Kuandian Shizhu Ginseng

Kuandian Shizhu Ginseng

Kuandian Shizhu Ginseng is an agricultural geographical indication product.

　　Kuandian Shizhu Ginseng, a specialty of Shizhuzi Village, Zhenjiang Town, Kuandian Manchu Autonomous County, Liaoning Province, is a China Geographical Indication product. Also known as Shizhu ginseng or pillar ginseng, it is an excellent variety of Chinese ginseng, named after its place of origin. The village is located on the northern bank of the Yalu River, belonging to the foothills of the Changbai Mountain range. With its mountainous terrain, abundant water sources, dense forests, and high humidity, it is an area rich in mountain ginseng. Shizhu ginseng is renowned both in China and abroad for its long neck, agile body, thick and deeply wrinkled skin, stringy roots, numerous pearl-like bumps on the rootlets, and a shape closely resembling that of wild mountain ginseng. Its diverse forms are highly favored by consumers. Shizhu ginseng has strong medicinal properties, and those cultivated for over 15 years have medicinal value nearly equivalent to that of wild mountain ginseng, with total saponin content significantly higher than that of ordinary garden ginseng.

　　Geographical Scope

　　Kuandian Shizhu Ginseng is produced within Shizhuzi Village, Zhenjiang Town, Kuandian Manchu Autonomous County, Dandong City, Liaoning Province. The geographical coordinates are between 125°21′ to 125°28′ east longitude and 40°43′ to 40°50′ north latitude. It borders the Yalu River to the east, facing the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea across the river, connects to Xijiang Village of Zhenjiang Town to the south, adjoins Daxichacha Town to the west, and neighbors Xi aluhe Town to the north. The total area spans 118,000 mu, with elevations ranging from 350 to 810 meters and a height difference of 460 meters. The total production scale covers 2,000 mu, with 22,000 shelves, yielding 500 kilograms of fresh commercial ginseng per year.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　(1) External Sensory Features: Compared to ordinary ginseng, Kuandian Shizhu Ginseng has a thinner and longer neck, a shorter body, rounder shoulders, deeper and denser wrinkles (mainly concentrated in the upper half of the body), and fine, long, soft, and sparse rootlets, showing little difference from wild mountain ginseng but distinct differences from ordinary ginseng. (2) Internal Quality Indicators: The active components of Shizhu ginseng: The main active components of ginseng are saponins. The efficacy of ginseng is primarily evaluated by measuring the total saponin content and the content of individual ginsenosides in the root. Accordingly, experts were invited to conduct tests. The total saponin content was measured using thin-layer chromatography–colorimetry, and it was found that the total saponin content of 12-year-old Shizhu ginseng also increases with age. Before 10 years of age, the total saponin content increases rapidly with age; after 10 years, the rate of increase slows down. The table also shows that the total saponin content of 12-year-old Shizhu ginseng is 36% higher than that of garden ginseng but only 17% lower than that of wild mountain ginseng. Therefore, the total saponin content of 12-year-old Shizhu ginseng is much higher than that of garden ginseng and close to that of wild mountain ginseng. Using the Shimadzu CS-930 thin-layer chromatography scanner from Japan to measure the content of individual ginsenosides, it was found that the Rb1 content in Shizhu ginseng peaks at 11 years, and Rb2 at 10 years. Therefore, 20(S)-protopanaxatriol does not necessarily increase with age; however, Rb1, Rk1, and 20(S)-protopanaxatriol do increase with age. On average, the individual ginsenoside content of 12-year-old Shizhu ginseng is slightly 11% higher than that of wild mountain ginseng and more than 40% higher than that of garden ginseng. (5) Pharmacological Effects of Shizhu Ginseng: Using sun-dried 10-year-old Shizhu ginseng to prepare decoctions, pharmacological tests were conducted on mice for acute toxicity, anti-fatigue, anti-hypoxia, and tolerance to high and low temperatures. The results showed that Shizhu ginseng, like other wild mountain ginseng, possesses anti-fatigue, anti-hypoxia, and tolerance to extreme temperatures. The conclusion is: The advantages of Shizhu ginseng, including its shape and superior medicinal value, are influenced by soil, climate, and cultivation techniques. Kuandian County in the Dandong region, located along parts of the Yalu River and Hun River basins, has natural environmental conditions suitable for cultivating Shizhu ginseng, allowing for potential expansion of cultivation in these areas. Shizhu ginseng originates from wild mountain ginseng and, through generations of selective breeding, has become a special type of commercial ginseng that retains the basic physical characteristics and corresponding value of wild mountain ginseng. It has extremely strict requirements for soil, moisture, climate, light, and cultivation management techniques, and can only be grown into premium garden ginseng in the unique mountains, soil, water, air, and under specialized cultivation practices of Shizhuzi. Experiments have shown that cultivation elsewhere leads to degeneration, resulting in significant differences in shape and pharmacological effects compared to authentic Shizhu ginseng. The cultivation method of Shizhu ginseng is similar to yet distinct from that of garden ginseng; it is cultivated based on the growth habits of wild mountain ginseng. During cultivation, no fertilizers are applied, and growth relies solely on slowly absorbing nutrients from the soil of the ginseng beds. For pest and disease control, highly toxic chemical agents are avoided, with integrated pest management mainly relying on biological methods, resulting in pollution-free and residue-free products. Currently, there are four strains of cultivated Shizhu ginseng: round neck, string neck, grass neck, and bamboo joint neck. Their overall characteristics include a long neck, agile body, thick skin, solid texture, deep and fine horizontal wrinkles, long and sparse rootlets with pearl-like bumps. These traits show little difference from wild mountain ginseng but are markedly distinct from ordinary ginseng.