Potential Molecular Mechanisms of Ginsenosides for Alleviating Cancer-Related Fatigue and Clinical Research Progress of Ginseng Preparations: A Review
- 1Metabolomics Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, College of Pharmacy, National TCM Key Laboratory of Serum Pharmacochemistry, National Chinmedomics Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Integration and Innovation of Classic Formula and Modern Chinese Medicine, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, 24 Heping Road, Harbin 150040, China
- 2Shandong Key Laboratory of Gelatine Medicines Research and Development, Dong’e Ejiao Co., Ltd., Ejiao Road 78, Dong’e, Liaocheng 252200, China
Abstract
Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a persistent, subjective symptom experienced by patients with cancer over the course of the disease and its treatment. It can substantially impair patients’ quality of life, and its pathophysiological mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Ginseng is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb used to tonify qi and alleviate debility associated with prolonged illness. Clinical studies suggest that ginseng preparations may alleviate CRF to some extent. However, substantial heterogeneity among existing studies means that robust and reproducible evidence supporting the efficacy of ginseng in alleviating CRF remains insufficient. Ginsenosides are the major bioactive constituents of ginseng. Studies have reported several pharmacological effects of ginsenosides relevant to CRF, including anti-inflammatory effects and modulation of neuroendocrine function and muscle energy metabolism. These findings suggest that ginsenosides may have the potential to alleviate CRF. This review focuses on three representative ginsenosides (Rg1, Rg3, and Rb1), explores their potential molecular mechanisms in CRF alleviation, and reviews clinical studies of ginseng preparations for CRF management. Based on gaps in the current evidence, this review identifies priorities for future research to inform further studies of ginseng-based interventions for CRF.
Related
- A Mini-Review on Thalidomide: Chemistry, Mechanisms of Action, Therapeutic Potential and Anti-Angiogenic Properties in Multiple Myeloma
- Antibacterial Plant Secondary Metabolites: Mechanisms of Action, Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Translational Potential
- Rapid On-Site Detection of Ginsenosides in Panax ginseng Using Portable Miniature Mass Spectrometry by Sodium Acetate-Enhanced Nanoelectrospray Ionization and a Same-Spectrum Same-Screening Quantification Strategy
- Interfacial Mechanisms of Reactive Dye Adsorption on a Waste-Cotton Derived PVA/TiO2/Cellulose Biofilm: A Molecular Dynamics and Physics-Informed Predictive Framework
- Ensemble Molecular Surface Electrostatic Potential Descriptors as Informative Features for Active Learning
BibTeX
@article{guo2026potential,
title = {{Potential Molecular Mechanisms of Ginsenosides for Alleviating Cancer-Related Fatigue and Clinical Research Progress of Ginseng Preparations: A Review}},
author = {Jiaying Guo and Qin Feng and Kunshuang Shen and Jie Cheng and Yuying Zhu and Yinling Luan and Jingzhe Gao and Shengnan Zhu and Fuxiang Huang and Ning Zhang and Zhigang Wang and Hui Sun},
journal = {Molecules},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/molecules31213917},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/31/21/3917},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Potential Molecular Mechanisms of Ginsenosides for Alleviating Cancer-Related Fatigue and Clinical Research Progress of Ginseng Preparations: A Review
AU - Jiaying Guo
AU - Qin Feng
AU - Kunshuang Shen
AU - Jie Cheng
AU - Yuying Zhu
AU - Yinling Luan
AU - Jingzhe Gao
AU - Shengnan Zhu
AU - Fuxiang Huang
AU - Ning Zhang
AU - Zhigang Wang
AU - Hui Sun
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Molecules
DO - 10.3390/molecules31213917
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/31/21/3917
AB - Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a persistent, subjective symptom experienced by patients with cancer over the course of the disease and its treatment. It can substantially impair patients’ quality of life, and its pathophysiological mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Ginseng is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb used to tonify qi and alleviate debility associated with prolonged illness. Clinical studies suggest that ginseng preparations may alleviate CRF to some extent. However, substantial heterogeneity among existing studies means that robust and reproducible evidence supporting the efficacy of ginseng in alleviating CRF remains insufficient. Ginsenosides are the major bioactive constituents of ginseng. Studies have reported several pharmacological effects of ginsenosides relevant to CRF, including anti-inflammatory effects and modulation of neuroendocrine function and muscle energy metabolism. These findings suggest that ginsenosides may have the potential to alleviate CRF. This review focuses on three representative ginsenosides (Rg1, Rg3, and Rb1), explores their potential molecular mechanisms in CRF alleviation, and reviews clinical studies of ginseng preparations for CRF management. Based on gaps in the current evidence, this review identifies priorities for future research to inform further studies of ginseng-based interventions for CRF.
SN - 1420-3049
ER -