Therapeutic potential of ginsenosides on diabetes: From hypoglycemic mechanism to clinical trials

Ginsenosides, the main active ingredients in Panax ginseng, have been used as an adjuvant to treat diabetes mellitus for many years. Experimental and clinical data emerge to support antidiabetic efficacy for ginsenosides ascribe to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hyperglycemic activities. Existing studies on the mechanisms of ginsenosides in diabetes treatment have mostly focused on single ginenosides and their hypoglycemic effect in cells and animal models. However, a systematical summary of how ginsenosides regulate diabetic-related transcriptional factors and signaling pathways is scarce. Besides, studies on ginsenosides in pharmaceutical preparations have also been limited. Therefore, this review dominantly discusses the roles and mechanisms of ginsenosides in the intervention of blood glucose elevation, as well as the current clinical trials on ginsenosides pharmacology. The elucidation of molecular mechanisms and clinical trials at diabetic status could facilitate ginsenosides application in herbal medicines.