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 ...

)

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

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 distinguish ...

'' (ivy)

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

. ''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 m ...

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 univers ...

" and was used for this genus because

Carl Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus (; 23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after his Nobility#Ennoblement, ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné#Blunt, Blunt (2004), p. 171. (), was a Swedish botanist, zoologist, taxonomist, and physician who formalise ...

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'' 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'' (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'' S.C.Sun ::::'' Panax zingiberensis'' C.Y.Wu & Feng ::Section ''Pseudoginseng'' ::::'' Panax pseudoginseng'' Wall. ::::'' Panax stipuleanatus'' H.T.Tsai & K.M.Feng :Subgenus ''Trifolius'' ::::'' Panax trifolius'' 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