Because of decreased estrogen levels, postmenopausal women are at a high risk of developing dyslipidemia, obesity, and other metabolic diseases. The effects of Korean ginseng were investigated to determine whether it can be used as an adjunct supplement for hyperlipidemia. Ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley rats were used to mimic postmenopausal conditions and were randomly divided into five groups (n=6): normal control, high-fat diet, high-fat diet+statin, high-fat diet+white ginseng, and high-fat diet + heated ginseng. In vitro results revealed that heated ginseng had higher ginsenosides. Meanwhile, in vivo results showed that heated ginseng inhibited excessive lipogenesis and promoted lipolysis. It also had a better lipid profile than white ginseng. Finally, plasma adipokine levels indicated a lower risk of developing obesity-induced hyperlipidemia in rats fed heated ginseng. Overall, these results suggest that heated ginseng ameliorates hyperlipidemia and that it can be a suitable alternative to white ginseng.
Keywords: Panax ginseng; heated ginseng; high-fat diet; hyperlipidemia; white ginseng.