J. Ginseng Res. Vol. 34, No. 1, 41-46 (2010) DOI:10.5142/JGR.2010.34.1.041 41 Molecular Identification of Korean Mountain Ginseng Using an Amplification Refractory Mutation System (ARMS) Jun-Gyo In, Min-Kyeoung Kim, Ok Ran Lee, Yu-Jin Kim, Beom-Soo Lee, Se-Young Kim, Woo-Seang Kwon and Deok-Chun Yang* Korean Ginseng Center and Ginseng Genetic Resource Bank, Kyung Hee University, Seocheon, Giheung-gu Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 449-701, South Korea (Received January 11, 2010; Revised February 10, 2010; Accepted February 12, 2010) Abstract : Expensive herbs such as ginseng are always a possible target for fraudulent labeling. New mountain ginseng strains have occasionally been found deep within mountain areas and commercially traded at exorbitant prices. However, until now, no scientific basis has existed to distinguish such ginseng from commonly cultivated ginseng species other than by virtue of being found within deep mountain areas. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of the internal transcribed spacer has been shown to be an appropriate method for the identification of the most popular species ( Panax ginseng) in the Panax ginseng genus. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) has been identified between three newly found mountain ginseng (KGD4, KGD5, and KW1) and already established Panax species. Specific PCR primers were designed from this SNP site within the sequence data and used to detect the mountain ginseng strains via multiplex PCR. The estab- lished multiplex-PCR method for the simultaneous detection of newly found mountain ginseng strains, Korean ginseng, and foreign ginseng in a single reaction was determined to be effective. This study is the first report of scientific dis- crimination of “mountain ginsengs” and describes an effective method of identification for fraud prevention and for uncovering the possible presence of other, cheaper ginseng species on the market. Key words : amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS)-PCR, multiplex PCR, Panax ginseng, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) INTRODUCTION Ginseng (Panax ginseng) is one of the most important medicinal plants in East Asia, throughout which almost every species of the genus has been employed as a source of medicine. Ginseng literally means “the essence of the human” [1] and is also known as the “king of herbs.” China and Korea have utilized this plant for more than 2000 years as a tonic, a stimulant, and an agent to foster fatigue and stress-resistance [2]. Recently, the pharmaceu- tical effects of ginseng roots have been demonstrated by a host of studies and ginseng has become a world-renowned medicinal plant. The active constituents contained in most ginseng species include ginsenosides, polysaccharides, peptides, polyacetylenic alcohols, and fatty acids [3]. Gin- seng is known to improve antibody-dependent cell cyto- toxicity [4], reduce lung pathology [5], bolster learning in mice [6], potentiate vaccination against the common cold and/or influenza [7], inhibit the development of reverse tolerance to morphine [8], prevent injuries from oxygen free radicals [9], exert anti-stress effects [10], inhibit mutagenesis [11], potentiate the generation of nerve fiber [12], and exhibit antiaging properties [13]. Ginseng belongs to the genus Panax, which consists of 17 species, only some of which have been widely culti- vated due to their profound medicinal effects. These are P . ginseng (Korean ginseng), P . japonicus (Japanese gin- seng), P . notoginseng (Chinese ginseng), and P . quinque- folius (American ginseng) [10]. Normally, cultivated ginseng is systematically farmed on open land with proper control of sunlight by shielding (canopy) that helps to reduce 1/8- 1/13 of total sunlight and is harvested after a 5-6 year cul- tivation period. Occasionally, however, indigenous moun- tain ginseng has been discovered and traded at very high prices. Mountain ginseng, found deep within mountain areas at altitudes between 800 and 1,500 m, is much slower in growth and more sensitive to environmental changes than cultivated varieties and exhibits a preference * Corresponding author. E-mail: dcyang@khu.ac.kr Phone: +82-31-201-2100, Fax: +82-31-201-2687