TOXICOLOGY
American ginseng was found to be non-
mutagenic.^106
USES
Medicinal, Pharmaceutical, and Cosmetic.
Used in all kinds of cosmetic products
such as lotions, creams, soaps, bath prepara-
tions, and perfumes. Ginseng oil and
extracts (probably both American and Asian)
are used.
Food. Used in soft drinks; those manufac-
tured in America are mostly made from Amer-
ican ginseng, while those manufactured
overseas are from Asian ginseng, although
type of ginseng is not always labeled.
Dietary Supplements/Health Foods. Both
American and Asian ginseng are available in
a wide variety of product forms, including
powdered root (or leaf) as single or combina-
tion teas, capsules, tablets, liquid extracts,
chewing gum, extract, and instant tea (up to
5% extract on fructose carrier). Some products
are standardized to 4–7% ginsenoside content
(FOSTER).
Traditional Medicine. In Chinese medicine,
Asian ginseng is considered to have warming
properties, while American ginseng is said to
have cooling properties. They are generally
used for different purposes. Thus, American
ginseng is normally used for its cooling and
thirst-quenching effects in summer and as a
febrifuge. This is also true with Asian
ginseng leaf, which is considered to have
similar properties as American ginseng (cool-
ing and thirst quenching)and is similarly used;
both are also used to treat hangovers (JIANGSU;
LEUNG).
Asian ginseng is used generally as a tonic,
for its revitalizing properties, especially after a
long illness. Either alone or in combination
with other drugs, it is used to treat a wide
variety of conditions, including amnesia, diz-
ziness, headache, tiredness, convulsions, im-
potence, vomiting, rheumatism, dysentery,
lack of appetite, difficulties in pregnancy and
childbirth, internal hemorrhage, nosebleed,
and cancers, among others (JIANGSU;LEUNG;
NANJING).^2
Primarily consumed by Asians, American
ginseng has always been regarded as an export
commodity. The root was official in theUnited
States Pharmacopoeiafrom 1842 to 1882;
primarily used as a stimulant and a
stomachic.^7COMMERCIAL PREPARATIONSCrude, extracts, and oils. Currently there are
no standards for ginseng. Powdered ginseng
and ginseng extracts should be tested for
ginsenosides and ginseng polysaccharides, as
well as diluents such as dextrose, lactose, corn
syrup, and caramel. Chromatographic meth-
ods are available and can be used.11–13Regulatory Status. Not yet determined.
Asian ginseng is the subject of a German
therapeutic monograph. The root is used as
a tonic for invigoration for fatigue and reduced
work capacity and concentration and during
convalescence. Daily dosage is 1–2 g of root in
appropriate formulations.REFERENCES
See the General References forBAILEY1;BLUMENTHAL1&2;FOSTER;FOSTER AND YUE;JIANGSU;LEUNG;
LIST AND HO€RHAMMER;NANJING;TYLER1.
- S. Y. Hu,Econ. Bot., 30 , 11 (1976).
- S. Y. Hu,Am. J. Chin. Med., 5 , 1 (1977).
3. B. Goldstein,Am. J. Chin. Med., 3 , 223
(1975).
Ginseng (Asian and American) 333