Abstract

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is a threatened herb with medicinal effects caused by organic compounds called ginsenosides. Ginsenosides are the reason for the lucrative pharmaceutical and food market for P. quinquefolius. This demand has resulted in overharvesting of the plant, reducing its genetic diversity. It is proposed in this study that ginsenoside levels are directly related to a plant’s genetic makeup. Genetic markers for P. quinquefolius were analyzed from 53 plants in five populations using seven newly developed species-specific microsatellite primers. DNA was extracted from each tissue sample, and primers were used in Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCR) to amplify microsatellite regions of the genome. PCR products were then subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis to visualize and quantify band sizes. These data were compared to existing ginsenoside data for these samples, and ANOVA was used to determine relationships between allelic diversity and ginsenoside content. It was determined that two of the five populations had higher ginsenoside concentrations than the others, and that two populations were less genetically diverse than the others. Additionally, only one primer amplified a DNA locus significantly correlated with ginsenosides. This study is important because an understanding of the genetic basis of ginsenosides can be used to reduce the amount of wild P. quinquefolius needed to satisfy the demand by pharmaceutical and food companies. It also can render pharmaceutical and food companies better able to label ginsenoside ingredients and ensure quality control in their products.

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