ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Panax ginseng C. A. Mey is a precious medicinal resource that could be used to treat a variety of diseases. Saponins are the most important bioactive components of, and rare ginsenosides (Rg3, Rh2, Rk1 and Rg5, etc.) refer to the chemical structure changes of primary ginsenosides through dehydration and desugarization reactions, to obtain triterpenoids that are easier to be absorbed by the human body and have higher activity. PURPOSE: At present, the research of P. ginseng. is widely focused on anticancer related aspects, and there are few studies on the antibacterial and skin protection effects of rare ginsenosides. This review summarizes the rare ginsenosides related to bacterial inhibition and skin protection and provides a new direction for P. ginseng research. METHODS: PubMed and Web of Science were searched for English-language studies on P. ginseng published between January 2002 and March 2024. Selected manuscripts were evaluated manually for additional relevant references. This review includes basic scientific articles and related studies such as prospective and retrospective cohort studies. CONCLUSION: This paper summarizes the latest research progress of several rare ginsenosides, discusses the antibacterial effect of rare ginsenosides, and finds that ginsenosides can effectively protect the skin and promote wound healing during use, so as to play an efficient antibacterial effect, and further explore the other medicinal value of ginseng. It is expected that this review will provide a wider understanding and new ideas for further research and development of P. ginseng drugs.