Japanese ginseng

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Japanese ginseng

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Aralia repens
• Panax schin-seng f. angustatus
• Panax japonicus f. trifoliolatus
• Panax quinquefolius var. repens
• Panax pseudoginseng f. incisus
• Panax ginseng var. japonicus
• Panax quinquefolius var. coreensis
• Panax ginseng f. dichrocarpus
• Panax ginseng f. xanthocarpus
• Panax schin-seng var. japonicus
• Panax ginseng f. angustatus
• Panax pseudoginseng f. xanthocarpus
• Panax angustatus
• Panax pseudoginseng var. japonicus
• Panax repens
• Panax pseudoginseng subsp. japonicus
• Aralia quinquefolia var. repens
• Panax ginseng var. repens
• Panax japonicus f. incisus
• Panax japonicus var. parvifolius
• Panax pseudoginseng var. angustatus
• Panax japonicus f. lancifolius
• Panax japonicus f. angustatus
• Panax japonicus var. angustatus
• Panax japonicus f. dolichocarpus
• Panax quinquefolius var. subsessilis
• Panax ginseng f. dolichocarpus
• Panax ginseng f. trifoliolatus
• Panax schin-seng f. xanthocarpus
• Panax japonicus f. xanthocarpus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Apiales. Finally, it is a member of the family Araliaceae and falls under the genus Panax.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known scientifically as Panax japonicus, exhibits a specific geographical range within the Eastern Asia region. Its natural habitat is primarily concentrated in the island nation of Japan. Furthermore, its distribution extends across the neighboring peninsula of Korea. These specific locations represent the core areas where the species can be found growing in the wild. Consequently, its presence is strictly limited to these particular East Asian territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Panax japonicus is defined by its specialization within high-altitude montane environments, where it occupies a specific vertical niche in the landscape. This species thrives within a strictly defined elevational range, primarily found at altitudes starting from a minimum of 2300 m AMSL and reaching an upper limit of 3700 m AMSL. Such high-elevation habitats typically imply an adaptation to cooler temperate or subalpine climates, characterized by significant seasonal temperature fluctuations and specific moisture regimes required for its survival in mountain ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

3700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

2300 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Panax japonicus is characterized by its classification as a hemicryptophyte, a growth form where the perennating buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or soil during unfavorable seasons. This life form allows the plant to persist through seasonal fluctuations, utilizing its underground rhizomatous structures to survive dormancy and re-emerge during favorable growing conditions. As a perennial herb, its developmental strategy relies on these protected buds to facilitate annual regrowth, ensuring long-term survival in its natural habitat. Through this hemicryptophytic mechanism, the plant effectively manages its energy reserves and vegetative expansion, navigating the transition between active photosynthetic periods and periods of environmental stress.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Panax japonicus is characterized by its growth form as a herb, which typically develops from a woody base. It functions as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic tendencies, and is classified as a terrestrial plant rather than an epiphyte. Unlike climbing species, it does not exhibit climbing behavior, functioning as a self-supporting organism within its natural habitat.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Panax japonicus has 6 reported plant parts identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include rhizome, root, flower, fruit, leaf.

Rhizome

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
4. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
5. Genomics

Root

1. Scientific reports
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Genomics
4. Frontiers in plant science

Flower

1. Frontiers in plant science

Fruit

1. Scientific reports

Leaf

1. Frontiers in plant science

Stem

1. Frontiers in plant science

Chemicals

Panax japonicus has 52 reported phytochemicals identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Chikusetsusaponin iva, Chikusetsusaponin III, Chikusetsusaponin IV, Ginsenoside Ro, Ginsenosides.

Chikusetsusaponin iva

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
2. Scientific reports
3. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. AoB PLANTS

Chikusetsusaponin III

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Chikusetsusaponin IV

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
3. Planta medica
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Ginsenoside Ro

1. Scientific reports
2. Yakushigaku zasshi
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. AoB PLANTS

Ginsenosides

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of natural products
3. Nutrients
4. Journal of chromatography. A

OLEANOLIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Genomics

Saponins

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chikusetsusaponin V

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

Flavonoids

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Scientific reports

GINSENOSIDE

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. Journal of chromatography. A

Activities

Panax japonicus has 243 reported activities identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Hypocholesterolemic, Hypoglycemic, Tonic, ACE-Inhibitor.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Natural product research

Hypocholesterolemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Nutrients

Hypoglycemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Nutrients

Tonic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Biochemical and biophysical research communications

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Acetylcholinergic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiogenic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Panax japonicus has 13 reported medicinal uses identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include bleeding, inflammation, Obesity, aging, antioxidant.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations