Panax vietnamensis or Vietnamese ginseng[1] (Vietnamese: Sâm Ngọc Linh, lit. 'Ngọc Linh ginseng') is a species of the ginseng genus Panax. In Vietnam the species, prized in herbal medicine, is commercially very valuable and now considered threatened.[3][4]
| Panax vietnamensis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Apiales |
| Family: | Araliaceae |
| Genus: | Panax |
| Subgenus: | Panax subg. Panax |
| Species: | P. vietnamensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Panax vietnamensis | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
Description
editPanax vietnamensis is a perennial plant, growing from 40 centimetres (16 in) to 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) tall. It may be distinguished from other ginseng species by the notches on its roots.[3]
Distribution and habitat
editIn Vietnam, P. vietnamensis is found primarily in the Mount Ngọc Linh area of Kon Tum and Quảng Nam provinces, from which its local name is derived.[3][4] It is also found in the Mount Ngọc Lum Heo and Mount Ngọc Am areas of Quảng Nam Province. Its habitat is areas under jungle leaf canopy or near running water, at altitudes above 1,200 metres (4,000 ft).[3] The species is also reported from central and southern provinces of China.[2]
Threats
editPanax vietnamensis faces a number of threats to its survival as a species in Vietnam. With increased demand from the herbal medicine industry, locals have over-harvested the plant in the wild.[4] The species is slow-growing, taking around 10 years to reach maturity.[3] Larger-scale commercial farming operations have been affected by theft of the plants.[5] False ginseng[clarification needed] seeds have been introduced to the Mount Ngọc Linh area in an attempt to be grown and sold as P. vietnamensis. The introduced strains mature in a much shorter time and can be grown at lower altitudes. Scientists are concerned that these strains may mix with and compromise purebred P. vietnamensis.[3]
Commercial projects
editIn 1979 the provincial government of Quảng Nam established the Tra Linh Drug Materials Farm in a forested area on Mount Ngọc Linh. The project, delayed for many years, has recently cultivated large numbers of Ngọc Linh ginseng plants for sale to a local pharmaceutical company. However theft of mature plants has been an ongoing threat.[4][5]
In Kon Tum province, a conservation centre was established in 2004 to grow and preserve the plant. Initially an area of 10 hectares (20 acres) has been planted. It is hoped to increase this to 500 hectares (1,236 acres) under cultivation by 2015.[6]
DNA
editPanax vietnamensis is sympatric with other Panax species and has a close relationship with P. japonicus var. major and P. pseudo-ginseng subsp. himalaicus.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b "Panax vietnamensis". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
- ^ a b c "Panax vietnamensis". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 29 Nov 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f Phong, Tien (28 Oct 2013). "Scientists fear Ngoc Linh ginseng may get exhausted". VietnamNet. Retrieved 29 Nov 2014.
- ^ a b c d Tre, Tuoi (21 Jul 2008). "Golden Treasure" (PDF). Thanh Nien News. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 29 Nov 2014 – via The Herbal Dispatch.
- ^ a b Tre, Tuoi (22 Jul 2008). "Ginseng guardians" (PDF). Thanh Nien News. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 29 Nov 2014 – via The Herbal Dispatch.
- ^ "Kon Tum province invests in Ngoc Linh ginseng". VietnamPlus. Vietnam News Agency. 22 Jul 2013. Retrieved 29 Nov 2014.
- ^ Komatsu, Katsuko; Zhu, Shu; Fushimi, Hirotoshi; Qui, Tran Kim; Cai, Shaoqing; Kadota, Shigetoshi (2001). "Phylogenetic Analysis Based on 18S rRNA Gene and matK gene sequences of Panax vietnamensis and five related species" (PDF). Planta Medica. 67 (5): 461–465. doi:10.1055/s-2001-15821. PMID 11488463. S2CID 7021509. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-02-28.
