Journal of Ginseng Research

The Korean Society of Ginseng (고려인삼학회)
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Corona-Cov-2 (COVID-19) and ginseng: Comparison of possible use in COVID-19 and influenza

  • Published : 2021.07.01
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Abstract

In the 1918 influenza pandemic, more than 95% of mortalities were ascribed to bacterial pneumonia. After the primary influenza infection, the innate immune system is attenuated, and the susceptibility to bacteria is increased. Subsequent bacterial pneumonia exacerbates morbidity and increases the mortality rate. Similarly, COVID-19 infection attenuates innate immunity and results in pneumonia. In addition, the current pneumococcal conjugate vaccine may have limited defense against secondary pneumococcal infection after influenza infection. Therefore, until a fully protective vaccine is available, a method of increasing immunity may be helpful. Ginseng has been shown to increase the defense against influenza in clinical trials and animal experiments, as well as the defense against pneumococcal pneumonia in animal experiments. Based on these findings, ginseng is suspected to be helpful for providing immunity against COVID-19.

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Acknowledgement

This work was supported by a National Research Foundation of Korea grant (NRF-2018R1A2A1A05078102). The funding body played no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

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