Eleutherococcus senticosus (root bark)

Introduction

Introduction from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleutherococcus_senticosus, retrieved 02/27/2012).

Eleutherococcus senticosus (formerly Acanthopanax senticosus) is a species of small, woody shrub in the family Araliaceae native to Northeastern Asia. It is often colloquially referred to as Siberian Ginseng, eleuthero or Ciwujia, and is sometimes shortened to E. senticosus in medical literature. E. senticosus has been studied as an adaptogen, and has a history of use in Chinese medicine, where it is known as cì wǔ jiā (刺五加).

The herb grows in mixed and coniferous mountain forests, forming low undergrowth or is found in groups in thickets and edges. E. senticosus is sometimes found in oak groves at the foot of cliffs, very rarely in high forest riparian woodland. Its native habitat is East Asia, China, Japan, and Russia. E. senticosus is broadly tolerant of soils, growing in sandy, loamy, and heavy clay soils with acid, neutral, or alkaline chemistry and including soils of low nutritional value. It can tolerate sun or dappled shade and some degree of pollution. E. senticosus is a deciduous shrub growing to 2m at a slow rate. It is hardy to zone 3. It flowers in July in most habitats. The flowers are hermaphroditic and are pollinated by insects.

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Microscopic Entries

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Eleuthero (root bark) (Eleutherococcus senticosus)

General Characteristics Not reported.

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Other Points of Interest

Eleuthero (root bark) (Eleutherococcus senticosus) 

General Characteristics AHPA recommends in its Known Adulterants list that appropriate steps be taken to assure that this raw material is free of the noted adulterant. Contact AHPA for additional information regarding relevant analytical methods or follow this link for more information. 

Reported Adulterants Periploca sepium root.

Source: AHPA Known Adulterants

AHPA Practical: Identification and Quality Control of Eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus) root

Introduction

Neonatal androgenization was associated with the ingestion of a product during pregnancy, which was labeled as containing Siberian ginseng (1). The image on the product was of an actual ginseng plant (Panax spp.) not Eleutherococcus senticosus (formerly sometimes referred to as Siberian ginseng) and analysis of the product indicated that neither eleuthero nor ginseng compounds were present, but that Chinese silk vine (Periploca sepium) was (2).

Methods of Analysis

Quality control of roots of Eleutherococcus senticosus by HPLC

Identification method of Eleuthero senticosus by HPTLC

References

1. Koren G et al. Maternal ginseng use associated with neonatal androgenization. Journal of the American Medical Association, 1990, 264:1866.
2. Awang DV. Maternal use of ginseng and neonatal androgenization. Journal of the American Medical Association, 1991, 264:2865.

Additional Information

Awang D. Siberian ginseng toxicity may be case of mistaken identity. CMAJ. 1996 Nov 1;155(9):1237.

Waller DP et al. Lack of androgenicity of Siberian ginseng. Journal of the American Medical Association, 1991, 265:1826.