Clinical Pharmacology & Biopharmaceutics
Open Access

Abstract

Vietnam is easternmost country in Southeast Asia where the climate changes considerably from place to place due to differences in latitude. There are two World Natural Heritage Sites (Halong Bay and Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park), and six biosphere reverses (Can Gio Mangrove Forest, Cat Tien, Cat Ba, Kien Giang, the Red River Delta and Western Nghe An) in Vietnam. We are one of 25 countries which possess a uniquely high level of Biodiversity. Vietnam is hometown to an estimated 12,000 species of high-value plants; approximately 3,780 (~ 36%) medicinal plants; and account for approximately 11% of the 35,000 species of medicinal plants known worldwide. There are 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam with their own characters (language, lifestyle and cultural heritage). That�s why many ethno-medicine plants are not yet known and are used only by ethnic groups. Until now, hundreds of Vietnamese medicinal plants were studied such as Physalis angulata, Cleistanthus indochinensis, Ophiopogon japonicus, Garnoderma lucidum, Camellia bugiamapensis, Momordica charantia, Hedychium coronarium, Annona glabra, Callisia fragrans, Eurycoma longifolia, Cudrania tricuspidata, Tacca species, Mallotus species, Glochidion species, Solanum species, Trichosanthes species, etc. A lot of potential compounds were discovered from Vietnamese medicinal plants such as physalin B, D, F, G; malloapelta B, peaonol, cleistantoxin, desgalactotigonin, berberin, rotundin, rutin, artemisinin, artesunat, etc. The opportunities to discover new drugs from Vietnamese ethno-medicine plants with the collaborators worldwide are so big.

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