The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7237 p256
22 February 2003

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Ginseng may improve memory function after stroke

Chinese ginseng extract may improve memory function in stroke patients, say researchers. They tested a compound extract of ginseng in patients who had mild or moderate dementia after ischaemic stroke. The 25 patients who received ginseng three times a day for 12 weeks had higher total memory scores than the 15 patients in the control group who received Duxil (almitrine plus raubasine), a drug that has been used to improve memory in elderly dementia patients (P<0.001). Memory tests focused on immediate or delayed recall, delayed word recall, verbal learning and recognition, and visual recognition.

Trial data were presented at the American Stroke Association's 28th international conference in Phoenix, Arizona, last week.

Dr Robert Adams, chairman of the stroke council of the American Heart Association commented that a placebo-controlled study would be the next step in studying ginseng's effects on memory after stroke.

"At this time, a recommendation to use this herb for memory enhancement would be premature," he said.