Single doses of Panax ginseng (G115) reduce blood glucose levels and improve cognitive performance during sustained mental activity
Key Finding
Panax ginseng (200mg) acutely improves mental performance and reduces fatigue during sustained cognitive tasks.
Plain-English Summary
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study examined the acute cognitive effects of Panax ginseng in 30 healthy young adults. Participants received either 200mg or 400mg of standardized ginseng extract or placebo.
Results showed that both doses of ginseng improved performance on a serial subtraction task and reduced mental fatigue during sustained cognitive effort. The 200mg dose produced more consistent benefits across different cognitive measures. Participants also showed improved accuracy and faster reaction times on attention tasks.
Interestingly, ginseng also reduced blood glucose levels throughout the testing period, suggesting one mechanism may involve improved glucose regulation in the brain. The study provides evidence for ginseng's acute cognitive-enhancing effects, particularly for maintaining mental performance during demanding tasks. Effects were observed within 1-2 hours of administration.