ginseng and PD

Review paper on ginseng in neurological disorders, 2015. Full paper. Only 1 to 3% of original compounds absorbed.  More are as metabolites.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26236231

Rg1 reduces iron in SN by "regulating the expressions of DMT1 and FP1"
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19000728

Ginseng reduced dopamine cell loss, locomotor loss, and a-syn
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24316034

red Korean ginseng in PD mice 1 to 100 mg/kg
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26045688

Nutriose special fiber from wheat and corn increases gut conversion and absorption of CK a ginseng metabolite that is more useful than ginseng Rgb1 itself
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26265741

Siberian ginseng is not like other ginsengs. American ginseng is panax quinquefolius which is not the same as Panax ginseng, and wiki discusses these last two. Red ginseng is P.G. that been heated and sun dried.  White is sun dried (more?) and may break down more constituents. PG is yang, PQ is yin.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginseng

Panax ginseng seems to be the one most studied by a factor of 20.



compounds studied for PD
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25349145/

ginseng extract improves calmness and working memory in young adults (and ginkgo) : (all by Scholey and Kennedy)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20737519
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12404705
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17902186
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15982990
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11026748
(and more)

Chinese herbs potentially useful:  polygonum, triptolide from tripterygium wilfordii hook, polysaccharides from the flowers of nerium indicum, oil from ganoderma lucidum spores, huperzine and stepholidine "In addition, accumulating data have suggested that Chinese herbs or herbal extracts may promote neuronal survival and neurite growth, and facilitate functional recovery of brain injures by invoking distinct mechanisms that are related to their neuroprotective roles as the antioxidants, dopamine transporter inhibitor, monoamine oxidase inhibitor, free radical scavengers, chelators of harmful metal ions, modulating cell survival genes and signaling, anti-apoptosis activity, and even improving brain blood circulation. "
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17691984