Free amino acid (FAA) compositions in the central part (pith-xylem : P-X) and the outer part (phloem-cortex : P-C) of root were investigated for P ginseng (P.g), p. quinque-folium (P.q) an, B P nutoginsen (P.n) by an amino acid analyzer. Total free amlno acids content (TFAA) was highest in p.맥 and lowest in p.n. The TFAA of P-Xs were higher than those of P-Cs in these Panax species except p.n. The higher the TFAA in P-X, the higher the ratio of TFAA in P-X to that in P-C. Seven- teen free amino acids and ammonia were identified, and four unknown peaks appeared before the usual amino acids eluted. The total aspartic acid equivalent of these unknown peaks was corresponded to 77% of known TFAA in P-C of p.n, 17% in P. n, and 7% in p.q. The pattern of unknown peaks of p.g was different from p.q and similar to P.n. In all samples six major amino acids and ammonia accounted for 90~95% of TFAA. Arginine was comprised from 29% (P.n) to 43% (P.g) by amole as amino acid and from 50 to 71% by amole as nitrogen (N amole) in TFAA. Ammonia was the second abundant one by amole and the third by Npmole. Histidine was the second by Npmole. Praline was one of major FAA in p.q. Pattern similarity of FAA composition (excluding Arg and Am) by simple correlation was closer between P-C of p.g and P-X of p.q than between both P-Xs and quite different between the P-X of p.g and that of p.n. The pattern similarities of major FAA percent abundance excluding Arg and Am were significant only between P-X and P-C of the same species. Arginine content (amole) had positive correlation (r=0.859, p=0.05) with Arg/Am among species. Ammonia content was higher than arginine in p.n. Tryptophan content was greatest in p.n among species and higher than lysine only in p.n. The ratios of TFAA to N(W/W) were in the range of 3.89~4.14 for TFAA and 3.61~3.92 for TFAA plus ammonia.