Gintonin is a glycolipoprotein fraction isolated from Panax ginseng. The non-saponin ingredient was designated as gintonin, where gin was derived from ginseng, ton from the tonic effects of ginseng, and in from protein. The main component of gintonin is a complex of lysophosphatidic acids (LPA) and ginseng proteins such as ginseng major latex-like protein151 (GLP151) and ginseng ribonuclease-like storage protein.^[2][3]

GLP151 is a first plant-derived LPA binding protein as one of Bet v 1 superfamily. GLP151 has a LPA binding domain on H147 and H148 at C-terminal. These two histidine residues bind to phosphate group of LPA.^[4]

Gintonin is believed to act by delivering LPA to lysophospholipid receptors, which are high affinity and selective target receptors. In animal cell cultures, gintonin induces [Ca²⁺] transients via activation of the said receptor.^[4]

One Korean study claims that gintonin is orally active in rodents and shows anti-Alzheimer's disease effects through LPA receptor-mediated non-amyloidogenic pathways.^[5][6] Oral gintonin is well-tolerated by human AD patients in a small study, but the benefits are unclear.^[7]

A number of other effects are attributed to oral administration of gintonin-enriched extract in rodents.^{[8][9][10][11]}

• Ginseng
• Ginsenoside
• Lysophosphatidic acid
• Lysophospholipid receptor