Study, year, country

Design

Participant characteristics

Intervention

Main outcomes

Author’s conclusion

systematic review/Meta-analysis

Jang et al. [54] , 2008 Korea

Systematic review

7 relevant trials which evaluated 363 men aged from 24 - 70 years old who had ED for 1 to 30 years

In 4 trials: 600 mg red ginseng 3 times daily

In 2 trials: 900 mg red ginseng

In 1 trial: 1000 mg red ginseng

・ International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)

・ Watts sexual function questionnaire

・ global efficacy question (mainly for erection sufficient for normal satisfaction)

・ author made structural interview questionnaires related to erectile function

6 RCTs showed therapeutic efficacy of red ginseng compared with placebo control.

Borrelli et al. [50] , 2018 Italy

Systematic review and meta-analysis

2080 patients with ED

12 mono preparations: 5 ginseng, 3 saffron, 1 Pinus pinaster 1 Lepidium meyenii, 2 Tribulus terrestris, 7 evaluated formulations, 5 dietary supplements with pure compounds

International Index of Erectile Function [IIEF]-5 or IIEF-15

Ginseng significantly improved ED. P. pinaster and L. meyenii showed positive results, and saffron and T. terrestri treatment produced mixed results. Several herba formulations were associated with a decrease of IIEF-5 or IIEF-15.

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs)

Andrade et al. [53] , 2007 Brazil

Double-blind, placebo-controlled study (RCT)

60 patients with mild or mild to moderate ED

1000 mg of Korean Red Ginseng(KRG) or a placebo 3 times daily

・ International Index of Erectile Function [IIEF]-5

・ global assessment questionnaire (GAQ)

The IIEF-5 score after the treatment was significantly higher in the KRG group compared with that before the treatment. There was no difference before and after the treatment in the placebo group. As for the GAQ, there were significant improvements in erection in the treatment group as compared to placebo.

Choi et al. [51] , 1995 Korea

RCT

33 patients with borderline organic and psychogenic ED

Korean red ginseng (daily) or a placebo for 3 months

・ Questionnaire to survey self-reported status of libido, erection, ejaculation, sexual performance, satisfaction rate of intercourse

・ Rigiscan

All parameters surveyed have shown improvements compared to the controls. 4 out of 6 patients showed rigidity of more than 70% after consumption of ginseng.

Choi et al. [52] , 2012 Korea

multicenter, placebo - controlled, double-blind clinical study (RCT)

119 men with mild-to-moderate ED

4 tablets of either standardized Korean ginseng berry (berry SKGB, 350 mg ginseng berry extract per tablet), or placebo, daily, for 8 weeks

・ International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-15

・ premature ejaculation diagnostic tool (PEDT)

IIEF-15 score increased significantly in the SKGB by the 8th week. PEDT scores significantly improved in the SKGB group after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment.