What it is
Solgar Korean Ginseng Root Extract is an herbal dietary supplement supplied in an amber bottle of 60 vegetable capsules. Each capsule carries two different forms of Panax ginseng root: 250 mg of a standardized extract and 200 mg of plain root powder, so a single capsule supplies 450 mg of ginseng root ingredients between them. The front of the bottle carries Solgar's "Standardized · Full Potency" banner and the PhytO2X® system mark, and states that the product is Non-GMO, suitable for vegans, and free of gluten, wheat and dairy.
The maker is Solgar, Inc. The face of the label reads "Since 1947", and the side panel gives the company address as 500 Willow Tree Road, Leonia, NJ 07605 U.S.A., with a toll-free information line and the solgar.com web address printed underneath.
What's inside
The formula is built on one botanical and nothing else. Panax ginseng — the species the label names in italics beneath the product title — is a slow-growing perennial cultivated for its root in Korea and neighboring parts of northeast Asia, and it has a long history of use in traditional East Asian preparations. The NCCIH consumer page on Asian ginseng gives general background on the plant and on what is and is not currently known about it.
Solgar puts the root into the capsule twice, in two different states:
- Standardized Korean Ginseng Extract, 250 mg. A concentrated extract of the root, standardized so that a fixed proportion of it is ginsenosides — the family of compounds chemists use as the marker for ginseng material. The panel prints the figure both ways: 20 mg of ginsenosides, and 8% of the 250 mg extract. The two agree.
- Korean Ginseng Powder, 200 mg. Plain milled root, not concentrated, carrying the wider set of compounds that occur in the whole root rather than only the fraction an extract isolates.
The side panel explains why both are there. Solgar describes its Standardized Full Potency (SFP) process as isolating a controlled amount of the active plant compounds and then blending that concentrate back with the components that occur naturally in the whole root. Standardization of botanical extracts is a general practice in the supplement trade rather than anything unique to this bottle; the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements sets out how botanical dietary supplements are prepared and labeled.
Four other ingredients are declared: vegetable cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, vegetable magnesium stearate, and a PhytO2X® blend of natural beta-carotene and L-ascorbic acid. Vegetable cellulose is the plant-derived material used in place of gelatin in vegetarian capsule shells. Microcrystalline cellulose and vegetable magnesium stearate are ordinary bulking and flow agents in capsule manufacturing. The label states the purpose of the PhytO2X blend in its own words: it is "a special blend of antioxidants, the purpose of which is to maintain the freshness of the ingredients" — a shelf-stability aid, in other words, not a declared nutrient in the formula.
Supplement Facts
Supplement Facts — Solgar Korean Ginseng Root Extract
| Ingredient | Amount Per Serving |
|---|
| Serving Size | 1 Vegetable Capsule |
|---|
| Standardized Korean Ginseng Extract (Panax ginseng) (root) — ginsenosides 20 mg [8%] | 250 mg* |
|---|
| Korean Ginseng Powder (Panax ginseng) (root) | 200 mg* |
|---|
| Other Ingredients | Vegetable Cellulose, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Vegetable Magnesium Stearate, PhytO2X® Blend (natural beta-carotene, L-ascorbic acid) |
|---|
*Daily Value not established. Transcribed from the Supplement Facts panel on the bottle.
How to use it
The label's suggested use reads: as an herbal dietary supplement for adults, take one (1) vegetable capsule up to three (3) times daily, preferably with meals, or as directed by a healthcare practitioner. The panel sets the serving size at one vegetable capsule, and that single capsule is what the 250 mg and 200 mg figures describe.
Storage is straightforward: keep the bottle at room temperature. The label also says not to use the product if the outer bottle seal is missing or damaged, so it is worth checking the seal before the first capsule rather than after.
Who it's for
This is a single-botanical herbal supplement for adults aged 18 and over, and the label says so plainly. It suits someone who wants ginseng on its own rather than buried in a multi-ingredient blend, and who wants to see the ginsenoside figure printed rather than implied. The dietary marks on the bottle — Non-GMO, vegan, gluten free, dairy free and kosher — make it a practical choice for shoppers working around those restrictions. If you are comparing formats and counts, you can browse the other capsule supplements stocked at Gear Isle, and this bottle is also grouped with the Yami No Kiss listings in our catalog.
It is not for everyone. The label states that the product is not intended for pregnant or nursing women, and not intended for use by persons under the age of 18.
Good to know
- Talk to a practitioner first if anything applies to you. The label asks anyone taking medications or living with a medical condition to consult a healthcare practitioner before taking any dietary supplement, and to discontinue use and consult a practitioner if any adverse reactions occur. The NCCIH keeps a general page on the safety of dietary and herbal supplements that is worth reading before adding anything new.
- Keep it out of reach of children. Printed on the bottle, and it applies here as much as to anything else in the cabinet.
- Kosher. The bottle carries a kosher symbol with a parve designation on the front panel and a KOF-K certification line on the side.
- Look it up yourself. Labels for US dietary supplements, including Solgar's, are indexed in the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database if you want to compare panels side by side.
- Discreet delivery. Every Gear Isle order ships in plain, unbranded outer packaging. It will not show the Gear Isle name.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many capsules are in the bottle, and how much is one serving?
The bottle holds 60 vegetable capsules, and the Supplement Facts panel sets the serving size at one vegetable capsule. The 250 mg and 200 mg amounts on the panel are both per single capsule, not per day and not per bottle.
How much Panax ginseng does one capsule actually supply?
One capsule supplies 450 mg of ginseng root ingredients in total: 250 mg of standardized Korean ginseng root extract plus 200 mg of Korean ginseng root powder. Within the extract portion, the panel declares 20 mg of ginsenosides, stated as 8% of the 250 mg.
Is this supplement suitable for vegans and for people avoiding gluten?
Yes — the front of the bottle states that it is suitable for vegans and free of gluten, wheat and dairy. No gelatin appears anywhere in the declaration, and the bottle carries Non-GMO, vegan, gluten free, dairy free and kosher marks. If you have a specific allergy, read the full ingredient declaration on the bottle you receive before use.
When should I take it, and does it need refrigeration?
The label's suggested use is one vegetable capsule up to three times daily, preferably with meals, or as directed by a healthcare practitioner — and no, it does not need refrigeration. Solgar's instruction is simply to store the bottle at room temperature.
Who does the label say should avoid it?
The bottle states that the product is not intended for pregnant or nursing women, and not intended for use by persons under the age of 18. It also asks anyone taking medications or living with a medical condition to speak to a healthcare practitioner before taking any dietary supplement.
Product information compiled and reviewed by the Gear Isle product team. We transcribe supplement facts directly from manufacturer packaging. Found an error? Tell us.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Dietary supplement for adults 18 and over. Consult a licensed healthcare professional before use, especially if you have a medical condition, heart concerns, or take prescription medication (including nitrates). Keep out of reach of children.
