDD is also produced as a byproduct of the manufacture of a herbicide called agent orange, which was widely used during the Vietnam War.
It has received much attention worldwide as an endocrine disrupter.
Exposure to TCDD either in adulthood or during late fetal and early postnatal development leads to a variety of adversee eefffects on the male reproduction system.
The dioxin compound can cause diverse cancers, decrease sperm production and increase the risk of birth defects.
The experiment on ginseng's effect on the environment pollutant also showed that decreases in the testicular weight of TCDD-damaged guinea pigs was prevented by the injection of ginseng extract.
It indicated that the production of sperm in the victimized pigs became more active with the help of Korean ginseng.
Extensive research has shown that ginseng contains medicinally useful substances, including ginsenosides, carbohydrates, amino acids, peptides, proteins and phenol compounds.
Clinically, many empirical treatments have been applied to patients to improve the quality and number of their sperm, although the results have not been promising.
Ginseng has long been used to improve constitutional weakness and to promote the secretion of body fluids for the treatment of shock.
- Source : Korea Times (World Reporter)
1999.04.08
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