Ginseng is a well-known medicinal herb around the world and it has been used as a medicinal tonic and natural remedy for thousands of years in Eastern Asia. Modern studies show that ginseng may help boost immune system, reduce cancer risk, improve physical and mental performance.

Ginseng Types: American Ginseng vs. Korean Red Ginseng

Before people purchase a ginseng supplement, a question will come into their mind that whether they shall purchase American ginseng or Korean red ginseng. The latter is widely considered high-quality.

Ginseng belongs to the genus Panax, which comprises Panax ginseng (also known as Asian ginseng, Chinese ginseng, Korean ginseng), native to the mountains of East Asia, and American ginseng, native to the eastern North America. 

Panax ginseng and American ginseng are different in nature. American ginseng comes in a more cooling nature and can be used for hot weather conditions. Panax ginseng have a warmer property and can be used as a warm tonic to bring invigorating and stimulating effects.

Red ginseng is processed ginseng steamed at a high temperature and then dried or sun-dried. The red ginseng after heating processing increases rare ginsenoside content, including rare ginsenosides Rg3 and Rg5.

Korean red ginseng cannot be compared directly with American ginseng. Ginsenosides are the main pharmacological ingredients in ginseng and it is ginsenoside content that matters when determining the quality of ginseng supplements.

Korean red ginseng supplements that hold higher amounts of ginsenosides, are sure to be stronger than American white ginseng supplements. However, American ginseng supplements that are processed with the heating method also contain favorable ginsenoside amounts.

Ginsenosides Types: Prototype Ginsenosides vs. Rare Ginsenosides

Ginsenosides are found in ginseng and are considered the main medicinal components of ginseng. These compounds are the main reason why ginseng is beneficial to your health. There are over one hundred different types of ginsenosides that have already been identified. Ginsenosides like Rb1, Rg1, Rc, Rd, etc. are naturally occurring ginsenosides (known as prototype ginsenosides) dominant in ginseng. Unfortunately, these prototype ginsenosides are large molecular weight, which usually leads to poor bioactivity and absorption in the human body.

Researchers have been working on converting prototype ginsenosides into rare ginsenosides Rg3 and Rh2. For example, Korean red ginseng can be processed with heating methods to produce increased rare ginsenoside Rh3 which are converted from prototype ginsenosides such as Rb1, Rb2, and Rd.

With years of research, scientists have been able to produce more bioactive rare ginsenosides. Rare ginsenosides Rg3, Rh1, and Rh2 can be further metabolized into more bioactive ginsenosides Rk1 and Rg5, Rk3 and Rh4, and Rk2 and Rh3 respectively through acid transformation. These highly bioactive rare ginsenosides show strong bioactivity and can deliver more potent health benefits.

Ginseng contains prototype ginsenosides like Rg1, Re, Rb1, Rc, Rb2, Rd in the root. Ginseng is steamed and processed to produce rare ginsenosides, in which the naturally occurring ginsenosides are converted into rare ginsenosides. The steamed Panax ginseng, or called red ginseng, contains rare ginsenosides Rg3, Rh1, Rg5, F4, etc. Ginseng supplements containing large amounts of rare ginsenosides are more bioactive and stronger and have greater health benefits than the ones containing naturally occurring ginsenosides.

Best Ginseng Supplements with Rare Ginsenosides

We collect a list of ginseng-manufacturing companies and brands that focus on producing rare ginsenosides. Since China is the largest producer and consumer of ginseng supplements and the Chinese companies devote decades into ginseng and ginsenoside research to produce rare ginsenoside supplements to hold higher market shares, we include top Chinese ginseng supplements containing rare ginsenosides. The ginseng supplements listed below are top-tier in their innovative technologies in producing rare ginsenosides.

1. Redsenol Rare Ginsenoside Capsules

Redsenol is an innovative pioneer in the rare ginsenoside field. When most manufacturers develop ginseng supplements with total ginsenoside content, Redsenol rare ginsenoside supplements feature multi-component less polar rare ginsenosides that are more super bioactive and absorbable.

Redsenol is reputed for its highly bioactive rare ginsenosides. Manufactured in Canada, the Redsenol series, Redsenol-1 and Redsenol dag noble ginsenoside supplements contain high amounts of rare ginsenosides. The company has unique technologies in rare ginsenoside extraction and biotransformation. Panax ginseng is first steamed to increase ginsenosides amount and then prototype ginsenosides are metabolized in unique biotransformation procedures into less polar rare ginsenoside. Each Redsenol capsule has 60 mg of rare ginsenoside Rg3, Rh2, Rk1, Rh3, aPPD, etc, accounting for 20 percent of the total ginseng extract. 

The Redsenol team is led by Dr. Yu Peihua, holding a Ph.D. degree in synthetic chemistry. Dr. Yu is specialized in the research on the extraction and bio-transformation of pharmacologically valuable ingredients from natural medicinal herbs. The other research members have rich experience in the nutrition and pharmaceutical industry. 

2. Ginsenbesty Rare Ginsenoside Capsules

Ginsenbesty Capsules, developed by Jilin Yatai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd in China, features its rare ginsenoside Rg3 based on modern pharmaceutical technologies. The founder, also the chief scientist, of the company, has been dedicated to rare ginsenoside research for decades and invented extraction methods of a rare ginsenoside monomer Rg3. 

3. Jinxing Rare Ginsenoside Capsules

Jinxing is a rare ginsenoside supplement containing 16.2% rare ginsenoside monomer Rh2. Rh2 is a rare ginsenoside monomer metabolized from Rb1 or Rg3 and it is more potent than its parent substance Rg3. 

4. Anpu Rare Ginsenoside Capsules

Anpu is a heath food formulated with ginseng leaf extract, Rhodiola rosea extract, Ganoderma lucidum extract. It is developed by a Chinese Bioengineering Company located in the Jilin province, China. The company owns patented technologies to process Panax red ginseng to extract ginsenoside monomers Re, Rh1, Rh2, Rg2, Rg3 from ginseng stems and leaves. The active ingredients of ginseng leaf extract in Anpu Capsules include rare ginsenoside Rg3 and Rh2.

5. BTGin Rg3 300

BTGin is a Korean red ginseng supplement brand. BTGin has many product lines with different types of ginseng supplements for different groups of people.

One highlight for BTGin Rg3 300 is that the product features enzymatic red ginseng that has better absorption and bioavailability. BTGin Rg3 300 features more bioactive rare ginsenoside Rg3. The supplement has 2.5% rare ginsenoside Rg3.

CheonKwanJang is one of the best-known Korean red ginseng, and CheonKwanJang might contain rare ginsenosides. The brand is well-established for using 6-year-old ginseng as raw material and then processed into red ginseng by heating and steaming. It is typical red ginseng that has about 32 kinds of ginsenosides. However, CheonKwanJang does not list the standardized ginsenoside content in the label, so it is unclear whether it contains rare ginsenosides or not. 

Best Ginseng with Total Ginsenosides

Some nutrition companies also manufacture ginseng supplements, while they don’t go deep in ginsenoside extraction technologies, and their ginseng supplements feature total ginsenosides. Total ginsenosides predominantly consist of major ginsenosides so total ginsenosides are less bioactive and absorbable and these ginseng supplements are widely used as energy boosters among customers. 

1. Ginsana G115 Ginseng Extract

Standardization for herbal medicine is meaningful because a standardized product with defined raw materials and extraction process ensures the quality, safety, and efficacy of the products. The quality of ginseng depends on its ginsenoside content. Ginsana G115 ginseng extract is the first ginseng extract to be standardized with 4% of major ginsenosides in 1961 in Switzerland.

Compared to other ginseng extracts with total ginseng, Ginsana G115 is an accredited and reliable one because it has been used in preclinical and clinical studies over decades, proving its quality, purity, safety, and efficacy. Ginsana G115 ginseng extract is sold globally, and in some countries, it is even licensed over-the-counter medicine.

Ginsana G115 is not available on Amazon and Walmart, and you need to email Ginsana team members to know where to purchase Ginsana G115 for its distributors since they are available in selected countries.

2. Jamieson Korean Red Ginseng

Jamieson Korean red ginseng was standardized to 20% total ginsenosides. One bottle of the ginseng supplement has 100 caplets in total and each caplet contains 55 mg of Korean red ginseng extract.

Jamieson is one of the top vitamins, minerals, and supplement companies in Canada. It is reputable for its promise of using pure and quality ingredients. Their products are sold worldwide to 45 countries.

3. Ginseng Complex by Nature’s Bounty

Nature’s Bounty is a trusted nutrition company. As a global leader in health and wellness, it offers a variety of natural health supplements.

Nature’s Bounty develops ginseng complex capsules that combine many types of ginseng like Panax ginseng extract ( standardized up to 2% ginsenosides), American ginseng extract (standardized up to 5% ginsenosides), Chinese red ginseng extract (standardized up to 2% ginsenosides), and royal jelly concentrate with vitamin B-12.

4. NutraChamps Korean Red Panax Ginseng

 NutraChamps Korean Red Panax Ginseng is one of the best sellers in ginseng supplements on Amazon. It contains at least 5% ginsenosides. One serving is about 1650 mg of red ginseng, it can deliver 82 mg of total ginsenosides daily.

NutraChamps is a Canadian nutritional supplement company in Toronto, Ontario.

5. NutriFlair Korean Red Panax Ginseng

Like NutraChamps, NutriFlair Korean red Panax ginseng takes 1600 mg per serving and it is a 2-month supply. It contains at least 5% ginsenosides and free from allergens including gluten, dairy, soy and thus friendly to vegan people.

6. HMS Organic Korean Red Panax Ginseng

HMS Organic Korean Red Panax Ginseng has a higher serving of 2000 mg of Korean red Panax ginseng daily, and it can serve 40 days. The ginseng supplement is standardized to contain 5% total ginsenosides. 

7. Red Ginseng 365 Stick

Red Ginseng 365 Stick is a Korean red ginseng liquid stick supplement manufactured by a South Korean company. It ideally mixes 6-year-old Korean red ginseng and traditional Korean tonic ingredients. One pack of the red ginseng supplement contains 30 liquid stick and each stick is 10 grams and contains 7 mg of ginsenosides Rg1, Rb1 and Rg3 in total. The ginsenosides serving daily is low but it is still a good substitute for coffee to boost energy in a natural way.

The Liquid ginseng supplements can deliver quick absorption, but it may be terrible for people who are sensitive to bitter ginseng liquid flavors. 

8. Panax Red Ginseng by Raw and Root

Panax Korean red ginseng extract by Raw and Root is standardized to 10% ginsenosides. It is non-GMO, vegan, and gluten-free, and very friendly for vegetarians. Each bottle of the supplement contains 120 capsules and can serve 2 months. 

9. ILHWA Fermented Panax Korean Ginseng Liquid Extract 

ILHWA panax Korean ginseng supplement comes in a liquid form. The whole 4 or 5 year-old panax ginseng root is extracted in the vacuum environments and experience enzyme fermentation to increase the amount of bioavailable ginsenosides. The liquid ginseng supplement contains 12% ginsenosides for fast absorption. 

There are many ginseng supplements containing total ginsenosides, while rare ginsenoside supplements are few. Generally, ginseng supplements featuring rare ginsenosides are pricing but they are of high quality and best value for their high rare ginsenoside content. We did the research and offered the lists based on the information available on Google, so there might be more premium ginseng supplements that haven’t been included here.