Comparative Study of Wild and Cultivated Product of Panax japonicus from the West of Hubei Province

Objective: To compare the difference of macroscopic and microscopic characteristics and total saponin content between wild and cultivated product of Panax japonicus from the west of Hubei province.Methods: Cleared the difference of wild and cultivated product of Panax japonicus by macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of powder and transversection and determined the content of total sponin by the vanillin-perchloric acid.Results: Compared with cultivated product,in medicinal properties,the wild one was darker,with shorter diameter and rougher surface.In microscopic features,wild product had pigment,while the cultivated one had none;Moreover,the calcium oxalate crystal were more and the xylem bigger in wild product.As for total saponins,cultivated product had more total ginsenosides than the wild one.Conclusion: There are certain differences in macroscopic and microscopic characteristics and total ginsenosides between wild and cultivated product of Panax japonicus.