Panax ginseng

Panax ginseng, also called Asian ginseng or Korean ginseng, is a perennial plant in the family Araliaceae whose root is the original source of ginseng.

Panax ginseng, also called Asian ginseng or Korean ginseng, is a perennial plant in the family Araliaceae whose root is the original source of ginseng. It is native to parts of East Asia and has a long history of use in traditional medicine, especially in China and Korea. Panax ginseng is relevant to Canadian readers through the broader ginseng trade and public interest in herbal supplements; however, it is distinct from American ginseng, which is the ginseng species most closely associated with Canadian cultivation and export.

Taxonomy and naming

Panax ginseng is a species in the genus Panax, within the family Araliaceae. It is commonly known as Asian ginseng, Korean ginseng, or Chinese ginseng.

Description and distribution

It is a perennial plant native to East Asia, especially Korea and northeastern China, and is also associated with far-eastern Siberia. The plant grows in mountainous regions and is cultivated in several countries, including China, Korea, Russia, and Japan.

Traditional use

The root has been used in East Asian traditional medicine for centuries and is often prepared as a tonic or herbal tea. Historical and modern references describe it as a widely used medicinal herb, with the root being the part most often used for medicinal purposes.

Chemical constituents

The best-known active compounds in Panax ginseng are ginsenosides, a group of saponins also referred to as panaxosides in some sources. These compounds are commonly used as markers in product standardization.