为五加科植物刺五加Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr.et Maxim.) Harms的干燥根和根茎或茎，又称西伯利亚人参，五加参等。《本草纲目》记载刺五加为“本经上品”，能“补中益气，坚筋骨，强意志，久服轻身耐老”；“宁得一把五加，不要金玉满车”。据现代药理研究证明，刺五加具有抗疲劳、抗癌、抗衰老、抗帕金森病和抗心肌缺血、扩张血管、降低血小板凝聚、降低血液粘稠度、促进和改善微循环、防止血栓形成、提高耐低压氧能力及促性腺等作用。刺五加的药理作用和临床疗效和人参十分相似，，其所含的主要成分刺五加苷具有类似人参皂苷的生物活性，总苷的抗疲劳作用比人参苷强，因此被作为人参的代用品。另外刺五加中还含有区别同科属其他五加的特征性有效成分含量异嗪皮啶。黑龙江的小兴安岭，完达山脉为道地药材产地中心。

Acanthopanax senticosus: it belongs to Araliaceae and is the dry root and rhizome or stem of Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr.et Maxim) Harms. It is also called Siberian ginseng and so on. In “Compendium of Materia Medica” it recorded as “a high-grade drug of this meridian”. It can tonify the middle and replenish the qi. Strengthen the tendon and bone. Strengthen the will and counter ageing after long use. “I would rather have a handful Acanthopanax, not packed gold and jades.” The modern pharmacology have shown that    Acanthopanax has the effects of anti-fatigue, anticancer, anti-aging, anti-Parkinson disease and anti-myocardial ischemia, expanding blood vessels, reducing platelet aggregation, reducing blood viscosity, promoting and improvinge microcirculation, preventing thrombosis,increasing the ability to bear low oxygen and promoting the gonad etc. The pharmacological effects and the clinical efficacy of Acanthopanax are very similar to ginseng, so it is taken as a substitute for ginseng. Eleutheroside has the similar biological activity to ginsenosides;the anti-fatigueeffects of total saponins are stronger than ginsenoside.In addition, the Acanthopananx contains the characteristic active ingredient content isofraxidin differ from the same as other family. Xiao Hinggan Ling and Wanda Mountain in Heilongjiang are the center of genuine medicinal herbs.