Panax sp. in Tuyen Quang, North Vietnam – A Potential Plant for Poverty Reduction
Published: 2019-04-19
Page: 67-76
Issue: 2019 - Volume 2 [Issue 1]
Trinh Ngoc Bon
Department of Forest Phytodiversity, Silviculture Research Institute, Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Pham Quang Tuyen
Department of Forest Phytodiversity, Silviculture Research Institute, Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Hoang Thanh Son
Department of Forest Phytodiversity, Silviculture Research Institute, Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Nguyen Thi Hoai Anh
Department of Forest Phytodiversity, Silviculture Research Institute, Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Bui Thanh Tan
Department of Forest Phytodiversity, Silviculture Research Institute, Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Nguyen Thanh Son
Department of Forest Phytodiversity, Silviculture Research Institute, Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Nguyen Quang Hung
Department of Forest Phytodiversity, Silviculture Research Institute, Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Nguyen Thi Van Anh
Department of Forest Phytodiversity, Silviculture Research Institute, Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Tran Van Do *
Department of Silviculture Foundation, Silviculture Research Institute, Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, Hanoi, Vietnam.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Ginsengs are perennial forest herbs, belonging to genus Panax L. A species of ginseng was found in Tuyen Quang province, North Vietnam and named as Panax sp. – Tuyen Quang ginseng. Understanding the ecology, morphology, and saponin of Tuyen Quang ginseng becomes important for development, which can contribute to poverty reduction in the province. Field survey was conducted for ecology and samples were collected for morphology description, anatomy, and saponin analysis. The results indicated Tuyen Quang ginseng distributed in evergreen broadleaved forests in elevation of 980-1,200 m above sea level. It grows in forests with canopy cover of >50% and low vegetation cover of >80%. The soil is acidic with pH of 4.5-5. Morphology indicated some differences of Tuyen Quang ginseng with other described ginsengs in Vietnam. Saponin content of Tuyen Quang ginseng was 13.7%, which is much higher than that of Panax stipulealatus (7.1%) and Panax bipinnatifidus (7.5%), two widely planted and marketed ginsengs in Vietnam. In addition, current price of Tuyen Quang ginseng is up to 2,600 US$/1 kg. It is concluded that Tuyen Quang ginseng could be considered as a potential forest herb for poverty reduction. However, study on growing techniques should be conducted before practical application.
Keywords: Ethnic community, Panax sp., poverty reduction, saponin, Tuyen Quang