Panax japonicus C.A. Meyer, commonly known as Zhujieshen, is a species of Panax native to East Asia, particularly Japan and parts of China. This plant is part of the Araliaceae family and is valued for its medicinal properties and traditional uses. Zhujieshen is recognized for its distinctive appearance and therapeutic benefits in traditional medicine.

Botanical Classification:

Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Apiales
Family: Araliaceae
Genus: Panax
Species: Panax japonicus
Synonym: Panax japonicus C.A. Meyer

Plant Characteristics:
Panax japonicus is characterized by:

Leaves: Compound leaves with 3 to 5 leaflets, each leaflet being ovate to lanceolate with a pointed tip and serrated edges. The leaves are dark green and typically arranged in a whorled pattern.
Flowers: Small, inconspicuous, and greenish-white flowers arranged in an umbel-like cluster. The flowers bloom in the summer, followed by the formation of berries.
Fruit: Berries are small, red, and spherical, ripening in late summer to early autumn.
Growth Habit: Herbaceous perennial that typically grows to a height of 30 to 60 cm. It prefers shaded, moist environments and has a creeping rhizome system.

Chemical Composition and Structure:
The chemical composition of Panax japonicus includes:

Saponins: Contains ginsenosides, which are active compounds with potential adaptogenic and pharmacological effects. The specific types and concentrations of ginsenosides may vary.
Flavonoids: Present in the plant and contribute to its antioxidant properties.
Polysaccharides: Complex carbohydrates that may have immunomodulatory effects.

Uses and Benefits:

Medicinal: Traditionally used in Chinese medicine for its potential benefits in improving energy levels, supporting immune function, and enhancing overall vitality. It is often used as a tonic and adaptogen.
Herbal Remedies: The root and rhizome are used to prepare extracts and tinctures for various therapeutic applications. Its adaptogenic properties are believed to help the body cope with stress.
Culinary: Not commonly used in culinary applications, but the plant may be utilized in traditional herbal preparations.

Applications:

Traditional Medicine: Utilized in Chinese and Japanese traditional medicine systems for its potential health benefits, including enhancing vitality and supporting immune function.
Herbal Supplements: Extracts of Panax japonicus are used in dietary supplements and herbal remedies for their adaptogenic properties.
Research: Investigated for its potential pharmacological effects and benefits, including its impact on stress and immune function.

Environmental and Safety Considerations:

Environmental Impact: Typically found in forested and shaded environments; cultivation should consider the plant's natural habitat and ecological needs.
Safety: Generally considered safe when used appropriately. However, individuals should consult a healthcare provider before using Panax japonicus for medicinal purposes, particularly if they have existing health conditions or are taking other medications.
People allergic to plants or with very sensitive skin should be cautious.

INCI:


Skin conditioning agent - Emollient. Emollients have the characteristic of enhancing the skin barrier through a source of exogenous lipids that adhere to the skin, improving barrier properties by filling gaps in intercorneocyte clusters to improve hydration while protecting against inflammation. In practice, they have the ability to create a barrier that prevents transepidermal water loss. Emollients are described as degreasing or refreshing additives that improve the lipid content of the upper layers of the skin by preventing degreasing and drying of the skin. The problem with emollients is that many have a strong lipophilic character and are identified as occlusive ingredients; they are oily and fatty materials that remain on the skin surface and reduce transepidermal water loss. In cosmetics, emollients and moisturisers are often considered synonymous with humectants and occlusives.

Hair conditioning agent. A significant number of ingredients with specific and targeted purposes may co-exist in hair shampoo formulations: cleansers, conditioners, thickeners, matting agents, sequestering agents, fragrances, preservatives, special additives. However, the indispensable ingredients are the cleansers and conditioners as they are necessary and sufficient for hair cleansing and manageability. The others act as commercial and non-essential auxiliaries such as: appearance, fragrance, colouring, etc. Hair conditioning agents have the task of increasing shine, manageability and volume, and reducing static electricity, especially after treatments such as colouring, ironing, waving, drying and brushing. They are, in practice, dispersants that may contain cationic surfactants, thickeners, emollients, polymers. The typology of hair conditioning agents includes: intensive conditioners, instant conditioners, thickening conditioners, drying conditioners. They can perform their task generally accompanied by other different ingredients.

Skin protectant. It creates a protective barrier on the skin to defend it from harmful substances, irritants, allergens, pathogens that can cause various inflammatory conditions. These products can also improve the natural skin barrier and in most cases more than one is needed to achieve an effective result.

Surfactant - Foam booster. It has the effect of introducing gas bubbles into the water and affects the cleaning process by helping to spread the cleanser. Since sebum has an inhibiting effect on the bubble, more foam is produced in the second shampoo.
Synonyms:

CAS: