Codonopsis pilosula

Codonopsis
Codonopsis pilosula
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Campanulaceae
Genus:	Codonopsis
Species:	C. pilosula
Binomial name
Codonopsis pilosula Franch.

Codonopsis pilosula (Chinese: 党参; pinyin: dǎngshēn), also known as dang shen or poor man's ginseng, is a perennial species of flowering plant native to Northeast Asia and Korea and usually found growing around streambanks and forest openings under the shade of trees.

Growth

The plant is shrubby and dense and has a tendency to climb, producing heart shaped leaves, light green five pointed bell shaped flowers with prominent yellow or light purple veins. The plant can grow up to 8-10 feet in height with roots 1-3 cm thick.

Traditional uses

Codonopsis pilosula leaves

The roots of C. pilosula (radix) are used in traditional Chinese medicine. The roots are harvested from the plant during the third or fourth year of growth and dried prior to sale.

Dried Codonopsis pilosula root

The root is also used as a gentler and more economical substitute for Panax ginseng.^{[citation needed]}

Varieties

• Codonopsis pilosula var. handeliana - (Chinese: 闪毛党参)
• Codonopsis pilosula var. modesta - (Chinese: 素花党参)
• Codonopsis pilosula var. volubilis - (Chinese: 缠绕党参)

References

1. Wang ZT, Ng TB, Yeung HW, Xu GJ (December 1996). "Immunomodulatory effect of a polysaccharide-enriched preparation of Codonopsis pilosula roots". Gen. Pharmacol. 27 (8): 1347–50. PMID 9304404. 

Further reading

1. Winston, David & Maimes, Steven. “Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief,” Healing Arts Press, 2007. Contains a monograph on Codonopsis pilosula (Dang shen)and health benefits.

External links

• C. pilusula photo