Global Trends in Research on Wild-Simulated Ginseng: Quo Vadis?

Abstract

To the best of our knowledge, no study has systematically reviewed and analyzed the research trends of wild-simulated ginseng (WSG) used for food or medicinal purposes in many countries. WSG, a non-timber forest product, has been traditionally produced using agroforestry practices, and it has been consumed in various ways for a long time. WSG has a great demand in the market due to its medicinal effects, particularly in improving forest livelihoods and human health. Due to the significance of WSG, we conducted this research to explore the global research trends on WSG using systematic review methodology and keyword analysis. We used two international academic databases, the Web of Science and SCOPUS, to extract 115 peer-reviewed articles published from 1982 to 2020. The research subjects, target countries, and keywords were analyzed. Our results indicate four categories of WSG research subjects, namely growth conditions, components, effects on humans/animals, and the environment of WSG, and the case studies were mainly from the Republic of Korea, China, and the USA. Through topic modelling, research keywords were classified into five groups, namely medicinal effects, metabolite analysis, genetic diversity, cultivation conditions, and bioactive compounds. We observed that the research focus on WSG changed from the biological properties and cultivation conditions of WSG to the precise identification and characterization of bioactive metabolites of WSG. This change indicates an increased academic interest in the value-added utilization of WSG.

Correlations among Soil Properties, Growth Characteristics, and Ginsenoside Contents in Wild-Simulated Ginseng with Different Ages

“…The photosynthetic rate of WSG leaves was significantly lower in an environment where phosphorus was insufficient [27]. Furthermore, the size of WSG was smaller than that of cultivated ginseng since its growth rate was lower [28].…”

Systematic Approach to Agroforestry Policies and Practices in Asia

“…In a study on specific agroforestry species, Shin et al [17] explore trends in global research on wild-simulated ginseng (WSG), which has been widely used in agroforestry systems across the world for food and medicine. Results show key subjects in global WSG research growth conditions, effects of WSG, and its components; key countries being the Republic of Korea, China, and the USA; key words being ginsenosides, antioxidant activity, and metabolites; and key topics being medicinal effects, metabolite analysis, genetic diversity, cultivation conditions, and bioactive compounds.…”

Analysis of ginseng rusty root symptoms transcriptome and its pathogenesis directed by reactive oxygen species theory

“…P. ginseng , as a shady plant with long growth, has high requirements for the growth environment, prefers humidity and weak acidic soil with good ventilation (pH 4–6), and fails to tolerate excessive moisture. (Shin et al, 2021). Ginseng rusty root symptoms (GRS) is a common disease of ginseng (Figure 1).…”