American ginseng, Panax quinquefolius, is a species native to eastern North America. It is in the same genus as Korean ginseng, but is a separate plant. Its roots have long been a valued raw material, and the development of trade connected North American harvesting areas with customers in Asia.
Similar root, separate species
Panax quinquefolius is a separate species from Panax ginseng, although both belong to the genus Panax. The common name ginseng sometimes causes the materials to be too quickly identified. Ginsenoside profile and extract preparation may vary. The North American botanical origin information does not establish where the finished capsule was produced. The full name of the species and data about the preparation itself are useful in the comparison.
Meaning and application
The plant has leaves composed of leaflets and red fruits, while the recipe raw material is usually the root. It contains ginsenosides, but their profile does not have to be the same as in Panax ginseng. The name of the continent helps distinguish the species, but does not replace the full specification of the extract. The origin of cultivation and the identification of the raw material are also important. It is worth remembering that "American", "Korean" and "Siberian" are not simply three terms for the same ingredient.
In practice
Relatedness within the genus Panax does not mean that each extract has an identical profile. The grade, age and preparation of the material and the part used affect the specifications. The designation of ginsenosides describes a specific group of compounds, not all properties of the raw material. When comparing products, it is worth distinguishing the name of the species from the country of production of the preparation. A product manufactured in another region may contain material of declared botanical origin, but this requires appropriate information from the manufacturer. Panax quinquefolius should not be confused with Eleutherococcus just because both are called ginseng. The full marking of the extract and its amount in a serving say the most.