A Survey of the History and Applications of American Ginseng(西洋参)

American ginseng(Panax Quinquefolium L),also known as Xi Yang Shen(西洋参 Radix Panacis Quinquefolii),is indigenous to the United States and Canada.Its discovery in the 1700s paved the way for international trade,which boosted the economy of the New World and helped build commercial ties between the US and China.Due to its therapeutic effects,the demand for American ginseng grew steadily,eventually causing the volume of wild ginseng to dwindle.As a result,laws and regulations were introduced requiring farmers and exporters to engage in harvesting practices that would preserve wild American ginseng.Nowadays,wild American ginseng is considered an endangered and protected species.This article discusses the history,properties,and applications of American ginseng to optimize its use and protection.

DNA metabarcoding analysis of fungal community on surface of four root herbs

Objective: Angelicae Sinensis Radix(ASR, Danggui in Chinese), Cistanches Herba(CH, Roucongrong in Chinese), Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma(PG, Renshen in Chinese), and Panacis Quinquefolii Radix(PQ,Xiyangshen in Chinese), widely used as medicine and dietary supplement around the world, are susceptible to fungal and mycotoxin contamination. In this study, we aim to analyze their fungal community by DNA metabarcoding.Methods: A total of 12 root samples were collected from three main production areas in China. The samples were divided into four groups based on herb species, including ASR, CH, PG, and PQ groups. The fungal community on the surface of four root groups was investigated through DNA metabarcoding via targeting the internal transcribed spacer 2 region(ITS2).Results: All the 12 samples were detected with fungal contamination. Rhizopus(13.04%-74.03%),Aspergillus(1.76%-23.92%), and Fusarium(0.26%-15.27%) were the predominant genera. Ten important fungi were identified at the species level, including two potential toxigenic fungi(Penicillium citrinum and P. oxalicum) and eight human pathogenic fungi(Alternaria infectoria, Candida sake, Hyphopichia burtonii, Malassezia globosa, M. restricta, Rhizopus arrhizus, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, and Ochroconis tshawytschae). Fungal community in ASR and CH groups was significantly different from other groups,while fungal community in PG and PQ groups was relatively similar.Conclusion: DNA metabarcoding revealed the fungal community in four important root herbs. This study provided an important reference for preventing root herbs against fungal and mycotoxin contamination.