Ginsenosides are pharmacologically active natural constituents of ginseng and other plants of the genus
Panax.
1 Structurally, they are steroid glycosides derived from the triterpene squalene.
1 Ginsenoside Rd is a protopanaxadiol which is more abundant in some
Panax species (
e.g., P. quinquefolium) than others.
2 This ginsenoside has diverse
in vitro and
in vivo effects, including cardioprotective, neuroprotective, and anti-
inflammatory actions.
3,4,5 Notably, ginsenoside Rd is converted to other ginsenosides in response to steaming or heating plant materials, leading to loss of these activities.
2