Gut microbiota is regarded as one of the major etiological factors involved in the control of body weight, so that drugs or components Erastin order that help to maintain balance in the composition of the gut microbiota can increase the antiobesity effect [17] and [18]. Although the antiobesity effects of ginseng have been reported, whether or not it has an effect on the gut microbiota is still unknown. Other studies on ginseng-related gut microbiota have reported that metabolic activity of ginsenoside Rb1 to compound K (a metabolite of ginseng saponin) is variable between individuals,

depending on the composition of gut microbiota in particular [19] and [20]. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the effects of ginseng on obesity and gut microbiota using pyrosequencing based on the 16S rRNA gene. In addition, the difference of its antiobesity

effects depending on gut microbiota composition was also investigated. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital (Gyeonggi-do, Korea; approval no. 2012-SR-25). Participants were recruited by advertisements in the local newspaper or by posters in the hospital. For qualification, participants should be obese [body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2] and female aged 40–60 yr. They must have been weight-stable within ±10% during the past 6 mo, and free from antibiotics, probiotics, or any drugs that could impact their weight for the past 3 mo. Participants with weight-influencing diseases, including hyper/hypothyroidism, C59 heart diseases, psychogenic diseases, or other chronic systemic diseases were excluded. Cediranib (AZD2171) Smokers or pregnant women confirmed by a positive hCG screening test were also excluded. Nineteen participants were recruited, and 10 of them completed the study. The participants were asked not to change their exercise or diet habits during the 8-wk clinical trial. During the study, participants who failed to take <80% of the required dose of medicine, retracted their consents due to inconvenience (personal choices), or refused to have communication with members of the research staff

were dropped from the study. Panax ginseng extracts were manufactured and provided by Korea Medicine Biofermentation Co., Ltd (Andong, Korea). Quantities of the freeze-dried granulated extracts weighing 4 g each were packed in paper medicine pockets. The medicines were distributed to the participants per 2 wk at every visit. The participants were asked to take one packet two times/d. The herbal medicines were distributed to the participants by the administrative pharmacist in the dispensary of the hospital. Ginsenosides were determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HP 1050, AGILENT, Santa Clara, CA, USA), the analytical column was an Ultrasphere ODS (C18, 5 μm, 4.6 mm × 250 mm, Shiseido, Tokyo, Japan).