The very first record of ginseng in the Korean peninsula dates back to early 6th century A.D., with its concentration in Chinese sources. Regardless of the fact that the Korean ginseng was introduced to China before the birth of Christ, there is no writing about it for 500 years. This is because the Chinese substituted Korean ginseng for the Chinese one, which was cultivated around the Shangdang Area. The ginseng, however, is greatly influenced by natural environment and its native area being Manchuria and the Korean peninsula. It is believed that ginseng range from the northern mountains of Pyongando and Hamkyongdo provinces to the southern Taebaek and Sobaek mountains in Korea. Especially the area of Madasan (Baekdusan?) mountain was well-known for ginseng-growing district. The ginseng taxation of the Three Kingdoms period seems to have gone through certain changes along the development stages of the ancient state. The first taxation stage is estimated to be in the form of a tribute. Afterwards, as the governing power of central government was gradually strengthened in the subjugated places, there was a major replacement from tributary form to actual goods levy. The actual areas of such tributary collection is unknown, but the [Sejongshilok Chiriji] (geographical records of Sejong chronicles) of the early Choson era indicates 113 prefectures and counties as those which submit ginseng to the central government. These administrations provide permissible clues to the historic background of ginseng-taxed regions of the Three Kingdoms. The ginseng trade also is estimated to have flourished in ancient Korea through the Han commanderies of China. However, the writings of Korean ginseng trade is non-existent until 6th century A .D., Such phenomenon can be attributed to few reasons. First, the Chinese took little interest in Korean ginseng as they believed they had their own native ginseng in China. Second, same ignorance resulted from its inflowing but new feature. Third, active communication became impossible as the Goguryo-China relations deteriorated overall after the closing of the commanderies. Nevertheless, ginseng eventually was properly introduced into China as the relations between two regions improved after the 5th century A .D., which led the Chinese to realize the difference between Chinese and Korean ginseng. So it is estimated that such causes generated the real beginning of ginseng records in the 6th century. Based on the remaining texts, it can be inferred that trade in the Three Kingdoms era usually was conducted in each kingdom were all different, which was reflected in their respective contact with China. Such characteristics must have directly influenced their ginseng trade with China as well. For example, Shilla was only able to perform major ginseng commerce with China from the 7th century. There are various records of ginseng trade in Unified Shilla period, owing mostly to the previous tributary trade. Additionally, there is a case in which a certain individual presented Korean ginseng to a Chinese, as well as a case of Shilla ginseng trade in Japan. Aforementioned examples clearly illustrate that the fundamental structure of ginseng trade in East Asia was completed during the Unified Shilla period.
Commerce/*history ; English Abstract ; History, Ancient ; Korea ; Panax/*growth & development

The continuous cropping obstacle of Panax notoginseng is serious, and effective control measures are lacking. Soil disinfection with chloropicrin(CP) has been proven to be effective in reducing the obstacles to continuous cropping of other crops. In order to ascertain the effect of CP in the continuous cropping of P. notoginseng, this paper explored the influences of CP at different treatment concentrations(0,30,40,50 kg/Mu, 1 Mu≈667 m~2) on soil macro-element nutrients, soil enzyme activity, growth and development of P. notoginseng, and the accumulation of medicinal components. The results showed that CP fumigation significantly increased the content of total nitrogen, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and available phosphorus in the soil, but it had no significant effect on potassium content. The soil protease activity showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing with the prolonging of the treatment time. Both the soil urease and acid phosphatase activities showed a trend of first decreasing and then increasing with the prolonging of the treatment time. The higher the CP treatment concentration was, the lower the urease and acid phosphatase activities would be in the soil. The protease activity was relatively high after CP40 treatment, which was better than CP30 and CP50 treatments in promoting the nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium accumulation in P. notoginseng. The seedling survival rates after CP0, CP30, CP40, and CP50 tratments in October were 0, 65.56%, 89.44%, and 83.33%, respectively. Compared with the CP30 and CP50 treatments, CP40 treatment significantly facilitated the growth and development of P. notoginseng, the increase in fresh and dry weights, and the accumulation of root saponins. In summary, CP40 treatment accelerates the increase in soil nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients and their accumulation in P. notoginseng, elevates the seedling survival rate of P. notoginseng, enhances the growth and development of P. notoginseng, and promotes the accumulation of medicinal components. CP40 treatment is therefore recommended in production.
Fumigation ; Growth and Development ; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated ; Panax notoginseng ; Soil

OBJECTIVETo understand the embryo after-ripening phenomenon of Panax quinquefolium, the growth and development process of fruit and seed was investigated in this study.

METHODThe growth and development characteristics of fruit and seed were obtained by field observation, the morphological changes were measured with a vernier caliper, paraffin section was used as well.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe plant reached the most flowering numbers in 5-8 d after initial blooming time and the lag phase of embryo occurred in about 70 d. The size, fresh and dry weight of fruit and seed were all reached maximum in fruit maturation period. As the result showed, the development of seed was stopped at torpedo form of embryos, this conclusion can be applied to explore the morphological after-ripening mechanism of P. quinquefolium seed.

Fruit ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Panax ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Seeds ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo reveal the flowering characteristics of Panax stipuleanatus and provide theoretical basis for distant hybridization between P. stipuleanatus and P. notoginseng.

METHODDuring the blossom of P. stipuleanatus, we observed and investigated blooming phenophase, growth dynamics of inflorescence, pollination and seed setting of its population and the flowering process and its period, the regularity of flowering and pollinating of the floret. Statistic analyses were carried out.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe population florescence of P. stipuleanatus was about 60 d. The average florets quality of umbel was 44-47. The average natural pollination rates were 73.32%-95.39%. The average seed setting rates was 35.65%-51.76%. The highest growth periods of inflorescence are from March 25 to April 4. The diameter, the height and the length of its inflorescence in 10 d increased 44.65%, 42.19% and 106.25%, respectively. The whole stereotype period was the May beginning. The time that the floret from petal opening to withering it generally needed 36-48 h, 60 percent of the floret finished auther pollinating during the same day and 40 percent until the next day. The flowering and pollinating peak periods were 14:00-15:00, the flowering numbers was 28.48% of the total flowering amount and the pollinating numbers were 38.63% of the total pollinating amount. The high temperature (20-30 degrees C) and the low humidity (RH < 60%) were beneficial to flowering and pollinating.

Flowers ; growth & development ; physiology ; Inflorescence ; growth & development ; physiology ; Panax ; growth & development ; physiology ; Pollination ; Seeds ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo optimize the culture condition of adventitious roots of Panax ginseng.

METHODThe adventitious roots were obtained through tissue culture by manipulation of inoculum, various sucrose concentrations and salt strength. The contents of ginsenosides Re, Rb1 and Rg1 were determined by HPLC while the contents of polysaccharides were determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometry.

RESULTThe multiplication of adventitious roots reached the peak when the inoculum was 20 g x L(-1). The effects of sucrose concentration and salt strength on adventitious roots were observed. The contents of polysaccharides were higher when the medium contained more sucrose. 40 g x L(-1) sucrose was favorable for roots growth and biosynthesis of Re, while 30 g x L(-1) was favorable for the biosynthesis of Rb1 and Rg1. 3/4MS medium was benefit for the growth of adventitious roots and the biosynthesis of ginsenosides. The contents of polysaccharides were decreased with the increase of salt strength.

CONCLUSIONThe results showed that inoculum, various sucrose concentrations and salt strength have significant influences on adventitious roots growth, secondary metabolite and polysaccharide synthesis in P. ginseng.

Culture Media ; pharmacology ; Panax ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism

Characteristics of fructification and seed ripening of Panax stipuleanatus were studied in this paper with a view to better understand the species' biological characteristics and promote cultivation. Dynamic of fructification and types of fruits were observed in a period of 80 days. The seeds' biological characteristics were evaluated by observing embryo's vitality and changes in form in a period of 225 d. The findings and conclusions were as follows: A plant produces an average of (38.7 +/- 6.5) seeds; Seeds become fully mature 80 days after setting fruit, and fruits grow more rapidly in 0-40 days with an increase of 1 500.83% in fresh weight. Three types of fruits were found, that is mono-seed type, bi-seeds type and triple-seeds type, and the proportion is 9.53%, 58.66%, 1.81%, respectively. The seeds are (5.16-6. 52) mm in length and (3.12-4.95) mm in width. The weight of 1000 seeds is (0.648 +/- 0.014) g with a moisture content of (55.23 +/- 0.49)%. The after-ripening of embryo in Panax stipuleanatus is morphological form, embryos develop 75 days after the seeds' detaching from mother plant and become mature in 165-180 days with the ending of the process of after-ripening. The vitality of embryo reaches 70% , and the length of embryo is (3.217 +/- 0.406) mm and the width (0.872 +/- 0.165) mm. The seeds will germinate in 195 d.
Fruit ; growth & development ; Germination ; physiology ; Kinetin ; biosynthesis ; metabolism ; physiology ; Panax ; chemistry ; physiology ; Physiological Phenomena ; Seeds ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo supply the scientific data for the choice of medicinal plants' producing area through analyzing the suitable area for Panax quinquefolium' growth.

METHODTCMGIS-I (Suitability evaluation geographic information system of traditional Chinese medicine producing area) was developed and used to analyze the suitable producing area of P. quinquefolium Wisconsin state of USA, one of the origin producing area of the geo-authentic crude drugs, was selected as the standard analytical area and some key factors related to plant growth such as average temperature, altitude, soil type, precipitation were chosen to be considered.

RESULTThe result showed that the suitable area for P. quinquefolium' growth in China is similar to the present status. It concentrates in the northeast and the north of China, and part of Shanxi province is also suitable but the field area is small.

CONCLUSIONThe development of P. quinquefolium in China should concentrate in the northeast and the north of China. The TCMGIS-I is valuable to the analysis of suitable producing area and introduction of medicinal plant.

China ; Climate ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Feasibility Studies ; Panax ; growth & development ; Soil ; Wisconsin

OBJECTIVEThe studies were carried out on the physiologic characteristics of Panax notoginseng seeds during the after--ripening process in order to understand the seed's biochemical and physiological changes and lay the foundation for the germplasm conversation and breeding research of P. notoginseng seeds.

METHODDynamic changes of storage material contents, respiratory rate and protective enzymatic activity were determined by normal biochemical and physiological measuring methods.

RESULTThe respiratory rate increased continuously during the stratification process, the contents of starch, soluble protein, crude fat decreased and the content of water-soluble saccharide increased with the embryo development, activities of CAT, POD and SOD increased with the raise of MDA content.

CONCLUSIONP. notoginseng seed's biochemical and physiological changes interacted with its embryo morphological changes to complete its after-ripening development.

Catalase ; metabolism ; Oxygen Consumption ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; physiology ; Seeds ; growth & development ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

This paper is in order to study the anti-feeding and growth inhibition activity of toatal ginsenoside of ginseng stems and leaves against 4th-instar Mythimna separata larvae. Simulating natural growing condition indoors, on the base, To study the anti-feeding and growth inhibition activity of toatal ginsenoside against 4th-instar M. separata larvae by leaf disc test. The toatal ginsenoside appeared to be of significant antifeeding activity against 4th-instar M. separata larvae. The 4th-instar M. separata larvae fed on the leaves of Sorghum bicolor treated with 20, 10, 5 g · L(-1) toatal ginsenoside. At 8 h, non-selective anti-feeding rate were 88.67%, 64.40% and 47.36%, and selective anti-feeding rate were 62.49% , 44.29% and 34.19%; Compared with the photographic, The toatal ginsenoside conld make the development period had prolonged 13h in treated group. The toatal ginsenoside had significant inhibition effect on feeding and growth and development against 4th-instar M. separata larvae, and inhibition effect increases as the increase of concentration ginsenoside.
Animals ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Insecticides ; pharmacology ; Larva ; Moths ; growth & development ; Panax ; chemistry

Continuously cropping obstacle restricts ginseng production and rational use of land resource severely, and autotoxicity is one of the most important factors. In our previous work, ginseng autotoxin degrading bacteria were isolated, in the present re- search, plate culturing method and traditional physiological and biochemical method were used to analyze biological indices and protective enzyme activities, in order to elucidate the mitigative effect of autotoxin degrading bacteria on autotoxicity of P. ginseng. Results indicated that, except for palmitic acid, autotoxicity of benzonic acid, diisobutyl phthalate, diisobutyl succinate, and 2,2-bis (4- hydroxyphenyl) propane on the growth of ginseng seeds was significantly alleviated after autotoxins degrading bacteria was inoculated, and which have no evident difference with control. Except for benzoic acid, enzyme activity of SOD, POD and CAT in other autotoxin degrading treatments decreased significantly. The present research showed that, microbial degradation could alleviate the autotoxicity of autotoxins on ginseng seeds effectively, and which will be helpful for the resolution of ginseng continuously cropping obstacle problem.
Bacteria ; metabolism ; Panax ; enzymology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Toxins, Biological ; metabolism