The diversity of medicinal plants at huu lien nature reserve huu lung district lang son province

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
VIETNAM FORESTRY UNIVERSITY

STUDENT THESIS
THE DIVERSITY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS AT HUU LIEN NATURE RESERVE,
HUU LUNG DISTRICT, LANG SON PROVINCE
Advanced Education Program
Developed in Collaboration with Colorado State University, USA
Code: 7850101

Student: PHAN THI THU HA

Student ID: 1453090702

Class: K59B Natural Resources Management

Course: 2014 - 2018

Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Quang Nam

Hanoi, 10/2018


CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ....................................................................................................... 1
LIST OF ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................ 2
ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................................. 3
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 4
CHAPTER 2: GOALS, SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES AND OBJECTS ................................. 9
CHAPTER 3: STUDY SITE.................................................................................................. 10
Natural condition .............................................................................................................................10

Socio - economic condition ............................................................................................................12
CHAPTER 4: METHODS ..................................................................................................... 14
4.1. Desk research method .............................................................................................................14
4.2. Field survey method ................................................................................................................14
4.3. Medicinal plant resources survey form .................................................................................14
4.4. Sample treatment method .......................................................................................................15
4.5. Data processing and analysis ..................................................................................................15
CHAPTER 5: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION .................................................................... 17
5.1. List of medicinal plants in Huu Lien Nature Reserve .........................................................17
5.2. Diversity of medicinal plant used by phylum, genera and species....................................17
5.3. Diversity in medicinal plant habits ........................................................................................20
5.4. Diversity of medicinal plants in endangered level ..............................................................20
5.5. Diversity in medicinal plant uses ...........................................................................................22
5.6. Diversity in medicinal parts used ...........................................................................................23
5.7. Propose sustainable conservation, spread development of the valuable medicinal plant
species in Huu Lien NR ..................................................................................................................24
REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................... 27
APPENDICES......................................................................................................................... 29


ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First of all, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my advisor Assoc. Prof.
Dr. Vu Quang Nam, for the continuous support of my student thesis study and research, for
his motivation, enthusiasm, and immense knowledge. He instructed me to complete this
graduation thesis.
I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Board of Directors of the Vietnam
Forestry University, Faculty of Forestry, teachers in the field for their support in all aspects so
that I can complete the project.
I would also thank to Director Nguyen Huu Hung, Director of Huu Lien Nature
Reserve, for facilitating me to research here.

I would also thank to all informants, who support me for my interview, supplied
medicinal plant, the treatment as well. My research would not have been possible without
their helps.
Lastly, I would like to thank my family for their support and encouragement
throughout the learning process. And thanks to all my friends who have helped me to
complete this graduation thesis

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LIST OF ACRONYMS
NR

Nature Reserve

VRB

Vietnam Red Book

NTFPs

Non-timber forest products

PRA

Participatory Rural Appraisal

RDP

Rural Development Program

SB

Spectrum Biology

WHO

World Health Organization

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ABSTRACT

The medicinal plants in Huu Lien Nature Reserve have not been well documented,
although medicinal plant resources are declining and many species are endangered. This study
intends to document information on medicinal plant in Huu Lien Nature Reserve and to
preserve the value species as the biomedical remedies in the future. The open-ended and semistructured interviews are the methods to document information of medicinal plant use for
treatment of human ailments. Resulting from this study showed that a total of 80 plant
species. According to the survey results, a total of 626 species of medicinal plants are present
in Huu Lien Nature Reserve and botanically identified as belonging to 3 phyla, 387 genera
and 122 families. Most of the species are belonged to Magnoliophyta (Angiospermae) with
606 species (96,81%) and some main families are Fabacea, Euphorbiaceae, Asteraceae,
Lamiaceae. Liano-phanerophytes (15,81%), nano-phanerophytes (13,1%), microphanerophytes (11,98%) are the major growth forms. The major plant parts used are leaves
(38,82%), stems (17,41%), all parts (15,5%), roots (14,38%) and barks (13,89%). There are
34 threatened species listed in the Red Data Book of Vietnam (2007), Decree 32/2006/NDCP, IUCN Red List (2012) and Decree 160/2013/ND-CP. With appropriate natural conditions
to develop medicinal plants, the present study highlights important medicinal plant species by
validating their traditional uses. High value plant species can improve local economies by
developing plan for conservation, sustainable uses and developments.

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CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Since ancient times, people have used medicinal plants to treat and improve health;
medicinal plants are not only used for treatment but also for food and spices. Today,
medicinal plants still play an important role in protecting the health of people living in the
buffer zone. Moreover, medicinal plants and medicinal plant knowledge are also part of the
culture of ethnic minorities. However, many useful and valuable medicinal plants have not yet
been recognized and widely used. It is therefore important to have specific studies and
investigations to assess the diversity of medicinal plants in order to provide new and essential
data to form the basis for the development of strategies in the planning, manage, protect and
develop valuable medicinal plants.
Huu Lien Nature Reserve, Huu Lung district, Lang Son province is the place where
the medicinal plants are extremely rich. Huu Lien Nature Reserve was established on August
9, 1986. It is located in the high latitude area and is the transition from tropical to sub-tropical
and the terrain is mainly limestone. Limestone is a very special ecosystem of our country, it
contains a valuable biological resources. Located on the Cao Bang - Lang Son limestone
range, in the southwest of Lang Son province; Huu Lien Nature Reserve is a place of high
biodiversity value as well as diversity of medicinal plants.
Since its establishment, Huu Lien Nature Reserve has not yet been fully researched on
the diversity of medicinal plants on the basis of surveys, data collection and specimens. In
addition, the protection of natural medicinal plant resources is becoming an urgent need to
serve current and future economic and social objectives.
Therefore, to have a scientific basis for conservation effectively, it is necessary to
investigate, collect, statistics and detect all medicinal plants available in this area. I do
research with the title: “The diversity of medicinal plants at Huu Lien Nature Reserve, Huu
Lung district, Lang Son province”.
History of medicinal plants in the world
Medicinal plants are a valuable non-timber forest product. According to the World

Health Organization (WHO), a product is considered herbal when the main ingredient consists
of a part of the plant that remains in its original form after being processed. If there is a
chemical or mineral mixture then the product is no longer herbal. The medicinal plant is
capable of synthesizing the chemical compounds contained in it which are used for important
biological functions of plants or are used against insects, fungi and herbivores. The
development of mankind is associated with the use of medicinal plants. Ever since its
appearance on the planet, humans have been known to use plants to sustain life. They used
plants for food and materials, and then discovered that plants were able to prevent and treat
diseases. Over time, the experience of using medicinal plants is accumulating and widespread.
This is the basis for the formation and development of medicinal plants in traditional
medicine. With the development of mankind, human knowledge has been enhanced,
especially the science has developed; the use of medicinal plants has been expanded and has
great effect on the improvement of human health. Studying the history of medicinal plants of
ethnic groups and territories, which is of great interest to many researchers and the researchers
also give evidence of the variety of medicinal plants.
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In his book "Chronological History of Plants" published in 1878, Charles Pikering
states: As early as 4271 BC, the Middle Eastern people used many species of plants for food
and medicine. Based on archaeological evidence, Borisova B. (1960) points out that: By 5000
BC, medicinal plants were widely used and it was the target of appropriation (with women,
food crops, flowering plants) in tribal wars. Thus, the importance of medicinal plants has been
discovered very early, the collection and exchange of precious medicinal herbs has been
practiced since ancient times by warriors. Australia is known as the cradle of the world's
oldest civilization. It is said that the Australian settled here more than 60,000 years ago and
formed the practical knowledge of native medicinal plants. Many of these species, such as the
Eucalyptus globulus, which are found only in Australia, and it is used to treat very effectively.
However, the knowledge of Australians on herbs was lost when Europeans settled. Today,
most herbs in Australia come from the West, India, China and the Pacific Rim.

European herbs are very diverse and are based primarily on classical medicine. Galen
(131-200 SCN) is a physician of Marcus Aurelius who was the ancient Roman emperor;
Galen has a profound influence on the development of herbal medicines. He has written
hundreds of books and has been applied in medicine in Europe for over 1500 years. In the
first century AD, a Greek physician named Dioscorides wrote the herbal book called "De
material Medica". This book contains 600 herbs, which strongly influenced Western medicine
and were the main reference books used in Europe until the seventeenth century. The book is
translated into many languages such as Old English, Persian and Hebrew. In the middle Ages,
the doctrine "Signs" confirmed that there was a connection between the appearance of a tree
as the "sign of divinity" and its medical use. For example, the mottled leaves of Pulmonaria
officinalis look like lung tissue and this tree is very effective in treating lung diseases.
In Africa, the diversity of traditional herbal medicine is greater than in other places.
Since ancient times, Africa has used medicinal plants for treatment. Old manuscripts from
ancient Egypt (1950 BC) have listed dozens of medicinal plants and their uses. In the papyrus
of the Ebers (around 1500 BC) records more than 870 prescriptions and formulas, 700 herbs
and diseases, including lung disease and wounds from crocodiles. Trade in medicinal plants
between the Middle East, India and Northeastern Africa has occurred at least 3,000 years ago.
From the 5th to the 13th century AD, the Arab herbalists were leaders in the advancement of
medicine. In the mid-13th century, Ibn El Beitar was a botanist who published "Medical
Problems". This book lists the types of medicinal plants in North Africa.
China and India are famous for their traditional medicine. At the beginning of the
second century, Chinese medicine was known to use medicinal plants for treatment as: Using
Tea (Thea sinensis) to clean the wound and bathe the scabies. In the book "Chinese Medicine
Tree" published in 1985 listed a variety of plants for treating diseases such as: The roots of
Momordoca cochinchinensis to treat venom, inflammation of the lining. Momordoca
cochinchinensis seed treatment for swelling, joint pain, malaria, hematoma, etc… Recently,
scientists around the world have discovered more precious properties of Ganoderma lucidum
in the treatment of diseases of the liver, bile, organ cancers and also prevent and against AIDS
(Pharmaceutical Institute, 2001).
Ancient Indian civilization developed over 5000 years along the banks of the Indus

River in southern India. In the Vedas epic, which was written in 1500 BC, retains much of the
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valuable knowledge of the herbs of that period. In particular, many plants are considered
"sacred" for the particular god, such as: Aegle marmelos is a tree for Hindu gods, Lakshmi
(the god who brings wealth and luck), Samantha (the god of health) and Aegle marmelos
planted near the temple.
In addition, Bulgarian national medicine where it is considered "National of Rose",
they use roses to treat a lot of diseases. They used flowers, leaves, roots to cure hematemesis
and edema. Today, science has demonstrated that roses contain a significant amount of tannin,
glycoside, and essential oils. This oil is used not only for perfumery but also for many
diseases.
Medicinal plants are becoming a trend in the world. In the past 30 years, the American
Institute for Cancer has investigated and selected more than 40,000 medicinal plants and
found hundreds of medicinal plants capable of treating cancer. In the United States, 25% of
prescription medications with strong medicinal properties are derived from one type of rose
(Cantharanthus roseus). Especially in Madagascar, this tree is used to treat children's blood
cancer and it is effective, increasing the survival rate of children from 10 to 90%. The
medicinal value of the medicinal plants is a biologically active compound contained in
medicinal plants. So, study of medicinal plants by compound groups was conducted and
received good results. However, this research direction requires a large source of funding,
modern equipment and a team of highly qualified professionals. Thus, studies are being
conducted in developed countries and in some developing countries.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1985, out of 250,000 species
of lower plants and higher plants, nearly 20000 plant species are used as medicines or as
active ingredients for drug processing. In India, there are about 6000 species of medicinal
plants, over 5,000 species in China, in some Southeast Asian countries over 2000 species and
tropical regions of America more than 1900 species. According to WHO, the use of medicinal
plants is increasing, with 80% of the population using traditional medicines in developing

countries. China is the most populous country in the world and has a growing national
medicine, is the largest producer and exporter of herbal medicines, accounting for 30% of
world trade (1991) and next to Korea, USA, India and Chile. Singapore and Hong Kong are
major exporters of herbs in Asia. And Japan, USA, Germany, France, Italy, Malaysia, Spain
and USA are the main markets. About 53 countries supply medicinal plants to Germany
including India, Argentina, former Yugoslavia, Greece, China, Poland, Egypt, Hungary,
Czechoslovakia, Zaire, Albania, the Netherlands and France (FAO, 2013). This suggests that
for industrialized countries the use of medicinal plants for traditional medicine has also
grown. Medicinal plants are economical and it provides many modern and traditional
medicines to protect and improve human health.
According to Jukovski (1971), there are 12 centers of plant biodiversity in the world:
China - Japan, Indochina - Indonesia, Australia, India, Central Asia, Near East, Europe Siberia, South Mexico, South America and North America. Many medicinal plants have been
cultivated for a long time in red centers such as Hemp, Opium, Ginseng, Cloves, Nutmeg,
Cinnamon, Mint, etc…

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For the purpose of human health care, for the development of society and for the fight
against incurable diseases, there must be a combination of Eastern medicine and Western
medicine, between modern medicine and traditional medicine. From the experience of
traditional medicine has helped people discover useful drugs for the future.
History of medicinal plants in Vietnam
From ancient times until now, medicinal plants still play an important role in
maintaining the health and happiness of the Vietnamese people. Vietnam has a total area of
330,541 km and favorable natural conditions, three quarters of the territory is hilly. Vietnam
has many complex effects of two circulation systems: Southwest monsoon and northeast.
Therefore, Vietnam has a tropical climate, hot and humid and heavy rain; that gives Vietnam
a variety of plants, the flora of Vietnam has over 12,000 species of higher plants (Nguyen
Tien Ban, 2005, List of plant species in Vietnam). With abundant flora, Vietnam is a country

with great potential for medicinal plant resources in Southeast Asia. In addition, traditional
medicine through the thousands of years of the North was greatly influenced by traditional
Chinese medicine.
From 2900 BC, through the remaining Han Nom scripts and legends, our ancestors
knew to use plants to spice, stimulate appetite and. The earliest document on Vietnamese
medicinal plants is “Miracle of Vietnamese medicine” and “Great morality in art of medicine”
of Tue Tinh. This document describes more than 630 remedies including 13 for all diseases
and 37 for typhoid. Tue Tinh is considered as the saint of Vietnamese medicine, the initiator
and founder of the foundation of the country’s medicine with an independent, self-controlled,
and practical viewpoint of “Vietnamese herbal medicine treats Vietnamese people’s diseases”,
meaning that Vietnamese medicine is used to treat diseases for Vietnamese people.
By the 18th century, Hai Thuong Lan Ong Le Huu Trac published the second largest
book “Y Tong Tam Linh” compiled in nearly 40 years with 28 episodes and 66 volumes. It is
said that the book “Y Tong Tam Linh” is the quintessence of human medicine and
Vietnamese traditional medicine. After the August 1945 revolution, especially after the
liberation of the North in 1954, Vietnamese scientists have many advantages in collecting and
researching medicinal plant resources. Do Tat Loi has been researching for many years and
published many documents on the use of plants and animals of ethnic minority people.
Especially in 1957, he edited the set of "Vietnam remedies and medicinal plants" including 3
volumes. In 1961, the book was reprinted in two volumes, in which the author describes and
indicates the use of more than 100 medicinal plants. From 1962 to 1965, Do Tat Loi
published "The Medicinal Plants and Medicines in Vietnam" in 6 volumes. In 1969 it was
reprinted in two volumes, in which the author introduced more than 500 remedies from
medicinal plant, animals and minerals. In the seventh edition (1995) the number of medicinal
plants reached 792 species, this is a valuable book on science and practice, combining
traditional science and modern science.
In 1960, Pham Hoang Ho and Nguyen Van Duong published the "Vietnamese Herbs".
In 1966, pharmacist Vu Van Chuyen published the book "Summarize Medicinal Plant
Families Characteristics" and was printed in 1976. In 1980, Do Huy Bich, Bui Xuan Chuong
introduced the "Handbook of medicinal plants in Vietnam", with 519 species of medicinal

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plants, including 150 new species discovered. In 1976, Vo Van Chi in his doctoral
dissertation, he collected 1360 medicinal plants belonging to 192 families of angiosperms in
the North. In 1976, Vo Van Chi listed 1360 medicinal plants belonging to 192 families of
angiosperms in the North in his doctoral thesis. In 1991, at the second national workshop on
medicinal plants in Ho Chi Minh City, the report has shown that Vietnamese medicinal plants
have 2,880 vascular species, belonging to 254 families in 8 phyla. In 1996, Vo Van Chi
reported that medicinal plants in Vietnam had 3,200 species (including mushrooms). By 2005,
the Institute of Pharmacology recognized in Vietnam more than 3,984 medicinal species
belonging to 307 families of 9 phyla; nearly 90% of them are natural medicinal plants, mainly
in forest communities, with only 10% are grown. Most recently, the statistics of Vo Van Chi
in the "Dictionary of Vietnamese Medicinal Plants" (2012) with the number of medicinal
plants is 4,700 species. The number of medicinal plants found has increased steadily over
time. This proves that if the research continues, the resources of medicinal plants in Vietnam
may be larger and estimated to be up to 6,000 species.
Nguyen Tien Ban, et al. (2003, 2005) published the book "List of Vietnamese Plants"
which is an important book in the flora of Vietnam. In recent years, the Institute of Ecology
and Biological Resources has a lot of research on the knowledge and experience of using
medicinal plants by ethnic minorities in Vietnam. The research on traditional medicinal plants
of the Thai, Muong, Dao, Tay and Nung ethnic groups has updated and supplemented data for
traditional Vietnamese medicine.
There are 8 key distribution areas of medicinal plants: North West, North East, Red
River Delta, North Central, Eastern Truong Son, South Central Coast, Central Highlands,
South East and Mekong Delta; and concentrated in 5 centers of biodiversity such as Bach Ma,
Lam Vien, Hoang Lien Son, Cuc Phuong, Yok Don and Cat Tien. Many of them are classified
as rare in the world such as: Panax vietnamensis, Panax pseudoginseng, Lilium brownii,
Taxus wallichiana,… Especially, Panax vietnamensis (Vietnamese ginseng) is one of the
most saponin ginseng, higher than the rare ginseng in the world such as Korean ginseng,

Chinese ginseng.
On the other hand, medicinal plant resources are threatened by over-exploitation.
Government and non-governmental organizations have made great efforts in preserving
medicinal plant resources, many projects and researches on the protection of medicinal plants
have been implemented such as: Conservation of medicinal plants of the Dao ethnic group in
Ba Vi, Ha Tay – CREDEP, preserve and develop medicinal plants in Sapa, …

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CHAPTER 2: GOALS, SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES AND OBJECTS
2.1. Goals
The goal of this project is to document information on medicinal plants presenting in
Huu Lien Nature Reserve and contribute to preserve valuable medicinal plants as the basis for
the advancement of biomedical research and development in the future.
2.2. Specific objectives:
- To list the medicinal plants present in Huu Lien Nature Reserve.
- To collect data, evaluate the diversity of medicinal plants:
+ Diversity in phylum, family, genus, species
+ Diversity in habits
+ Diversity in uses
+ Diversity in endangered levels
+ Diversity in parts use
- To investigate the current status and causes of the decline of medicinal plant resources.
- To propose sustainable conservation, spread development of the valuable plant species in the
community area.
2.3. Objects
- Objects: Valuable medicinal plants and medicinal plants used by local community.
- Study sites: Huu Lien Nature Reserve, Huu Lung district, Lang Son province.
- Time: July 22 - October 1, 2018.

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CHAPTER 3: STUDY SITE
Natural condition
Geographical location
- Huu Lien Nature Reserve lies about 90 km due north of Hanoi, and includes all of Huu Lien
commune and a part of Yen Thinh commune, Huu Lung district, Lang Son province.

- Coordinates:
From 21030' to 21046'20" North parallels
From 106035'48 " to 106048'15" East longitudes

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- Huu Lien Nature Reserve borders to the north with Tran Yen commune, Bac Son district; to
the south with Yen Thinh commune and Hoa Binh commune, Huu Lung district; to the east
with Huu Le commune, Van Quan district and Van Linh commune, Chi Lang district and to
the west Nhat Tien commune, Bac Son district.
- Height above sea level: Lowest ~ 100m, Highest < 600m.
Topography
The landscape of the nature reserve is dominated by limestone karst. According to the
investment plan (Anon. 1990); 9,734 ha or 91% of the nature reserve is limestone karst, of
which 9,082 ha, or 93% of the total, is forested. The limestone karst is bisected by two flat
valleys in the center of the nature reserve, which run in a north-south direction. These valleys
are at an elevation of around 100 m, while the highest point in the nature reserve is the
summit of Mount Kheng at 638 m.
Soils

- Stable rock consists of two main types: limestone and shale, mostly limestone (80%). There
is a characteristic Karst phenomenon, strong weather.
- The limestone has special terrain, high slope, jagged, rugged. Soils and rocks are often
mixed in the narrow place. Limestone has a thin layer of soil and the structure of soil has
unclear layer. There are 3 main types of soils:
+ Rendeine black, (pH = 6.5 - 7.5) slightly alkaline, thin layer of soil, often in rock slits.
+ Feralit yellow or reddish brown, thin layer of soil, distributed in the hills.
+ New alluvial soil: with more sand and silt than clay is being deposited in the flood plain
areas along the river courses

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Climate
- Temperature: The annual average temperature is 22.7ᵒ C, the highest temperature is 40.1ᵒ C
(June), the lowest temperature is 1.1ᵒ C (January).
- Rainfall: The average annual rainfall is 1,488.2mm. Rainy season from April to October,
accounts for 90.67% of total annual rainfall. The average number of rainy day is 132
days/year. Dry season from November to March next year, accounts for 9.33% of total annual
rainfall.
- Humidity: The average annual humidity is 82%, the lowest in January is 12%.
- The average annual evaporation is 832mm.
- Wind: There are two main wind directions: North East and South West, the average wind
speed is 1m/s.
- The area often has frost, fog, but only in a short time and less affected by the storm. The
climate is relatively mild, suitable for the growth of many plants and animals.
Hydrology
The nature reserve is drained by two main streams, the Buc and An. There are also
four lakes: Giang Ca lake (125 ha), Deo Long lake (60 ha), Lan Dat lake (30 ha) and Lan Ty
lake (19 ha).

Flora
The natural vegetation at Huu Lien Nature Reserve is limestone forest. A total of 794
species of vascular plant in 162 families have been recorded at Huu Lien, including 31 species
in the Red Data Book of Vietnam, such as Cupressus torulosa, Burretiodendron
tonkinensis and Garcinia fagraeoides (Nguyen Xuan Dang et al. 1999).
Some dominant species with large number of individuals are: B. tonkinensis, T.
ilicifolia, Saraca dives, D.duperreanum, Pterospernum truncatolobatum, Tetrameles
nudifolia, Celtis sinensis, D. sonneratioides, Cleistocalyx opercukulatus, Pimerocarpus
breiieri…
Fauna
During 1998, the fauna of Huu Lien Nature Reserve was studied by Nguyen Xuan
Dang et al. (1999), who recorded 57 mammal, 23 reptile and 14 amphibian species, 29 of
which are listed in the Red Data Book of Vietnam (Anon. 1992). Based on the identification
of specimens, Nguyen Xuan Dang et al. (1999) recorded the occurrence of Forest Musk Deer
Moschus berezovskii. Dang Ngoc Can and Nguyen Xuan Dang (1999a) estimate that the
population of Forest Musk Deer at Huu Lien Nature Reserve is 83 individuals.
Nguyen Xuan Dang et al. (1999) also recorded Francois’ Leaf Monkey Trachypithecus
francoisi and Black-cheeked Crested Gibbon Hylobates concolor at the nature reserve.
However, these records were based upon interview data and given the high levels of hunting
and the disturbed nature of the forest; it is highly unlikely that the nature reserve supports a
significant population of either of these species (T. Osborn verbally 2000).
Socio - economic condition
Population and population distribution
Total population of 5 communes is 19,448 people with 4,173 households, living in 51
villages with 11,178 laborers. The average population density is 70 people / km2, the highest
is Yen Thinh commune with 123 people per km² and the lowest is Huu Lien commune with
47 people per km². The average annual population growth rate is 1.05%.
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Population distribution in the nature reserve is concentrated in Huu Lien commune.
The villages are concentrated along the roads, flat land and suitable for wet rice cultivation.
There are 12 villages in the reserve (all in Huu Lien commune) with 726 households and
3,421 people, accounting for 17.6% of the total population of 5 communes.
Main economic activities
Agriculture - forestry are the two main economic sectors of local people, agriculture
accounted for 94.3%, forestry accounts for a small proportion, service has not developed. The
number of poor households is still high (about 18.5%), average income per capita is still low
(4 - 4.5 million VND/ year).
- Agriculture: The main crops are rice, maize, sweet potato, cassava, soybean… The total of
rice output is 10,820.4 tons and the average of rice per capita is 586 kg/year. Total number of
cattle and poultry are 154,344; total grazing area is 1000 ha. On average, each household has
1 to 3 buffaloes, 1 cow, 2-3 pigs and 20-30 poultry.
- Forestry: Total plantation area is 470.3 ha. The income from forestry activities is still low
and forestry production activities mainly are forest zoning, forest protection and NTFPs
collection.
Infrastructure
- Traffic: From the RDP (Rural Development Program), some communes in the area have
concrete road systems. That makes transportation easier in the rainy season.
- Irrigation: Including 1 reservoir of 15,000 m3 in Huu Lien commune, 2 dams (Pac Mo and
Duong Cai) and 16km of canal. But water is not available for agricultural production; water
resources are mainly dependent on nature.
Health care
There are 5 communes, each commune has its own health station and all villages have
health workers. However, the facilities of the health stations are lacking and poor; the skills of
village health workers are not high so they still do not meet the treatment of local people.
Education
All communes have primary and secondary schools; equipment and learning materials
are still lacking. School attendance rate is 100%, the quality of teaching and learning has been
improved. The illiteracy rate in the region has decreased (1.18%).

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CHAPTER 4: METHODS
4.1. Desk research method
- Inheriting documents on natural conditions, topography, forest status, flora in Huu Lien
Nature Reserve.
- Inheriting the results from the surveys and research of some units in Huu Lien Nature
Reserve.
- Inheriting the relevant documents of the subject being studied.
4.2. Field survey method
- Interviewing 20 local people in Huu Lien commue
- During the survey use the PRA (Participatory Rural Appraisal) method. Some of the
techniques commonly used in PRA are:
+ Interview: Using some questions for selected people
+ Open Interview: Is a free interview, we can ask any question depending on the situation at
that time, the order of the questions may also change.
+ Semi-structured interviews: Some questions are prepared and some questions may be added
depending on the situation.
+ Structured interview (in-depth interview): Use a set of questions for the informant.
+ Cross-interview: A way to validate the information of the interviewees.
* Note:
- Selecting the interviewer with knowledge of the study site and knowledge of medicinal
plants. The first priority is the well-known physician at the study site, followed by the
medicinal plant growers and local people who have used medicinal plants.
- Open interview and semi-structured interviews are convenient and easy access to the
interviewees.
- Take photos and collect specimens of medicinal plants during the survey to easy
identification and preservation of specimens.

The information is filled in the following form:
4.3. Medicinal plant resources survey form
Interviewer:…………………………..................

Date:………………..

Surveyor:………………………………………..
Interviewees:……………………………………
Occupation:…………………………………......
14

Age:………………...


STT

Tree name

Current status

Habits & Parts use

Uses

Value

1

2

…

4.4. Sample treatment method
Try to identify the species name in the field. If the sample is unidentified, make
herbarium specimens by pressing the sample of plant consists of a rigid frame, cardboard and
folded newspaper. The sample should have branch, leaves, flowers or fruit. It may be a good
idea to collect extra flowers and fruit for identification purposes .The necessary information
(number, date, location, habit, collector…) would be written on the paper that pressing
specimens. After collection and pressing, preserving a specimen is to make sure that all the
moisture is removed from the plant. Any moisture remaining in a collection can result in the
eventual rotting of that specimen, rendering it useless for scientific purposes. So, you should
take the herbarium specimens exposed to the sun. The medicinal plant species cannot
approach, taken photos are recommended and the photos should be clearing as much as
possible for the requirement from plant identification.
4.5. Data processing and analysis
4.5.1. List of medicinal plants
- To easily classify and listing medicinal plants, the data collected will be filled in Excel sheet
in a way that makes the analysis is suitable calculation.
- The list is sorted by phyla, families, classes. In each phylum, the scientific names of the
families are arranged in alphabetical order. In the Magnoliophyta, the families are divided into
two classes (Magnoliopsida, Liliopsida) and the scientific names of the species are also
arranged in alphabetical order. The list includes scientific names, Vietnamese names, habits,
uses, level of endangered.
- To determine the scientific name of medicinal plants should be based on morphology,
characteristics of plants. However, unidentified plants may find out from botanical books as
“Nhung Cay Thuoc Va Vi Thuoc Vietnam” (200 ) - Do Tat Loi”, “An Illustrated Flora of
Vietnam” volume 1, 2, 3 (2003) - Ph m Ho ng H ”, “Thuc Vat Co Hoa” - Nguyen Nghia
15

Thin (2006) base on the descriptive characteristics of species information. Other ways are
carried out by my advisor and internet technology as website on botanical also a good
identification process. In this research; I used the Tropicos.org, Botanyvn, Wikipedia and
other web pages.
4.5.2. Assess the diversity of taxon
- After statistical results of species, genus, and phylum; the evaluation criteria are based on
the evaluate method of Nguyen Nghia Thin (1997):
+ Assess the diversity of family, genus and species in phylum
+ Assess the diversity of species in genus
+ Assess the diversity of species
-To assess the diversity of genus and species in family, using the formula (by TolmachoVA.L,
1974):
P% = n/N * 100
With:




P%: The percentage of total species in 10 families has the largest number of species
compared to the total number of species surveyed.
n: The total number of species in 10 families has the largest number of species.
N: Total number of species surveyed

+ If P% < 50%, then the study area has a diversity of family
+ If P% > 50%, then the study area has not a diversity of family
4.5.3. Assess the diversity of habits
The evaluation criteria are based on the evaluate method of Nguyen Nghia Thin, Ngo
Truc Nha, Nguyen Thi Hanh (1999).
4.5.4. Assesses the level of endangered
According to the Vietnam Red Data Book (2007), IUCN Red List (2012), Decree 32/2006 /

ND-CP and Decree 160/2013 / ND-CP.
4.5.5. Assesses the diversity of uses and parts use
According to Do Tat Loi (2000), Vo Van Chi (1997), Vo Van Chi and Tran Hop
(1999, 2002), La Dinh Moi (2001, 2002) with the following symbols: medicinal plants: THU;
trees for timber: LGO; edible plants: AND (vegetables, fruits); ornamental trees: CAN; oil
plants: CDB; trees for essential oils: CTD; trees for fiber: SOI; toxic trees: DOC; trees for
resin: CNH; trees for tannins: TAN; other uses: Kh.

16


CHAPTER 5: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
5.1. List of medicinal plants in Huu Lien Nature Reserve
List of medicinal plants including: Scientific name, Vietnamese name, habits, uses,
level of endangered. The scientific name is in alphabetical order.
The list of medicinal plants in Huu Lien NR has 626 species belong to 3 phyla, 387
genus and 122 families. Magnoliophyta (Angiospermae) has the most species with 606
species. Polypodiophyta has 18 species. Pinophyta has only two species.
There are 34 species in level of endangered. Habits including 5 forms are herb (197
species), tree (182 species), liana (127 species), shrub (111 species) and epiphyte (9 species).
5.2. Diversity of medicinal plant used by phylum, genera and species
5.2.1. Diversity of medicinal plant used by phylum
After surveying, the results show that the number of medicinal plants in Huu Lien
Nature Reserve is 626 species, belong to 3 phyla:
- Polypodiophyta: 4 families, 9 genera, 18 species
- Pinophyta: 2 families, 2 genera, 2 species
- Magnoliophyta (Angiospermae): 116 families, 354 genera, 606 species
We can see that medicinal plants are not only diverse in species but also in phylum. The
results are shown in Table 5.1
Table 5.1: The distribution and proportion of medicinal plants by phylum

Number

%

Family
Number

Genus

Number

Phylum

Species

%

%

1. Polypodiophyta

18

2.88

9

2.39

4

3.29

2. Pinophyta

2

0.32

2

0.53

2

1.64

606

96.81

376

97.16

116

95.09

626

100

387

100

122

100

3. Magnoliophyta
(Angiospermae)
Total

From this we can see that the number of species distributed in different phylum is
uneven. Mainly distributed in Magnoliophyta with 116 families (accounting for 95.09 % of
total family), 376 genera (accounting for 97.16 % of total genus), and 606 species (accounting
17


for 96.81% of total species). Pinophyta is the least diverse with 2 species (0.32%), 2 genera
(0.53%) and 2 families (1.64%). And Polypodiophyta with 18 species, 9 genera, 4 families.
Magnoliophyta is divided into 2 classes are Magnoliopsida and Liliopsida; Magnoliopsida is
more diverse than Liliopsida:
- Magnoliopsida: 103 families, 338 genera, 534 species.
- Liliopsida: 13 families, 38 genera, 72 species.
Although Liliopsida has fewer species than Magnoliopsida but Liliopsida includes many
valuable species such as Homalomena occulta, Nervilia fordii, Costus speciosus, Amomun

villosum, Tacca chantrieri…
5.2.2. Diversity of medicinal plant used by family
After surveying, there are 116 families of higher plants in Huu Lien Nature Reserve.
To assess the diversity of family, I selected 10 families with the largest number of species that
is presented in Table 5.2
Table 5.2: 10 families have the largest number of species in Huu Lien NR
Species

%

Number

Number

Family

Genus

%

1. Fabaceae

37

5.91

16

4.13

2. Euphorbiaceae

37

5.91

18

4.65

3. Asteraceae

30

4.79

15

3.88

4. Lamiaceae

27

4.31

12

3.10

5. Apocynaceae

20

3.19

12

3.10

6. Rubiaceae

20

3.19

10

2.58

7. Urticaceae

18

2.88

10

2.58

8. Moraceae

17

2.72

7

1.81

9. Polypodiaceae

15

2.40

6

1.55

10. Verbenaceae

13

2.08

8

2.07

234

37.38

114

29.46

Total

18


We can see that the number of species in each family is unequal. Fabaceae and
Euphorbiaceae have the largest number of species with 37 species (accounting for 5.91% of
total species). There are 2 families with 15 species (Polypodiaceae and Araceae) but I only
show Polypodiaceae as a representative.
From the formula:
P% = n/N * 100 (by TolmachoVA.L, 1974)
We have P equal to 37.38% (<50% of the total number of species surveyed). Thus, we
can confirm that the medicinal plants in Huu Lien NR have diversity of family.
5.2.3. Diversity of medicinal plant used by genus
Table 5.3: 10 genera have the largest number of species in Huu Lien NR
Genus

Family

Species

%

Euphorbiaceae

9

1,44

2. Ficus

Moraceae

7

1,12

3. Schefflera

Araliaceae

6

0.96

4. Lamium

Lamiaceae

5

0.80

5. Schefflera

Araliaceae

5

0.80

6. Rubia

Rubiaceae

4

0.64

7. Colysis

Polypodiaceae

4

0.64

8. Ardisia

Myrsinaceae

3

0.48

9. Apocinum

Apocynaceae

3

0.48

10. Alpinia

Zingiberaceae

3

0.48

49

7.83

1.Euphorbia

Total

According to statistics, Euphorbia has the largest number of species with 9 species
(accounting for 1.44% of total species). Alpinia has the least number of species with 3 species
(0.48% of total species). The total number of 10 genera is 49 species, accounting for 7.83% of

total species. Thus, we can conclude that there is a diversity of genus.
5.2.4. Diversity of medicinal plant used by species
Although Huu Lien Nature Reserve has a very small area on the total area of the
country but the number of medicinal plants in the Huu Lien Nature Reserve accounts for a
significant proportion of the total number of medicinal plants in the country (626/4700
19


species), it takes 13.32%. I think this is just the current data. Further investigations, the
number of medicinal plants in Huu Lien NR will continue to increase in the future.
5.3. Diversity in medicinal plant habits
After evaluating the plant habits of medicinal plant species, the 5 growth form habits
were found in the study area (Figure 5.4). The frequently plant habits in the study area are
herb and tree species constitute the highest number of species, with herb accounts for 31,47%
(197 species) and tree 29,07% (182 species). Liana just covered 20,29% (127 species),
followed by shrub 17,73% (111 species) and epiphyte is the least number of plant species
represented by only two species 1,44% (9 species). Herb habits mostly belong to some
families such as: Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Cyperaceae, Poaceae,… Tree
habits mainly belong to: Anacardiaceae, Leeaceae, Myrsinaceae, Lauraceae,…
Figure 5.4. The percentage of medicinal plant habits

Medicinal plant habits
1%
Herb

18%

32%

Tree

Liana

20%

Shrub

29%

Epiphyte

5.4. Diversity of medicinal plants in endangered level
There are 34 threatened species listed in the Red Data Book of Vietnam (2007),
Decree 32/2006 / ND-CP, IUCN Red List (2012) and Decree 160/2013 / ND-CP. The results
are presented in Table 5.5
Table 5.5: Threatened species in Huu Lien Nature Reserve

No

1
2
3
4
5
6
7

VNRB
2007

Scientific name

Drynaria bonii H. Christ
D. fortunei (Kunze ex Mett,) J. Sm.
A. tonkinense Gagnep.
G. montanum Markgr.
Podocarpus neriifolius D. Don
Goniothalamus vietnamensis Ban
Kibatalia laurifolia (Ridl.) Woods

IUCN
2012

VU
EN
VU
LC
LC
VU
VU
20

Dec 32/
2006

Dec 160/
2013


8

Rauvolfia verticillata (Lour.) Baill.
Acanthopanax trifoliatus (L.) Voss

VU
EN

10 Tetrapanax papyriferus (Hook.) C. Koch
11 A. kwangsiensis Chun & How ex Liang

EN

12 Asarum caudigerum Hance
13 Cirsium japonicum Fish. ex DC.

VU

14 Podophyllum tonkinense Gagnep.
15 Erythrophleum fordii Oliv.

EN

16 Codonopsis javanica (Blume)

VU

17 Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino

EN

18 C. speciosa (Champ. ex Benth.) Schot

19 Illicium difengpii B. N. Chang

VU

20 Chukrasia tabularis A. Juss.
21 Stephania longa Lour.

VU

9

EN
IIA

VU
EN

IIA
IIA

VU
IIA

22 S. rotunda Lour.
23 S. sinica Diels

IIA
IIA

24 Tinospora sagitata (Oliv.) Gagnep.

25 A. silvestris Pitard

VU

26 E. parviflora Wall. ex DC.
27 Myrsine semiserrata Wall. in Roxb.

VU

28 Meliantha suavis Pierre
29 Fallopia multiflora (Thunb.) Haraldson

VU

30 Madhuca pasquieri (Dubard) H.J. Lam
31 Kadsura coccinea (Lem.) A. C. Smith

EN

VU
VU
VU

VU
VU

VU

32 Excentrodendron tonkinense (Gagnep.)
33 Nervilia fordii (Hance) Schlechter

EN

IIA

EN

IIA

34 Stemonema cochinchinensis Gagnep.
35 Gynostemma pentaphyllum

VU

36 Tinospora sinensis

VU

EN

* Note:
- Vietnam Red Book (VNRB) 2007: CR - Critically Endangered, EN - Endangered, VU –
Vulnerable.
- IUCN Red List (2012): EN – Endangered, VU – Vulnerable, NT - Near threatened, LC Least concern.
21


- Decree No. 32/2006 / ND-CP: Group IA: forest plants strictly banned from exploitation and
use for commercial purposes; group IIA: forest plants restricted from exploitation or use for
commercial purposes

- Decree 160/2013 / ND-CP: lists of endangered, precious and rare species prioritized
protection.
* Specifically:


Medicinal plants listed in the Vietnam Red Data Book (2007)

- There are 30 species of medicinal plants recorded in Vietnam Red Book 2007, accounting
for 4.79% of total species (30/626 species). And take 6.99% (30/429 species) of total species
in VRB 2007.
- Medicinal plants in Huu Lien Nature Reserve are listed in VRB 2007:
20VU + 10EN
+ There are 10 species are endangered (EN) such as Tetrapanax papyriferus, Tetrapanax
papyriferus, Acanthopanax trifoliatus, Gynostemma pentaphyllum, A. kwangsiensis…
+ 20 species are vulnerable (VU) such as Fallopia multiflora, A. silvestris, Cirsium
japonicum, A. tonkinense Gagnep, Cirsium japonicum, A. tonkinense, Kadsura coccinea…


Medicinal plants listed in IUCN Red List (2012)

-There are 5 species are listed in the IUCN Red List:
1 EN + 2 VU + 2 LC
+ 1species is endangered: Erythrophleum fordii
+ 2 species are vulnerable: Meliantha suavis, Madhuca pasquieri.
+ 2 species are least concern: Gnetum montanum, Podocarpus
Neriifolius.


Medicinal plants listed in Decree No. 32/2006 / ND-CP

-There are 8 species listed in Decree No. 32/2006 (accounting for 1.31 % of total species).
And all of them in group IIA such as Stephania longa, S. rotunda, Codonopsis javanica,
Excentrodendron tonkinense, Nervilia fordii…


No medicinal plants in Huu Lien Nature Reserve listed in Decree 160/2013

5.5. Diversity in medicinal plant uses
The medicinal plants in Huu Lien Nature Reserve are not only medicinal value but
also many other uses such as: trees for timber, edible plants (vegetables, fruits), ornamental
trees, trees for essential oils…
22


According to survey results, there are 326 species of medicinal plants have other uses
(accounting for 52.08% of total species). The results are presented in table 5.6
Table 5.6: Uses of medicinal plants in Huu Lien Nature Reserve
No

Uses

Symbol

Species

%

1

Trees for timber

LGO

79

12.61

2

Edible plants

AND

144

23

3

Ornamental trees

CAN

33

5.27

4

Trees for essential oils

CTD

50

7.99

5

Trees for tannins

TAN

33

5.27

6

Oil giving plants

CDB

19

3.03

7

Trees for fiber

SOI + ĐAN

15

2.4

8

Toxic trees

DOC

15

2.4

9

Other uses

Kh

47

7.51

Total

435

We can see, edible plants (AND) have the largest number of species with 144 species
(23% of total species). Trees for fiber (SOI + DEN) have the least number of species with 15
species (2.4% of total species).
Many trees have 3 - 4 uses such as Morinda citrifolia (TAN, AND, THU), S.
racemosa (LGO, THU, AND, TAN), Microcos paniculata (SOI, CDB, THU, Kh), Trema
orientalis (LGO, SOI, THU, AND), C. cyrtophyllum (THU, CDB, AND), C. mitis (THU,
AND, SOI, Kh), A. malaccensis (CAN, AND, THU)….
5.6. Diversity in medicinal parts used
A total of 11 different parts of the medicinal plant species are used for remedies
preparation (table 5.7).
Table 5.7: Used parts of medicinal plants in Huu Lien Nature Reserve
STT
1
2
3
4
5
6

Parts used
Leaves
Stems
All parts
Roots
Barks
Tubers

Species
243

109
97
90
87
45
23

%
38.82
17.41
15.5
14.38
13.89
7.19