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Ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Mey.) has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years to support physical and mental balance and to address conditions affecting the heart, spleen, and brain. Growing scientific interest has focused on how its key bioactive components — particularly ginsenosides, polysaccharides, and polyphenols — may influence health through the gut–brain axis, a bidirectional communication network linking the digestive system and the central nervous system.
This systematic review searched and analysed published studies across major databases to map how ginseng’s bioactive components interact with the gut–brain axis and what therapeutic effects this may produce. The authors took a broader approach than previous reviews, which had tended to focus on single diseases or isolated mechanisms, by examining the full range of conditions and pathways together.
The review found that ginseng components appear to regulate the gut–brain axis through several interconnected mechanisms: shaping the composition of the gut microbiota, strengthening the intestinal barrier, reducing inflammation, and modulating neurotransmitter levels. In preclinical models, these actions showed potential therapeutic relevance across neurodegenerative diseases, mood disorders, metabolic diseases, and gastrointestinal disorders. The authors note, however, that the vast majority of existing evidence comes from laboratory and animal studies, and that rigorous clinical trials in humans are still needed.
Conclusion: This systematic review identifies promising preclinical evidence that ginseng bioactive components may benefit multiple disease categories by targeting the gut–brain axis, but clinical validation remains an essential next step before therapeutic recommendations can be made.
Source: Liu S, Tian L, Chen W et al. Nutrients (2026). View on PubMed (PMID 42280421) · doi:10.3390/nu18111778