Ginseng root

Ginseng is any one of eleven species of slow-growing perennial plants with fleshy roots, belonging to the genus Panax of the family Araliaceae.

P-coumaric acid, extracted from the fresh leaves of Panax ginseng, was shown to inhibit the oxidation of l-tyrosine more strongly than the inhibition of tyrosinase demonstrated by l-DOPA.

Treatment with Radix ginseng in the presence of various concentrations of Radix trichosanthis suppressed tyrosinase activity and melanin content but increased cell proliferation slightly in B16 melanoma cells, raising the possibility that this combination may be effective as a skin-lightening agent.