ginseng

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ginseng
Ginseng plant with stone fruits

Ginseng plant with stone fruits

Systematics
Euasterids II
Order : Umbelliferae (Apiales)
Family : Araliaceae (Araliaceae)
Subfamily : Aralioideae
Genre : Panax
Type : ginseng
Scientific name
Panax ginseng
CAMey.

Ginseng ( Panax ginseng ), also Asian ginseng or Korean ginseng known and trivial including as Gilgen , Samwurzel or force root called, is a plant from the family of the Araliaceae (Araliaceae). It occurs mainly in mountainous and forest regions in northern Korea , northeastern China, and southeastern Siberia . It is cultivated worldwide to obtain the roots as the basis for the production of medical-pharmaceutical products. In addition to this East Asian species, other species of the Panax genus (e.g. Chinese ginseng : Panax pseudoginseng or Panax notoginseng ) and some non- generic plant species are also trivially referred to as ginseng.

description

illustration

Vegetative characteristics

Ginseng grows as a perennial herbaceous plant and reaches heights of about 30 to 60 cm. The "rhizome" usually consists of one or two bundles of spindle-shaped or cylindrical roots.

Three to six long-stalked leaves stand together in just one whorl at the tip of the stem. The membranous leaf blade is divided into three to five fingers. The upper side of the leaf is bare and on the underside of the leaf there are sparsely 1 mm long hairs ( trichomes ). The leaf margins are strongly serrated. The central leaf is 8 to 12 cm long and 3 to 5 cm wide and elliptical to elongated-elliptical. The lateral partial leaves are ovate to rhombic ovate with a length of 2 to 4 cm and a width of 1.5 to 3 cm.

Generative characteristics

Each plant forms a terminal on a 15 to 30 cm long (usually longer than the leaf stalks) inflorescence stem a dold-like inflorescence with 30 to 50 flowers. The flower stalks are 0.8 to 1.5 cm long. The small, whitish-green flowers are five-fold. There is only one circle with five stamens . Two carpels have become an under constant ovary grown. There are two free pens available.

The scarlet stone fruit when ripe is compressed-spherical with 4 to 5 mm × 6 to 7 mm. The kidney-shaped seeds are white.

The number of chromosomes is 2n = 48.

identification

Panax ginseng is similar to the other species of the genus, especially the American ginseng Panax quinquefolius and some varieties of the Japanese ginseng Panax japonicus , with which it forms a species group. It can be distinguished from Panax japonicus by the rhizome (growing horizontally in this case), from Panax quinquefolius on the longer petiole and the finer teeth of the leaf edge. The other species of the genus occur in the mountains of southern China and northern Vietnam or in North America, far from the range of real ginseng.

The cultivated plants of the ginseng are cultivars which differ from the wild form. A number of breeding lines have been developed, e.g. T. as varieties have been registered. Molecular methods of variety determination have been developed primarily for the identification of processed plants.

Distribution and ecology

Ginseng inhabits mixed forests and deciduous deciduous forests in the northeastern Chinese provinces of Heilongjiang , Jilin , Liaoning , as well as the north of Korea and the southernmost part of the Primorye region of Russia . In addition, the species is cultivated in the temperate zones of several continents. Within its natural range, it is the only species of the genus, the cultivated and wild Panax quinquefolius (as a neophyte) only rarely occurs here today .

The Washington Convention on CITES for the Protection of Species lists the Russian occurrences of ginseng ( Panax ginseng ) in Appendix 2 as requiring protection. The worldwide trade in the roots of this population is monitored in the form of import and export permits, whereby proof of the harmlessness for the population of the species must be provided.

Systematics

Panax ginseng was published in 1843 by Carl Anton von Meyer in Bulletin de la Classe Physico-Mathématique de l'Académie Impériale des Sciences de Saint-Pétersbourg 1, p. 340. Synonyms for Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer are: Aralia ginseng (CA Meyer) Baill. , Aralia quinquefolia (L.) Decne. & Planch. var. ginseng (CA Meyer) Anonymous , Panax quinquefolius L. var. ginseng (CA Meyer) Regel & Maack , Panax schin-seng T. Nees .

Etymology and common names

Korean ginseng: Insam ( 인삼 )

The name ginseng and the epithet in Panax ginseng comes from renshen ( Chinese  人參  /  人参 , pinyin rénshēn ). The name Panax for the genus is derived from Latin from the Greek panax and means something like panacea.

Besides this kind are trivial other species of the genus Panax , undifferentiated as well as some non-generic types as well as manufactured products from them as ginseng , respectively. In the literature one finds several trivial and commercial names such as the names Asian ginseng , Chinese ginseng or Korean ginseng , furthermore real ginseng , Gilgen , Samwurzel , Kraftwurz , Allheilkraut , Allheilwurzel , Kraftwurzel , Panaxwurzel and Schinsengwurzel . Sometimes a part of these names is also used as a designation for the genus Panax .

Non-generic species using the name ginseng are, for example, the Siberian ginseng ( Eleutherococcus senticosus ), the Indian ginseng ( Withania somnifera ) and the Brazilian ginseng ( Pfaffia paniculata ).

History of Ginseng

Ginseng has been used as a remedy in both traditional Chinese and Korean medicine for thousands of years. The first written mention can be found around 40 BC. The ginseng root was then and still today in Asia as a symbol of health and a long life. In earlier times it was therefore only reserved for kings or emperors, high nobles and their closest followers. This made the root more valuable than gold.

In Chinese, the ginseng root, which, like the European mandrake root, has a human-like (anthropomorphic) appearance, is called rénshēn ( 人參  /  人参 , rénshēn , also: 參  /  参 , shēn ), translated as “human ginseng root” or “human-shaped ginseng root”. In Korea these Chinese characters are read insam ( 인삼 ), but the meaning remains the same. Ginseng is still highly valued and used in Asian medicine.

The ginseng root only became popular in Europe in the 17th century. The plant was previously brought to Moorish Spain by Arab seafarers, but was forgotten again over time. It was used again mainly by Dutch sailors.

In the 20th century, ginseng was recognized by university medicine as a medicinal plant due to its proven effects.

Cultivation and use

Cultivation

Red ginseng

The Koreans used the ginseng dug up in the wild for medicinal purposes very early on .

Attempts to cultivate ginseng in Korea began around 11 BC. By transplanting wild ginseng and continued around 1122 AD with attempts at propagation from extracted seeds.

According to legend , the ginseng plant is said to have been cultivated for the first time at the foot of the Jinaksan Mountain around 1500 years ago. The mountain god is said to have shown a young man the way to this plant in a dream. According to legend, the effects of this plant are said to have healed his terminally ill mother. The young man is said to have started growing ginseng.

To ensure adequate supplies, they began cultivating, which in turn led to the development of methods of storage and processing. Red ginseng was first made in 1080 in the Goryeo era. In 1556, during the Joseon Dynasty , production was controlled by the government.

Nowadays, ginseng is grown in plantations. Growing ginseng is laborious and, in addition to the necessary knowledge, above all requires patience. The sowing takes place in autumn. On suitable soils, the plant is grown under covers that protect from the sun - wild ginseng only grows in shady forests. Even nowadays, cultivation is mainly done by hand. A Korean proverb says that ginseng always wants to hear the farmer's footsteps. This indicates the labor and time consuming care of the growing ginseng.

The ginseng plant takes two years to germinate. In the third year, ginseng blooms. The seeds for the next seed grow in red berries. The roots can be harvested after three, more likely four years at the earliest and generally after four years. The three-month harvest time is in autumn. The roots are dug out of the earth with special ginseng picks. The older the plant, the better. Therefore, an optimal effect can only be expected after six to seven years. Wild ginseng, which is said to have greater healing properties, is in demand, but whose excessive harvest today is very problematic in terms of species protection. As an alternative to wild ginseng, the USA is currently experimenting with extensive cultivation in forests. Considerable prices are paid for large roots, which are often ten years or older. To produce red ginseng, six-year-old ginseng is dried after steaming until the water content is less than 14 percent. As the roots dry, they change color and become hard and dark brown. The reason for this is the caramelization of the sugar contained. The low water content protects against contamination, mold and bacteria and enables easy storage and transport.

The cultivation of ginseng in plantations was a result of the increased demand and the shortage of stocks and was initially carried out in the countries of origin Korea, the Chinese provinces of Hebei and Shanxi and in Primorye, Russia. Today ginseng is grown on several continents in temperate countries such as Japan, the Caucasus, Australia and Central Europe.

Ginseng cultivation began in Germany in the early 1980s. Real Korean ginseng was cultivated in the Lüneburg Heath near Walsrode -Bockhorn. In Gräfendorf in Brandenburg , ginseng has been grown since the early 2000s and in Switzerland ginseng has been grown 'organically' . Ginseng has been grown in the Austrian Waldviertel since 1999.

tradition

Every year at harvest time, i.e. in autumn, a ginseng festival has been held in Geumsan in the South Korean province of Chungcheongnam since 1981 .

medicine

The roots of the four to seven year old plants are used as medicine. Depending on the processing, a distinction is made between two types:

  • The white ginseng: the root is peeled, bleached and dried after harvest. Nowadays there is also white ginseng that is not peeled and bleached, so it retains more of the ingredients.
  • The red ginseng: the fresh root is treated with steam after harvesting and then dried.

Red ginseng is more often used in supplements and medicines. Contrary to popular belief, the concentrate made from white ginseng contains about twice as much ginsenoids as that made from red ginseng.

The name of the drug is Ginseng Radix.

The health significance attributed to ginseng is based, among other things, on the saponins it contains . These are mainly triterpenes of the dammaren type with ginsenosides as the main component. The European Pharmacopoeia specifies a minimum content of 0.4% ginsenoside Rg1 and Rb1, based on the dried drug. Ginseng is also used in traditional Chinese medicine .

effect

Ginseng is considered an adaptogen , a tonic. There are various studies that show that ginseng increases the body's defense against stress and illness:

From experiments with animals, there is evidence that ginseng works against fatigue and stress and increases learning and memory performance. Clinically, standardized ginseng extracts are effective in improving physical performance in the event of fatigue, weakness and exhaustion. The immune system is strengthened and mental performance is supported.

The protective effect of ginseng manifests itself mainly in two ways: The immunomodulatory effects of ginseng help to reduce and / or prevent stress-related infectious diseases, including the flu (colds) and the real flu (influenza). In addition, ginseng has positive effects on mood and cognitive functions.

In addition, ginseng is also known as a natural sexual enhancer.

Ginseng preparations are commercially available as a tonic and geriatric . Ginseng is used as a tonic and tonic for feelings of tiredness and weakness as well as in the case of declining performance and ability to concentrate (see also German Pharmacopoeia or European Pharmacopoeia).

Ginseng supplements are low in side effects. Serious illnesses should be ruled out by a doctor if symptoms such as persistent fatigue and weakness are present.

Ginseng supplements affect blood clotting and can lead to prolonged bleeding times. Therefore, the surgeon must be informed of the intake before surgery.

food

The world's largest production facility for red ginseng is the KGC ginseng factory in Buyeo-gun , Chungcheongnam Province , South Korea. Ginseng is made into a wide variety of products such as soups and beverages. First and foremost is tea, once as an instant powder in sachets and then as a thick, syrup-like concentrate that tastes bitter and is traditionally sweetened with honey. When applied with alcohol, ginseng makes a great tasting schnapps. Ginseng capsules and ginseng soap are other products.

Fried ginseng roots can be eaten sweetened with syrup.

The use of ginseng for samgyetang is very common . It is a chicken soup with ginseng.

Ginseng sweets and cookies, as well as candied ginseng roots and ginseng wine are also products that are part of everyday food in South Korea. Frequently ginseng roots are in Soju inserted.

A recent development from Korea is the addition of ginseng to coffee. The so-called ginseng coffee is used in the Far East and also in Europe as an alternative to conventional coffee. If you drink a lot of coffee, you can rely on ginseng coffee to have the calming effect of ginseng, which is easy on the nerves.

According to research, red ginseng is the most popular souvenir from Korea with tourists .

literature

swell

  • Qibai Xiang, Porter P. Lowry: Clusiaceae through Araliaceae . Araliaceae. In: Wu Zheng-yi u. a. (Ed.): Flora of China . tape 13 . Science Press, Beijing 2007, ISBN 978-1-930723-59-7 , Panax ginseng , p. 491 (English, online [accessed May 7, 2011]). (Section Description, Distribution and Use)
  • Ginseng - The 'human root' from Korea : Entry in the IMDb

Web links

Commons : Ginseng ( Panax ginseng )  - Collection of pictures, videos, and audio files
  • Patrick Wahl: Ginseng. (PDF; 416 kB) In: Seminar: Nutrition and nutritional supplements in sport. German Sport University Cologne - Institute for Biochemistry, accessed on May 8, 2011 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c GRIN Taxonomy for Plants: Panax ginseng CA Mey. in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), USDA , ARS , National Genetic Resources Program. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
  2. ↑ Wolf-Dieter Müller-Jahncke: Ginseng. 2005, p. 496.
  3. ↑ a b Gordon Cheers (Ed.): Botanica: The ABC of plants. 10,000 species in text and images . Könemann in the Tandem Verlag, Cologne 2003, ISBN 3-89731-900-4 , Panax and Panax ginseng , p. 633 .
  4. ↑ Hong-Keun Choi, Jun Wen: A phylogenetic analysis of Panax (Araliaceae): Integrating cpDNA restriction site and nuclear rDNA ITS sequence data. In: Plant Systematics and Evolution. Vol. 224, No. 1-2, 2000, pp. 109-120.
  5. ↑ a b Panax ginseng in Flora of China
  6. ↑ Ick-Hyun Jo, Kyong Hwan Bang, Young-Chang Kim, Jei-Wan Lee, A-Yeon Seo, Bong-Jae Seong, Hyun-Ho Kim, Dong-Hwi Kim, Seon-Woo Cha, Yong-Gu Cho, Hong-Sig Kim: Rapid Identification of Ginseng Cultivars (Panax ginseng Meyer) Using Novel SNP-Based Probes. In: Journal of Ginseng Research. 35 (4) 2011, pp. 504-513. doi: 10.5142 / jgr.2011.35.4.504
  7. ^ CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora: The CITES Appendices. ( Memento from January 28, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
  8. ↑ Natural Remedies - Panax Ginseng. In: The portal for alternative medicine, naturopathy and wellness. Yamedo, accessed May 13, 2011 .
  9. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k Lee Jia, Yuqing Zhao: Current Evaluation of the Millennium Phytomedicine - Ginseng (I): . Etymology, Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Market and Regulations. In: Bentham Science Publishers (Ed.): Current Medicinal Chemistry . tape 16 , no. 19 , 2009, ISSN  0929-8673 , p. 2475–2484 , PMC 2752963 (free full text) - (English).
  10. ↑ Samwurzel - Ginseng Lt: Panax Ginseng. TerraLuna - Kräuterland 2008–2011, accessed on May 11, 2011 .
  11. ↑ a b c Ginseng. Araliaceae. Name: Panax ginseng CA Meyer. In: Henriette's Herbal Homepage. Henriette Kress, accessed on May 11, 2011 .
  12. ↑ a b c d Markus Horneber, Irene Fischer in cooperation with CAM-Cancer: Complementary Therapy. Root extracts from Asian and American ginseng. In: onkopedia. German Society for Hematology and Oncology V., accessed on May 5, 2011 (information on Panax ginseng ; as of September 2010).
  13. ↑ a b c d e f g h i Taik-Koo Yun: Brief Introduction of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer . In: The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences (Ed.): Journal of Korean medical science . tape 16 , 2001, ISSN  1011-8934 (English, jkms.org [PDF; 102 kB ; accessed on May 11, 2011]).
  14. ↑ Wolf-Dieter Müller-Jahncke: Ginseng. 2005, p. 496.
  15. ↑ a b c d Ginseng (Samwurzel) (Panax ginseng) CAMeyer. In: healthy and active - the online shop. Gesundheitundaktiv.de, accessed on May 11, 2011 .
  16. ↑ Alfred Kump: Medicines of traditional medicine . In: Biology Center Linz / Austria (Ed.): Catalog Oberösterr. Landesmuseums, also Linzer Biol. Contributions . 105, contributions 12/1, 1980, Eleutherococc senticosus , p. 301 ( PDF (782 kB) on ZOBODAT [accessed on May 12, 2011] Ginseng cultivation successful in the Caucasus).
  17. ↑ Ginseng growing in Germany - now a 30-year history. (No longer available online.) In: FloraFarm Ginseng - Homepage. Archived from the original on September 8, 2010 ; Retrieved May 11, 2011 .
  18. ↑ Cultivation in Switzerland on typostudio.ch ( Memento from January 30, 2010 in the Internet Archive )
  19. ↑ Application of ginseng growing in the Waldviertel. Retrieved April 20, 2013 .
  20. ^ Geumsan Ginseng Festival. In: Tours & Places. Korea Tourism Organization, accessed May 9, 2011 .
  21. ^ A b H. Geyer: Ginseng . Ed .: German Sport University Cologne - Institute for Biochemistry. S. 1 ( dopinginfo.de [PDF; 416 kB ; accessed on May 2, 2011] Seminar contribution: Nutrition and nutritional supplements in sport).
  22. ↑ Sung Kwon Ko, Chung Ryul Lee, Yong Eui Choi, Byung Ok Im, Jong Hwan Sung, Kwang-RoYoon: Analysis of Ginsenosides of White and Red Ginseng Concentrates . Ed .: Korea Ginseng Institute, Chung-Ang University. (English, ilhwakoreanginseng.com [PDF; accessed on May 9, 2011] study). ilhwakoreanginseng.com ( Memento of the original from July 4, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.ilhwakoreanginseng.com
  23. ↑ a b Ginseng radix (ginseng root). In: World of Medicinal Plants Library. multi MED vision GbR - Berliner Medizinredaktion - Medicine and Media, accessed on May 8, 2011 .
  24. ^ F. Scaglione, M. Pannacci, O. Petrini: The Standardized G115 Panax ginseng CA Meyer Extract: A Review of its Properties and Usage. In: Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine. 2005, 2 (4), pp. 195-206.
  25. ^ F. Scaglione, G. Cattaneo, M. Alessandria, R. Cogo, W. Meier, S. Campbell: Ginseng extract to potentiate vaccination against influenza. In: Eur J Clin Invest. 1996, 26, p. A25. And: F. Scaglione, R. Cogo, C. Cocuzza, M. Arcidiacono, A. Beretta: Immunomodulatory effects of Panax ginseng CA Meyer (G115) on alveolar macrophages from patients suffering with chronic bronchitis. In: Int J, Immunother. 1994, 10, pp. 21-24. And: F. Scaglione, F. Ferrara, S. Dugnani, M. Falchi, G. Santoro, F. Fraschini: Immunomodulatory effects of two extracts of Panax ginseng CA Meyer. In: Drugs Exp Clin Res. 1990, 16, pp. 537-542.
  26. ↑ F. Scaglione, G. Cattaneo, M. Alessandria, R. Cogo: Efficacy and safety of the standardized ginseng extract G 115 for potentiating vaccination against the influenza syndrome and protection against the common cold. Drugs Exp Clin Res. 1996, 22, pp. 65-72.
  27. ^ DO Kennedy, AB Scholey: Ginseng: potential for the enhancement of cognitive performance and mood. In: Pharmacol Biochem Behav . 2003, 75, pp. 687-700.
  28. ↑ Aphrodisiacs: Scientific Condiment for Love. In: Focus . March 28, 2011.
  29. ↑ Which natural sexual enhancers actually work. In: The world . March 30, 2011.
  30. ↑ D. Kiefer, T. Pantuso: Panax ginseng . In: American Academy of Family Physicians (Ed.): American Family Physician . tape 68 , no. 8 , October 15, 1980, p. 1539–1542 (English, aafp.org [PDF; 72 kB ; accessed on May 13, 2011]).
  31. ↑ Lee Jia, Zhao Yuqing, Xing Jie Liang: Current Evaluation of the Millennium Phytomedicine - ginseng (II) . Collected Chemical Entities, Modern Pharmacology, and Clinical Applications Emanated from Traditional Chinese Medicine. In: Bentham Science Publishers (Ed.): Current Medicinal Chemistry . tape 16 , no. 22 , 2009, ISSN  0929-8673 , p. 2924-2942 , PMC 2752963 (free full text) - (English).
  32. ↑ Samgyetang. In: Korean cuisine. Korea Tourism Organization, accessed May 9, 2011 .