American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is an endangered herb which has medicinal effects caused by compounds called ginsenosides. Plants can be given a designated chemotype based on their ratios of certain ginsenosides, and it is proposed in this study that chemotype is directly related to genotype, or genetic makeup of the plant. Genetic markers for P. quinquefolius were analyzed for 69 tissue samples using 7 newly developed microsatellite primers specific for this species: B011, B119, C009, C105, C202, D114, and D227. DNA was extracted from the tissue samples, and the primers were used in Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to amplify the microsatellite regions of the genome. PCR products were then run in agarose gel electrophoresis to visualize and quantify band sizes. These data were compared to existing ginsenoside data for these samples, and statistical analyses were performed to determine a relationship between genotype and chemotype. This study is important because the results can be used to reduce the amount of wild P. quinquefolius harvesting needed to satisfy its market, and it can render pharmaceutical companies better able to label ginsenoside ingredients and ensure quality control in their products.
