Not the same as ginsenosides
Ginsenosides are triterpene compounds of extremely active properties. It can be referred to both prototype ginsenosides and rare ginsenosides. Prototype ginsenosides naturally exist in Araliaceae plants like Panax ginseng and American ginseng. Rare ginsenosides are generated when the body metabolizes prototype ginsenosides. The metabolizing process develops several types of rare ginsenosides that contain different molecular structures.
Anti-proliferative effects on various cancer cells
Research shows that each single rare ginsenosides play a different role in the anticancer activity. Each monomer exerts effects on cancer cells strongly or weakly. For instance, rare ginsenosides monomer such as Rg1, Rg2, Rg3, Rg5 has proved to be anti-proliferative for cancer cells, Rg5 strongly antiproliferative, Rg3 even apoptotic for tumor cells.
Noble in triterpene compounds
The amount of rare ginsenosides contained in a certain amount of Araliaceae plants is very limited. As little as 0.05 to 1 gram of rare ginsenosides could be extracted from 10,000 grams of red ginseng. Therefore, they are regarded as “noble” within triterpene compounds.
Limited absorption
Rare ginsenosides are generated through bodily metabolism. The rate of absorption is greatly subjected to the digestive function. People with a poor digestive system absorb less rare ginsenosides than those who have more functional digestive systems. Therefore, there is a great limitation to the absorption of rare ginsenosides for patients, the old and others with a poor digestive system.