Anatomical and Microscopic Studies on Acanthopanax gracilistylus, A. koreanum and A. sieboldianus

Acanthopanax species are well known medicinal plants in Korea for their adaptogenic efficacy. Regarding to the botanical classification of Acanthopanax koreanum, an indigenous species in Jeju island of Korea, it has been classified as different species of Acanthopanax genus. However, the morphological characteristics of A. koreanum are very similar with other Acanthopanax species, especially with A. gracilistylus. In order to provide further classification information among these botanically related species, microscopic and morphological studies on these Acanthopanax species were performed. In this result, it has been found that A. koreanum is similar to A. gracilistylus in terms of anatomical observation and was distinguished from A. sieboldianus by their morphological and anatomical differences.