# Ginsenoside Rg1 as a Multifunctional Therapeutic Agent: Pharmacological Properties, Molecular Mechanisms and Clinical Perspectives in Complementary Medicine

## TL;DR

Ginsenoside Rg1 from ginseng has multiple health benefits, including neuroprotection and anti-inflammatory effects, but its low bioavailability needs better delivery methods.

## Contribution

This review highlights Rg1's multifunctional therapeutic potential and proposes advanced delivery systems to overcome its bioavailability limitations.

## Key findings

- Rg1 protects against neurodegenerative diseases via NF-κB and MAPK pathways.
- Delivery systems like nanoparticles may enhance Rg1's bioavailability and brain penetration.
- Rg1 shows cardioprotective and metabolic benefits by reducing oxidative stress.

## Abstract

Ginsenoside Rg1 (GRg1), a major bioactive component of
Panax ginseng
, exhibits potent antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties, positioning it as a promising therapeutic agent in neurodegenerative and metabolic disorders. This review critically examines the current literature on GRg1, emphasizing its molecular mechanisms, pharmacological pathways, and clinical translation in complementary medicine. GRg1 demonstrates protective effects in conditions such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), ischemic stroke, cardiovascular dysfunction, diabetes, and aging, acting primarily through the nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB), mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK), Wnt/β‐catenin, and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma/heme oxygenase‐1 (PPARγ/HO‐1) signaling pathways. Evidence from in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies indicates that GRg1 enhances cellular resilience, reduces oxidative damage, and regulates apoptosis. Despite its broad therapeutic potential, low bioavailability remains a major limitation, warranting the development of advanced delivery systems such as nanoparticles and liposomes. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive assessment of GRg1's pharmacological actions and highlights its growing relevance as a multifunctional therapeutic agent in complementary and integrative medicine.

Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) from
Panax ginseng
shows multifunctional health effects. Although oral bioavailability is low and blood–brain barrier (BBB) penetration is limited, delivery systems such as liposomes and nanoparticles may improve exposure. Rg1 reduces inflammation/oxidative stress by inhibiting nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) signaling and reactive oxygen species (ROS), supporting neuroprotection in Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and stroke, alongside cardioprotective, hepatoprotective (non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease, NAFLD), and metabolic benefits.