Plant Species & Ingredient Identification
Why the scientific name on an adaptogen label matters, which look-alike names cause confusion, and what DNA and chemical tests of products have found.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
A scientific name is the closest thing a label has to an identity card. Common names are shared by unrelated plants, and the sources we read describe products where the plant inside did not match the plant named. This page explains the names and what testing found. It does not tell you which product to buy.
How the names work
A scientific name has two parts: genus and species. The accepted names below were checked against GBIF, a biodiversity database. [1]
| Common name | Scientific name | Family | Part usually named |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashwagandha, also called Indian ginseng | Withania somnifera | Nightshade (Solanaceae) | Root, leaf or both in supplements [2] |
| Rhodiola, golden root, arctic root | Rhodiola rosea | Crassulaceae | Root [3] |
| Asian (Korean) ginseng | Panax ginseng | Araliaceae | Root [4] |
| American ginseng | Panax quinquefolius | Araliaceae | Not covered on this page |
| Siberian ginseng (eleuthero) | Eleutherococcus senticosus | Araliaceae | Not covered on this page |
Family and genus matter. "Indian ginseng" and "Siberian ginseng" are not Panax ginsengs. NIH notes that Asian ginseng is one of several types of ginseng. [4] The word "ginseng" alone does not tell you the species, and the main commercial ginsengs in herbal medicine are P. ginseng, P. quinquefolius and P. notoginseng. [5] See Ginseng types compared. A study of one species does not transfer to another.
What testing of products has found
These are findings from specific studies of specific herbs, markets and years. They do not apply to every brand.
| Herb | What the study did | What it found | Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ginseng | Reviewed authenticity results for 507 products in 12 countries [5] | 76% authentic, 24% reported adulterated; mostly other Panax species, sometimes leaves, stems or flowers in place of root [5] | Review of many studies; varied methods |
| Rhodiola | About 40 products tested by chemistry [3] | About one fifth lacked rosavin; R. crenulata is believed to be a common adulterant [3] | Single study, European market |
| Rhodiola | Chemical profiling of species and products [6] | A coumarin called crenulatin was found only in R. crenulata, so it can flag that substitution [6] | Laboratory method study |
| Siberian ginseng, roseroot | DNA barcoding of 25 and 14 UK products [7] | 36% of Siberian ginseng products also had another Eleutherococcus species; only five of ten rhodiola-containing products matched R. rosea [7] | Single study, UK |
| Mixed herbs (astragalus, ginseng and others) | DNA barcoding of online products; 20 worked [8] | Four did not match the expected species, including a ginseng product [8] | Small school-based project |
One caution from the UK study: DNA can break down during manufacturing, so failing to find rhodiola DNA was not taken as proof that a product was compromised. [7] Methods differ, and each can miss things.
How scientists tell species apart
DNA "barcodes" are short stretches of DNA compared with reference sequences. For the ginseng genus, certain markers could identify all eight species examined. [9] This is a laboratory tool. It is not something a person can do at home, and this page gives no identification advice for wild plants. If you are unsure about a plant, ask a local botanist or extension service.
What a label can and cannot tell you
In a review of supplement labels, common names were used more often than Latin names. [10] That study looked at culinary spices, not adaptogens, but it shows why you should look for the scientific name, then confirm with a pharmacist. See Reading an adaptogen supplement label and Contamination, substitution and adulteration.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I just go by the common name?
Common names are shared. "Indian ginseng" is ashwagandha, while Asian ginseng is a different plant in a different family. [2][4]
How common is species substitution?
It depends on the herb, country and study. One review found 24% of 507 ginseng products reported as adulterated. [5]
Is Siberian ginseng a true ginseng?
Not a Panax ginseng. It is Eleutherococcus senticosus, in the same plant family as Panax. [1]
Can testing prove a product works?
Proper evidence not found in the sources we read. Identity testing shows what plant is present, not what it does.
What should I look for on a label?
The full scientific name and the plant part. See the label guide.
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety
Why identity matters for safety: ashwagandha carries reports of rare liver injury and cautions for pregnancy and thyroid conditions, and Asian ginseng carries cautions with blood thinning and diabetes. [2][4] If the plant in a bottle differs from the label, those cautions may not match what you take. Ask a pharmacist or clinician, and see medication interactions and Quality testing and certifications.
References
- GBIF Secretariat, GBIF Backbone Taxonomy species match for Withania somnifera, Rhodiola rosea, Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolius and Eleutherococcus senticosus. Read 2026-10-23.
- NCCIH, Ashwagandha: Usefulness and Safety (last updated March 2023). https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/ashwagandha. Read 2026-10-23.
- Booker A, et al. The authenticity and quality of Rhodiola rosea products. Phytomedicine. 2016;23(7):754-762. Read 2026-10-23.
- NCCIH, Asian Ginseng: Usefulness and Safety (last updated February 2025). https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/asian-ginseng. Read 2026-10-23.
- Ichim MC, de Boer HJ. A review of authenticity and authentication of commercial ginseng herbal medicines and food supplements. Front Pharmacol. 2021;11:612071. Read 2026-10-23.
- Marchev AS, et al. Authenticity and quality evaluation of different Rhodiola species and commercial products based on NMR-spectroscopy and HPLC. Phytochem Anal. 2020;31(6):756-769. Read 2026-10-23.
- Ruhsam M, Hollingsworth PM. Authentication of Eleutherococcus and Rhodiola herbal supplement products in the United Kingdom. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2018;149:403-409. Read 2026-10-23.
- Molina J, et al. DNA barcoding of online herbal supplements: crowd-sourcing pharmacovigilance in high school. Open Life Sci. 2018;13:48-55. Read 2026-10-23.
- Manzanilla V, et al. Phylogenomics and barcoding of Panax: toward the identification of ginseng species. BMC Evol Biol. 2018;18:44. Read 2026-10-23.
- Saldanha LG, Dwyer JT, Betz JM. Culinary spice plants in dietary supplement products and tested in clinical trials. Adv Nutr. 2016;7(2):343-348. Read 2026-10-23.