American ginseng

American ginseng
Panax quinquefolius[1]
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (NatureServe)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Apiales
Family:	Araliaceae
Subfamily:	Aralioideae
Genus:	Panax
Species:	P. quinquefolius
Binomial name
Panax quinquefolius L.

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius, Panacis quinquefolis) is a herbaceous perennial plant in the ivy family, commonly used as Chinese or herbal medicine. An extract is sold as Cold-fX. It is native to eastern North America, though it is also cultivated in places such as China.^[3][4]

There is little evidence to support that American ginseng is effective against the common cold.^[5][6] All trials evaluating the efficacy were funded by the manufacturer and there has been poor data reporting.^[5] Health Canada's Natural Health Product Directorate states that it claims to "help reduce the frequency, severity and duration of cold and flu symptoms by boosting the immune system".^[7]

The plant's forked root and leaves were traditionally used for medicinal purposes by Native Americans. Since the 18th century, the roots have been collected by "sang hunters" and sold to Chinese or Hong Kong traders, who often pay very high prices for particularly old wild roots.^[8] It is also known by its Chinese name huaqishen (simplified Chinese: 花旗参; traditional Chinese: 花旗參; pinyin: huāqíshēn; Jyutping: faa1kei4sam1; literally: "Flower Flag ginseng") or xiyangshen (simplified Chinese: 西洋参; traditional Chinese: 西洋參; pinyin: xīyángshēn; Jyutping: sai1joeng4sam1; literally: "west ocean ginseng").

Medical uses

There is no evidence that American ginseng is effective in those infected with the common cold.^[5] The effect of preventive use is not clear.^[5] When used preventively it makes no difference on the rate of infections.^[6] It also appears to have no effect on how severe the infections are.^[6] There is tentative evidence that it may lessen the length of sickness when used preventively.^[6]

Adverse effects

Individuals requiring anti-coagulant therapy such as warfarin should avoid use of American ginseng. Not recommended for individuals with impaired liver or renal function. It is not recommended in those who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Other adverse effects include: headaches, anxiety, trouble sleeping and an upset stomach.^[5]

Recent studies have shown that through the many cultivated procedures that American ginseng is grown, fungal molds, pesticides, and various metals and residues have contaminated the crop. Though these contaminating effects are not considerably substantial, they do pose health concerns that could lead to neurological problems, intoxication, cardiovascular disease and cancer. However, the ginseng, wild or farmed, medically has the same effects in the body.^[9]

Production

American ginseng was formerly particularly widespread in the Appalachian and Ozark regions (and adjacent forested regions such as Pennsylvania, New York and Ontario), due to its popularity and unique habitat requirements, the wild plant has been overharvested, as well as lost through destruction of its habitat, and is thus rare in most parts of the United States and Canada.^[10] Ginseng is also negatively affected by deer browsing, urbanization, and habitat fragmentation.^[11] It can also be grown commercially, under artificial shade, woods cultivated, or wild-simulated methods and is usually harvested after three to four years depending on cultivation technique; the wild-simulated method often requires up to 10 years before harvest.

Ontario, Canada is the world's largest producer of North American ginseng.^[12] Marathon County Wisconsin, accounts for about 95% of production in the United States.^[13]

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  American ginseng in human figure

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  Under wooden shade, American ginseng in late fall at Monk Garden in Wisconsin

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  A picture of the American Ginseng plant with fruit.

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  An image of the American Ginseng plant with a bud that will produce fruit.

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  American ginseng berries are ripe by late fall in Wisconsin.

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  A drawn image of the fruit and leaf of the American Ginseng plant

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  A drawn image of the American ginseng plants leaves

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  American wild ginseng root (Panax quinquefolius). This is a very old specimen, showing over 60 growth scars.

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  American wild ginseng root (Panax quinquefolius). Very old roots, ranging from 40–60 growth scars.

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  American wild ginseng root (Panax quinquefolius). This is a very old specimen, showing over 60 growth scars.

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  American wild ginseng root (Panax quinquefolius). Very old roots, ranging from 40–65 growth scars.

Chemical components

Chemical structure of protopanaxadiol

Like Panax ginseng, American ginseng contains dammarane-type ginsenosides, or saponins, as the major biologically active constituents. Dammarane-type ginsenosides include two classifications: 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD) and 20(S)-protopanaxatriol (PPT). American ginseng contains high levels of Rb1, Rd (PPD classification), and Re (PPT classification) ginsenosides—higher than that of P. ginseng in one study.^[14]

Pharmacokinetics

When taken orally, PPD-type ginsenosides are mostly metabolized by intestinal bacteria (anaerobes) to PPD monoglucoside, 20-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-20(S)-protopanaxadiol (M1).^[15] In humans, M1 is detected in plasma from seven hours after intake of PPD-type ginsenosides and in urine from 12 hours after intake. These findings indicate M1 is the final metabolite of PPD-type ginsenosides.^[16]

M1 is referred to in some articles as IH-901,^[17] and in others as compound-K.^[16]

Society and culture

Cold-fX is a product derived from the roots of North American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius). Originally manufactured by Afexa Life Sciences Inc. (formerly called CV Technologies Inc.),^[18] headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, the company and lead product was acquired by Valeant Pharmaceuticals International (headquartered in Laval, Quebec, Canada) in 2011.

The makers of Cold-fX, were criticized for making health claims about the product that have never been tested or verified scientifically. Up until February 2007, the company advised a regimen of 18 pills over a course of 3 days in order to obtain "immediate relief" from a cold. Health Canada's review of the scientific literature confirmed that this is not a claim that CV Technologies Inc. is entitled to make.^[19]

Distribution

Range map of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius).

American Ginseng can be found in much of the eastern and central United States and in part of southeastern Canada.^[20] It is found primarily in deciduous forests of the Appalachian and Ozark regions of the United States.^[21] American ginseng is found in full shade environments in these deciduous forests underneath hardwoods.^[22] Due to this very specialized growing environment and its demand in the commercial market it has started to reach an endangered status in some areas. It can be found in the following states and provinces:

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Quebec, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. ^[23]

Endangered Status

American Ginseng is not listed as an endangered species across the United States of America but it has been declared as a part of the endangered species scale by some states. States that recognize American Ginseng as endangered: Maine, Rhode Island. States that Recognize American Ginseng as Vulnerable: New York, Pennsylvania. States that Recognize American Ginseng as Threatened: Michigan, New Hampshire. States that Recognize American Ginseng as Special Concern: Connecticut, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Tennessee. ^[20]

References

External links

Wikispecies has information related to: Panax quinquefolius

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Panax quinquefolius.

• "There is More to a Forest than Trees" by Lynn Davis, College of Natural Resources, Virginia Tech
• "Roots and Regulations: The Unfolding Story of Pennsylvania Ginseng", by Melissa Beattie-Moss