alphabetical index of plant families and groups - Sunrise Versand

� Leaves born in whorls, 3–4, palmately compound; leaflets 5 [quinquefolius =
with 5 leaves], long-stalked, obovate, sharply serrate, acuminate, smooth on
both sides, with scattered bristles on the veins above.
� Flowers small, yellowish-green, in single terminal umbel.
� Fruit a bright-scarlet drupe, ca. 1.2 cm in diameter, with 2–3 semicircular, white
seeds.
� Outermost florets ripen first and their fruits often obtain their full size before
the central ones are expanded; the central florets are frequently abortive.
Chinese or Asian ginseng
� Herbaceous perennial, 30–60 cm high, thick, fusiform roots and simple stems.
� Native range: Korea and northern China.
� Habitat: Deciduous broad-leaved forests; extremely rare in the wild; mostly
cultivated.
� Leaves borne in whorls, 3–6, palmately compound; leaflets 3–5, long-stalked,
obovate, 7–20 cm long, serrate.
� Flowers small, yellowish-green, in single terminal umbel.
� Fruit a bright red drupe, globose, about 1.5 cm in diameter, with 2 flat, yellow
seeds.
� Outermost florets ripen first and their fruits often obtain their full size before
the central ones are expanded; the central florets are frequently abortive.
Medicinal Uses
‘Ginseng is perhaps the most widely recognised plant used in traditional
medicine and now plays a major role in the herbal health care market. For more
than 2,000 years, various forms have been used in medicine. The name Panax
derives from the Greek word for “all healing” and its properties have been no
less touted. Ginseng root’s man-shaped figure [shen-seng means “man-root”] led
proponents of the Doctrine of Signatures, an ancient philosophy, to believe that
the root could strengthen any part of the body. Through the ages, the root has
been used in the treatment of asthenia [loss of strength], atherosclerosis, blood
and bleeding disorders, colitis and to relieve the symptoms of ageing, cancer and
senility.
‘Ginseng is popularly used for its adaptogenic, anti-neoplastic, immunomodulatory,
cardiovascular, CNS, endocrine and ergogenic effects, but these uses
have not been confirmed by clinical trials. . . . Note that the profile of particular
ginsenosides differs between American and Asian ginseng; however, total
ginsenoside content is similar.’ [www.drugs.com]
© Saltire Books Ltd
Adverse Reactions
‘The most common adverse reactions with ginseng are nervousness and excitation.
However, there have been reports of diffuse mammary nodularity and
vaginal bleeding. A hypoglycaemic effect has also been documented. Postmarketing
surveillance of CVT-E002 [COLD-fX, a patented, proprietary extract
containing mainly oligosaccharides and polysaccharides from North American
ginseng] in Canada from 1996 to 2006 led to 100 documented adverse reaction
500 Family ARALIACEAE