Ann Dermatol.  2018 Jun;30(3):304-308. 10.5021/ad.2018.30.3.304.

The Beneficial Effect of Korean Red Ginseng Extract on Atopic Dermatitis Patients: An 8 Weeks Open, Noncomparative Clinical Study

• Kim H
• Park CW
• Cho SH

• KMID: 2419171
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2018.30.3.304

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic or chronically relapsing, eczematous, severely pruritic inflammatory skin disorder. Korean red ginseng (KRG) has been shown previously to exhibit diverse biological effects including anti-inflammatory and antipruritic effects in a murine model.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to investigate the beneficial effects of KRG on AD patients, to determine whether there was improvement in disease severity, skin barrier function, pruritus and sleep disturbance relief.
METHODS
An open, noncomparative clinical study that utilized KRG tablets (500 mg/tablet) was conducted. This study included 41 patients with mild to moderate AD diagnosed by the Korean atopic dermatitis guidelines. Three visits to the hospital at days 1, 28±7, and 56±7 for evaluation were made. The effects of KRG were assessed by measuring eczema area and severity index (EASI) score, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), the visual analogue scale (VAS), total amount of topical agents used in recent 8 weeks and investigator global assessment (IGA).
RESULTS
Patients taking KRG tablets showed significant decreases in EASI score and TEWL, and the VAS of pruritus and sleep disturbance were significantly reduced. The amount of topical agents used was reduced but not by a statistically significant amount. IGA at the third visit showed improvement of AD compared to the second visit, but the difference was not statistically significant.
CONCLUSION
KRG can be safely used as a health food to achieve clinical improvement of AD as well as improving overall quality of life, and has potential for further development.

Keyword

Atopic dermatitis; Korea red ginseng effect; Korean red ginseng

MeSH Terms

Clinical Study*
Dermatitis, Atopic*
Eczema
Humans
Immunoglobulin A
Panax*
Pruritus
Quality of Life
Research Personnel
Skin
Tablets
Water
Immunoglobulin A
Tablets
Water

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Eczema area and severity index (EASI) scores of patients at visit 1 and visit 3. *p<0.05.

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  Fig. 2 Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) of the patients at visit 1 and visit 3. *p<0.05.

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  Fig. 3 Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for pruritus and sleep disturbance at visit 1 and visit 3. **p<0.0005.

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