Brief Introduction of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer

Abstract

Ginseng, a medicinal herb, has long been used in the Far East, particularly in Korea and China as a respected herbal medicine in maintaining physical vitality.The genus name Panax (Pan=all + axos=medicine) means 'cure all'in Greek.The herbal root is so named as ginseng, because it is shaped like a man (Fig. 1), and is believed to embody his three essences (i.e.body, mind and spirit) and is known as the lord or king of herbs (1).Ginseng had been used mainly as a tonic to invigorate weak bodies, but only rarely as a curative medicine, although, according to the Bancao Gangmu (Encyclopedia of Herbs) written by Li Shizhen in China, 1596 A.D.(2), it was included as an ingredient for curing 23 diseases.It is also included in 653 (16.6%) of the total 3,944 prescriptions in Dongeui Bogam (Korean Clinical Pharmacopoeia), written by the Korean herbalist, Huh Joon, in 1610 A.D.(3) (Fig. 2). THE HISTORY OF GINSENGThe origin of ginseng dates back to prehistory.In China, Shennong (Divine Peasant) also known as Emperor Yan, the Yellow Emperor, or one of the "Three Emperors"(the Emperor who is said to have started herbal medicine about 5,500 yr ago) is reported to have tasted hundreds of plants to discover many medicinal herbs (4).The original work was lost long ago, however, studies performed by Shennong were handed down verbally over many generations and were com-piled into a commentary book "Shennong Bencao Jing (Shennong' s Herbal)"by Tao Hongjing during the Liang Dynasty, 502-557 A.D. (5).Three hundred and sixty-five kinds of herb are listed and they are divided into three classes according to the degree of toxicity.The superior ones are non-toxic and serve to reinforce vital energy, and can be taken regularly.Examples include Radix Ginseng.Ginseng was also mentioned in Jijuzhang (Interpretation of Creatures) written by Shi You of China, as