Table 1 Selected studies on the effects of ginseng in exercise and sports

Forgo and Kirchdofer [28]

30 elite young athletes

200 mg/day of standardized ginseng extract, 4% or 7% ginsenoside content

9 weeks

↑ Aerobic capacity

↓ Lactate production, heart rate

McNaughton et al. [29]

30 subjects (15 females, 15 males)

1 g/day Chinese ginseng, Siberian ginseng or placebo

6 weeks

↑Maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max)

↑pectoral and quadriceps strength

Van Schepdael [30]

3 female triathletes aged 24 to 36 years old

400 mg/day ginseng extract

20 weeks

↑↑ Running time

Kim et al. [19]

7 healthy male adults untrained

6 g of Panax ginseng extract or placebo (3 time per day)

8 weeks

↑Cardio respiratory function

↓Lactate

↑Physical performance

Liang et al. [31]

29 untrained adults (age 20 to 30 years old)

1.35 mg/day Panax ginseng or placebo

30 days

↓Endurance running time

Ooiet al. [10]

8 male cyclists

0.1 mg of Eurycoma per 100 ml of drink or placebo drink

During exercise

Ø Cycling endurance performance

Hamzah and Yusof [25]

14 healthy men

150 mg of Eurycoma

5 weeks

↑ Muscle strength

Muhamad et al. [11]

12 recreational male athletes (ages 23.3 ± 3.7 years old)

2 capsules per day containing 75 mg of Eurycoma or placebo 2 capsules

7 days before exercise trial

1 h before exercise trial

ØRunning distance

ØPhysiological Reponses between trials

Ping et al. [12]

9 recreational runners (ages 25.4 ± 6.9 years old)

200 mg of Panax ginseng

1 h before the exercise test

ØEndurance running time

Engels and Wirth [13]

36 healthy men

200 and 400 mg/day Panax ginseng or placebo

8 weeks

ØSubmaximal and maximal exercise permormance