Tiếng Việt
Unified name for Ngoc Linh ginseng, Lai Chau is Vietnamese ginseng
Recently, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang signed Decision 611/QD-TTg approving the Program for developing Vietnamese Ginseng to 2030, with a vision to 2045. Accordingly, the species of Vietnamese Ginseng to be preserved, cultivated and developed include: Ngoc Linh Ginseng, Lai Chau Ginseng.
Development worthy of the title “national treasure”
In recent years, investment in ginseng development in general, especially Ngoc Linh ginseng, has been paid attention to, directed and issued by all levels and sectors from the Central and local levels, many documents, mechanisms and policies have been issued to create a legal corridor to develop this precious medicinal plant species with high economic value. Notably, the Government has issued Decree No. 65/2017/ND-CP on specific policies on varieties, capital and technology in the development of cultivation and exploitation of medicinal plants.
On June 5, 2017, the Prime Minister issued Decision 787/QD-TTg approving the addition to the list of national products under the National Product Development Program to 2020, and Decision 376/QD-TTg dated March 17, 2021 approving the Program for the development of domestically produced pharmaceutical and medicinal materials industry to 2030, with a vision to 2045.
In 2017, the Ministry of Science and Technology issued a decision approving the framework project for the development of Vietnamese ginseng (Ngoc Linh ginseng) as a national product. In 2019, the Ministry of Health also issued a list of 100 medicinal plants with high medical and economic value to focus on development in the 2020-2030 period, in which Ngoc Linh ginseng and Lai Chau ginseng are prioritized in this list.
Most recently, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang signed Decision 611/QD-TTg approving the Vietnam Ginseng Development Program to 2030, with a vision to 2045.
Specific objectives for the period up to 2030 are to conserve the natural Vietnamese Ginseng gene source in association with forest protection and development, and biodiversity conservation in the forest ecosystem; strive to reach a planting area of about 21,000 hectares by 2030, with 100% of the planting area being granted a planting area code and geographical indication. The output from 2030 will reach about 300 tons/year (exploitation area of about 1,000 hectares/year), ensuring origin, meeting GACP-WHO standards (good farming and harvesting practices) or equivalent.
In addition, continue to invest in and build facilities for preliminary processing and deep processing of Vietnamese ginseng products associated with raw material areas, chain production, of which about 50% of facilities produce products that meet GMP-WHO quality standards (good manufacturing practices).
Orientation by 2045, develop Vietnamese ginseng into an international branded product with high export value, creating an important source of income for localities, striving to make Vietnam a major ginseng producing country in the world.
The program applies to localities with potential and strengths in natural conditions suitable for cultivating and developing Vietnamese ginseng, including the provinces of Quang Nam, Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Lam Dong, Thua Thien Hue, Nghe An, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Dien Bien. In particular, develop Vietnamese ginseng raw material areas on a commodity scale in the provinces of Quang Nam, Kon Tum and Lai Chau.
Vietnamese ginseng species subject to conservation, development, processing and commercialization on a commodity scale include: Ngoc Linh ginseng (Panax vietnamensis Ha et Grushv), Lai Chau ginseng (Panax vietnamensis var. fiscidiscus K.Komatsu, S.Zhu & S.Q.Cai). Lang Biang ginseng and Puxailaileng ginseng will be conserved, grown and developed on a trial scale in areas with suitable natural conditions.
Health treasure
Studies have confirmed that Ngoc Linh ginseng is a valuable medicinal herb in Vietnam, proven to effectively enhance the immune system, memory, anti-inflammatory, anti-stress, anti-cancer and anti-aging effects. Rhizomes and ginseng tubers are used as medicine, while leaves and stems are used to make ginseng tea.
According to Dr. Le Thi Hong Van, lecturer of the Department of Medicinal Materials at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City, Ngoc Linh ginseng is a very precious medicinal herb, surpassing even Korean, Chinese and American ginseng. Ngoc Linh ginseng has up to 50% saponin belonging to the ocotillol active ingredient group that ginseng (Korean ginseng) does not have. Comparing the saponin content, Ngoc Linh ginseng is 3 times higher than Korean ginseng, more than 2 times higher than Chinese ginseng, and American ginseng. In particular, the saponin group belonging to the ocotillol framework such as majonosid R2 (M-R2) accounts for more than 50% of the total saponin content of Ngoc Linh ginseng. This is considered a characteristic to distinguish Ngoc Linh ginseng from other types of ginseng in the world. Regarding its medicinal effects, Mr. Tuyen said: “Ngoc Linh ginseng cures or supports the treatment of many diseases, including incurable diseases”. In this series of ginseng studies on health, there are very elaborate studies conducted by prestigious individuals and organizations such as: Institute of Elderly Health Research with Professor Pham Khue and colleagues, Military Hospital 175 Ho Chi Minh City with Professor Do Dinh Luan and colleagues, Ho Chi Minh City Nursing Institute, Pharmacology Department of Vietnam Ginseng Center.
In which, the monitoring program on volunteer patients conducted by the Pharmacology Department of the Vietnam Ginseng Center concluded: Patients felt better appetite, better sleep, increased weight, improved vision, intelligence and physical strength. Reduced fatigue, anti-asthenia. Increased body resistance to infectious diseases when combined with common antibiotics. Improved biochemical indices of the body such as: Increased vital capacity, increased tiffeneau index, reduced blood cholesterol, increased A/G ratio, increased number of red blood cells hemoglobin and hematocrit. Improved neurasthenia, sexual asthenia…
The work was published in Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, a monthly peer-reviewed medical journal of the Japan Pharmaceutical Association, in 1998. The research team tested the inhibitory effect on the early antigen of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV-EA) of 7 saponins isolated from the rhizome and roots of Ngoc Linh ginseng.
The results showed that Majonoside-R2 – Ocotillol group saponin accounts for more than half of the total saponin content of Ngoc Linh ginseng, has a significant inhibitory effect on EBV-EA activation; and Majornoside-R2 may be a valuable chemical agent that can fight against chemical carcinogens.
Meanwhile, the research project: “New sesquiterpene lactone metabolites from Ngoc Linh ginseng” by a group of Vietnamese authors and a foreign researcher – Poul Erik Hansenf (Faculty of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Denmark) has shown that sesquiterpene lactone is an important group of natural products obtained from many medicinal plants, very diverse in structure and has good biological activities for health such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-malarial, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal…
Ngoc Linh ginseng is like a natural antibiotic, so it has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and very good damage recovery properties. For the elderly, people with weakened immune systems, and those with many underlying diseases, regular use of ginseng will help restore health and increase resistance.
Ngoc Linh ginseng has also been approved by the Government as a national brand product, a “national treasure” of Vietnam and included in the list of prohibited exploitation, belonging to 250 rare species in the Red Book.