The ''Panax'' (
ginseng
Ginseng () is the root of plants in the genus ''Panax'', such as Korean ginseng ('' P. ginseng''), South China ginseng ('' P. notoginseng''), and American ginseng ('' P. quinquefolius''), typically characterized by the presence of ginsenosides an ...
)
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
belongs to the ''
Araliaceae
The Araliaceae are a family of flowering plants composed of about 43 genera and around 1500 species consisting of primarily woody plants and some herbaceous plants. The morphology of Araliaceae varies widely, but it is predominantly distinguisha ...
'' (ivy)
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
. ''Panax'' species are characterized by the presence of
ginsenoside
Ginsenosides or panaxosides are a class of natural product steroid glycosides and triterpene saponins. Compounds in this family are found almost exclusively in the plant genus ''Panax'' (ginseng), which has a long history of use in traditional me ...
s and
gintonin
Gintonin is a glycolipoprotein fraction isolated from ginseng. The non-saponin ingredient was designated as gintonin, where ''gin'' was derived from ginseng, ''ton'' from the tonic effects of ginseng, and ''in'' from protein. The main component ...
. ''Panax'' is one of approximately 60 plant genera with a classical disjunct east Asian and east North American distribution. Furthermore, this disjunct distribution is asymmetric as only two of the ~18 species in genus are native to North America.
Etymology
The name ''Panax'', meaning "all-healing" in Greek, shares the same origin as "
panacea
In Greek mythology, Panacea (Greek ''Πανάκεια'', Panakeia), a goddess of universal remedy, was the daughter of Asclepius and Epione. Panacea and her four sisters each performed a facet of Apollo's art:
* Panacea (the goddess of universal ...
" and was used for this genus because
Carl Linnaeus
Carl Linnaeus (; 23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after his ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné Blunt (2004), p. 171. (), was a Swedish botanist, zoologist, taxonomist, and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, the ...
was aware of its wide use in
Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an alternative medical practice drawn from traditional medicine in China. It has been described as "fraught with pseudoscience", with the majority of its treatments having no logical mechanism of action ...
.
''Panax'' species
Genus ''Panax''
:Subgenus ''Panax''
::Section ''Panax''
:::Series ''Notoginseng''
::::''
Panax notoginseng
''Panax notoginseng'' is a species of the genus '' Panax'', and it is commonly referred to in English as Chinese ginseng
* or notoginseng. In Chinese it is called ''tiánqī'' (), tienchi ginseng, ''sānqī'' () or ''sanchi'', three-seven root, ...
''
(Burkill) F.H.Chen (known as ''san qi'', ''tian qi'' or ''tien chi'')
:::Series ''Panax''
::::''
Panax assamicus
The ''Panax'' (ginseng) genus belongs to the ''Araliaceae'' (ivy) family. ''Panax'' species are characterized by the presence of ginsenosides and gintonin. ''Panax'' is one of approximately 60 plant genera with a classical disjunct east Asian and ...
'' (Assam Ginseng)
::::''
Panax bipinnatifidus
The ''Panax'' (ginseng) genus belongs to the ''Araliaceae'' (ivy) family. ''Panax'' species are characterized by the presence of ginsenosides and gintonin. ''Panax'' is one of approximately 60 plant genera with a classical disjunct east Asian and ...
''
Seem.
:::::var. ''angustifolius''
(Burkill) J.Wen
::::''
Panax ginseng
''Panax ginseng'', ginseng, also known as Asian ginseng, Chinese ginseng, or Korean ginseng, is a species of plant whose root is the original source of ginseng. It is a perennial plant that grows in the mountains of East Asia. Names
''Panax gi ...
''
C.A.Mey. (Asian ginseng, Chinese ginseng, Korean ginseng, Asiatic ginseng, Oriental ginseng)
::::''
Panax japonicus
The ''Panax'' (ginseng) genus belongs to the ''Araliaceae'' (ivy) family. ''Panax'' species are characterized by the presence of ginsenosides and gintonin. ''Panax'' is one of approximately 60 plant genera with a classical disjunct east Asian and ...
''
(T.Nees) C.A.Mey. (
Japanese ginseng)
::::''
Panax quinquefolius
American ginseng (''Panax quinquefolius'') is a herbaceous perennial plant in the ivy family, commonly used as an herb in traditional Chinese medicine. It is native to eastern North America, though it is also cultivated in China. Since the 18th ...
''
L. (
American ginseng
American ginseng (''Panax quinquefolius'') is a herbaceous perennial plant in the ivy family, commonly used as an herb in traditional Chinese medicine. It is native to eastern North America, though it is also cultivated in China. Since the 18th ...
)
::::''
Panax sokpayensis
The ''Panax'' (ginseng) genus belongs to the ''Araliaceae'' (ivy) family. ''Panax'' species are characterized by the presence of ginsenosides and gintonin. ''Panax'' is one of approximately 60 plant genera with a classical disjunct east Asian and ...
''
Shiva K.Sharma & Pandit
::::''
Panax vietnamensis
The ''Panax'' (ginseng) genus belongs to the ''Araliaceae'' (ivy) family. ''Panax'' species are characterized by the presence of ginsenosides and gintonin. ''Panax'' is one of approximately 60 plant genera with a classical disjunct east Asian and ...
''
Ha & Grushv.
::::''
Panax wangianus
The ''Panax'' (ginseng) genus belongs to the ''Araliaceae'' (ivy) family. ''Panax'' species are characterized by the presence of ginsenosides and gintonin. ''Panax'' is one of approximately 60 plant genera with a classical disjunct east Asian and ...
''
S.C.Sun
::::''
Panax zingiberensis
''Panax zingiberensis'' is a species of plant in the family Araliaceae. It is endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; o ...
''
C.Y.Wu & Feng
::Section ''Pseudoginseng''
::::''
Panax pseudoginseng
''Panax pseudoginseng'' is a species of the genus ''Panax''. Common names include Pseudoginseng, Nepal ginseng and Himalayan ginseng. Pseudoginseng belongs to the same scientific genus as ginseng. In Latin, the word ''panax'' means "cure-all", ...
''
Wall.
::::''
Panax stipuleanatus
The ''Panax'' (ginseng) genus belongs to the ''Araliaceae'' (ivy) family. ''Panax'' species are characterized by the presence of ginsenosides and gintonin. ''Panax'' is one of approximately 60 plant genera with a classical disjunct east Asian and ...
''
H.T.Tsai & K.M.Feng
:Subgenus ''Trifolius''
::::''
Panax trifolius
''Panax trifolius'', commonly called dwarf ginseng, is plant native to the Northeastern and Appalachian regions of North America. It is found in low mesic woods with acidic soils.
It produces an umbel of white flowers in late spring. This spe ...
''
L.
Hybrids:
* ''Panax ginseng'' × ''Panax quinquifolius''
* ''Panax japonicus'' f. ''typicum'' × ''Panax quinquifolius''
References
External links
Apiales genera
Plants used in traditional Chinese medicine
{{Araliaceae-stub