My Herbs 1

CONTENT SUBSTANCES
The root (Codonopsis pilosulae radix)
contains, among others, compounds
based on sterols and pentacyclic triterpenes
such as beta-spinasterol, some stigmasterols,
taraxerol, taraxerylacetate,
friedelin and others. Saccharides, represented
mainly by the polyfructose inulin
and free fructose, together with other
monosaccharides, make up more than
40 percent of the dry weight of the
root.
Additionally, it contains the alkaloids
codonopsine, codonopsinine and
the beta-carboline alkaloid
perlolyrine, derivatives of
furan, saponins, essential
oils, mucilages, heteroglycosides
(e.g. syringin
and
tangshenosides I and
II). And the free amino
acids threonine, aspartic
acid, isoleucine, alanine,
asparagine,
glutamic acid, glycine,
serine, valine, proline
and glutamine.
It also contains a wide
range of minerals, such as
potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron,
copper, cobalt, zinc, manganese and
molybdenum, as well as vitamins B1
and B2.
CULINARY USE
In Chinese dietetics, the root of this
species is quite important, and we can
find many recipes including it. One of
the reasons is its high inulin content,
as well as the fact that it improves
stomach and spleen function and increases
the appetite. The roots of dang
shen, together with the roots of female
ginseng (Angelica sinensis) and jujube
fruits, are the main ingredients of the
“dang shen foods”; the roots are also
an important ingredient in soups and
dishes featuring stewed pork or chitterlings.
A typical Sichuan dish is pork liver
with dang shen root and female ginseng.
Dang shen roots are also very
popular in “fortifying soup with ten ingredients.”
The roots are also added to
various mutton broths and are also
used as a side dish for poultry and fish
dishes and in soups in general. Extract
from its infusion is an ingredient in
sweets or used together with lychee
and cinnamon in honey pastry.
The roots can also be
candied, preserved in
honey, or used to make alcoholic
beverages.
CULTIVATION
This species grows well
and can survive the winter
in moderate climates. It tolerates
partial shade, but it
requires drier, permeable,
Pseudoginseng and nutrient-rich soil: it cannot
tolerate long periods of
wet conditions. It should not
be cultivated long (more than 5–6
years) in the same spot. Because it is
a creeper, its care requires increased
attention, and if one desires higher returns,
one must build suitable supports.
Dang shen replicates by seeds,
either by transplanting seedlings or by
sowing the seeds directly into the
earth.
Seeds are best sown no later than the
beginning of April in a heated greenhouse
or by the first half of May in
open soil. They are very small, so it is
necessary to prepare the soil perfectly
for them. One advantage of their cultivation
is that the plant creates large
roots already in its first year, which can
48 MY HERBS MAGAZINE