Why we use Panax Ginseng Root Extract (Ginsenosides) (Ginsenosides)

Home > The Glossary > Panax Ginseng Root Extract (Ginsenosides)

↓ skip to summary

why we use panax ginseng root extract (ginsenosides)

The Legacy of Panax Ginseng

Panax ginseng has been used in traditional medicine for centuries — valued as a revitalising tonic believed to enhance vitality, strengthen immune function, and act as an antioxidant. Its bioactive compounds are now harnessed in modern formulations for their ability to support skin resilience, hydration, and overall function.¹

Ginsenosides: The Active Compounds

The benefits of Panax ginseng come from its ginsenosides — triterpene saponins with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-ageing activity. They modulate cellular pathways involved in oxidative stress and inflammation, protecting skin cells from environmental damage and regulating inflammatory responses.¹

To increase potency, enzymatic hydrolysis breaks down complex ginsenosides into more bioavailable forms — smaller molecules with greater absorption and efficacy in topical applications.²

Ginsenoside F2

Among the ginsenoside family, F2 stands out. It's a minor saponin metabolite — low abundance, high specificity — with targeted activity across multiple pathways relevant to both skin and scalp.

Skin

Ginsenoside F2 inhibits collagenase, the enzyme that breaks down collagen, helping maintain structural integrity and firmness. It also suppresses tyrosinase to reduce melanin overproduction — addressing dark spots and uneven tone without broad cytotoxicity. Combined with its antioxidant profile, F2 protects against photodamage while supporting barrier hydration and moisture retention.^3,4

Scalp

This is where F2 gets interesting. In DHT-treated human hair dermal papilla cells, F2 increased cell proliferation by 48% in lab studies. It works by downregulating TGF-β2 and SCAP, proteins involved in follicle apoptosis and premature catagen entry. Separately, F2 activates Wnt/β-catenin signalling — upregulating β-catenin and Lef-1 while suppressing DKK-1 — to promote telogen-to-anagen transition. In mouse models, F2-treated groups showed increased hair density, follicle count, and epidermal thickness.^5,6

references

1 Potenza, M. A., Montagnani, M., Santacroce, L., Charitos, I. A., & Bottalico, L. (2023). Ancient herbal therapy: A brief history of Panax ginseng. Journal of Ginseng Research, 47(3), 359–365. Ancient herbal therapy: A brief history of Panax ginseng
2 Kim, J. H., Lee, R., Hwang, S. H., Choi, S. H., Kim, J. H., Cho, I. H., Lee, J. I., & Nah, S. Y. (2024). Ginseng and ginseng byproducts for skincare and skin health. Journal of Ginseng Research, 48(6), 525–534. Ginseng and ginseng byproducts for skincare and skin health
3 Cong, L., Ma, J., Zhang, Y., Zhou, Y., Cong, X., & Hao, M. (2023). Effect of anti-skin disorders of ginsenosides — A Systematic Review. Journal of Ginseng Research, 47(5), 605–614. Effect of anti-skin disorders of ginsenosides
4 US20140039170A1 — Composition for topical skin application containing ginsenoside F2 derived from hydroponic ginseng. (2013). Topical skin application containing ginsenoside F2
5 Shin, H. S., Park, S. Y., Hwang, E. S., Lee, D. G., Mavlonov, G. T., & Yi, T. H. (2014). Ginsenoside F2 reduces hair loss by controlling apoptosis through the SCAP and TGF-β pathways in a DHT-induced mouse model. Journal of Ginseng Research, 38(4), 242–247. Ginsenoside F2 reduces hair loss via SCAP and TGF-β pathways
6 Shin, H. S., Park, S. Y., Hwang, E. S., Lee, D. G., Song, H. G., Mavlonov, G. T., & Yi, T. H. (2014). The inductive effect of ginsenoside F2 on hair growth by altering the WNT signal pathway in telogen mouse skin. European Journal of Pharmacology, 730, 82–89. Ginsenoside F2 on hair growth via WNT signal pathway