By Eric Brand

An interesting study on the interactions of Ren Shen (Radix Ginseng) and Yuan Zhi (Radix Polygalae) was published in the June 2008 issue of one of China’s journals focused on animal medical research (Acta Laboratorium Animalis Scientia Sinica). The article, entitled “Significant Parameters in Evaluation of Spontaneous Activity in Mice,” assesses the effects of ginseng and polygala on spontaneous motor activity induced by caffeine, and utilizes a benzodiazepine drug for comparison purposes.

The study used computer modeling and 14 different parameters for assessing movement and spontaneous motor activity in mice. In particular, they assessed aspects such as total resting duration, resting duration in central and peripheral areas, total movement speed, movement speed in central and peripheral areas, and total distance moved. A composite score was compiled to assess the total degree of spontaneous motor activity, and a variety of scenarios were assessed to determine the effects of caffeine alone vs. caffeine in combination with either Yuan Zhi or Ren Shen.

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The ginseng used in the study was Panax ginseng harvested in Jilin province, China, while the Yuan Zhi was Polygala tenuifolia harvested in Shanxi province, China. The raw materials were authenticated by a professor at the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, and the raw herbs were then extracted with water under identical conditions and labeled with lot numbers. A dried concentrated extract of the water-soluble fraction was made, equivalent to 3.2 grams of raw Ren Shen per gram of extract, and 3.6 grams of Yuan Zhi per gram of extract. Midazolam (the benzodiazepine sedative used for comparison) and caffeine were sourced from chemical suppliers and the reference samples were labeled with lot numbers.

In the study, 80 mice were used, and the mice were divided into 8 groups of 10 mice each. First, the basic effects of midazolam and caffeine on spontaneous motor activity were assessed in comparison to a non-treated control group (10 mice per group). Based on assessment of the total distance moved, the average speed, total duration of movement, and total resting duration, a clear effect of stimulation and sedation was seen by comparing the control group with the caffeine and midazolam groups. The dosage of caffeine was 30 mg/kg while the midazolam was 0.06 mg/kg, based on pre-existing standards for research.

Next, 5 new groups of 10 mice were selected for combination drug administration. One group was a control (no medication), one group was given caffeine alone, one was given caffeine plus midazolam, one group was given caffeine plus Ren Shen, and the last group was given caffeine plus Yuan Zhi.

Based on the results of the study, it appears that both ginseng and polygala have a moderating effect on the hyper-stimulation induced by high-dose administration of caffeine in mice. While the research was done in mice and not humans, it appears to confirm the effects of several other studies in humans and animals that have assessed the effects of other stimulants (such as cocaine, methamphetamine, and amphetamine) when combinated with ginseng. Contrary to the popular lay conception that ginseng is itself stimulating, ginseng appears to reduce hyper-stimulation in many assessment parameters seen in research that combines ginseng with stimulant drugs.

According to TCM, ginseng supplements qi while also supplementing the heart and quieting the spirit. Despite its marketing in the West as a stimulating supplement, ginseng is traditionally indicated in TCM for a diverse range of conditions, including deficiency patterns of insomnia. Polygala is principally used in TCM to quiet the spirit, though it also has the ability to treat patterns associated with phlegm.

Based on the data from the study, it is clear that high doses of caffeine induce hyperactivity manifesting in spontaneous motor activity in mice, which can be clearly seen in total movement, movement duration, resting time, and movement speed. Modest scores by the control group indicate a baseline for normal activity, and the caffeine-only group exhibited the most movement and the least rest. Dramatic reduction in these stimulatory effects of caffeine was seen when the mice were given a dose of the benzodiazepine drug midazolam, which is to be expected. Interestingly, both ginseng and polygala reduced the effects of over-stimulation as well, though they were more moderate in action when compared with midazolam. This suggests that ginseng and polygala both exhibit a calming action that is of clinical significance yet this calming action is less extreme than that of the benzodiazepine drug midazolam.

The full details of the study are available at the Blue Poppy TCM Infoline. Please login to the website to read the full report.