Microscopy Combined with LC-UV Analysis as a Tool for Authentication of Ginseng Species Used in Traditional Medicine and Detection of Their Adulterants

Medicinal and aromatic plants are vital to the global herbal trade, with Panax species (ginseng) being highly valued for their health-promoting benefits. Ensuring the quality and safety of the plant raw material is essential; however, intentional or unintentional adulteration with morphologically similar species often comprises product authenticity, which is common in herbal products. Comparative morphoanatomy together with high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with ultraviolet detection (HPLC–UV) analyses were conducted on four Panax species (P. ginseng, P. quinquefolius, P. japonicus, and P. notoginseng) and two common adulterants (Codonopsis pilosula and Platycodon grandiflorus). Microscopic examination of intact roots, rhizomes, and their powders revealed critical diagnostic traits. The presence of secretory ducts and abundant starch grains were consistent in Panax species, but absent or scarce in adulterants. While xylem architecture effectively differentiated most species, the high anatomical similarity between P. ginseng and P. quinquefolius remained a challenge. The morphology of starch grains and xylem vessels also served as diagnostic features to differentiate the ginseng species from both adulterants. HPLC-UV profiles corroborated these findings, identifying eight major ginsenosides in Panax samples, while adulterants were entirely devoid of these compounds. These results confirm that anatomical analysis provides robust, practical criteria for the authentication of ginseng. Integrating microscopic techniques with chemical profiling offers a reliable, complementary approach to detecting adulteration, including economically motivated bulking, thereby ensuring the botanical integrity and safety of herbal products.