Medicinal value and uses of Ngoc Linh ginseng

During the resistance war against the US to save the country, Ngoc Linh ginseng was just a hidden medicinal plant called “Cu ngai rom con” of the Xo Dang ethnic group and only the village elders knew to treat people with serious illnesses and to make medicine to increase strength and fight fatigue when going to the forest for the villagers. In 1973, under the direction of comrade Vo Chi Cong, the medicinal investigation team of the People’s Medical Department of Zone 5 was established and guided by Dr. Dao Kim Long, and discovered this Panax species. Since then, some hospitals of the People’s Medical Department of Zone 5, the People’s Medical Department of Kon Tum, Quang Tin, and Quang Da provinces have used this ginseng species to effectively treat wounded soldiers and cadres who were weak and sick. After the country was unified, Ngoc Linh ginseng was used by the Vietnam Ginseng Center – Ministry of Health (formerly the SK5 Specialized Research Unit, now the Ho Chi Minh City Ginseng and Medicinal Materials Center – Institute of Medicinal Materials) led by Dr. Nguyen Thoi Nham has been systematically conducting research since 1978 in a ministerial-level research project and then in the State’s key research program “Creating a source of medicinal materials” 64C. In 1985, Ngoc Linh Ginseng was identified with the scientific name Panax vietnamensis Ha et Grushv.

Over the past 50 years, there have been many research projects at all levels on Ngoc Linh Ginseng, helping to expand the understanding of Ngoc Linh Ginseng in many fields such as: Botany, chemistry, pharmacology, cultivation, tissue culture, preparations and clinical trials through cooperation with domestic and foreign institutes and schools. In particular, research projects in the past 10 years have been able to master the growing area, while also clarifying the chemical composition and biological effects of Ngoc Linh Ginseng. Contributing to determining the value and valuable uses of Ngoc Linh Ginseng.