Contribution to the Study on Botanical Characteristics of Dangshen Collected in Sa Pa - Lao Cai

ABSTRACT

The remedy “dang sam” has been used commonly in the traditional oriental medicine to reinforce “khi” (vital energy). Two species of “dang sam” were found in Sapa city (Lao Cai province) a wild one and an acclimatized one. In the current study, the botanical characteristics of the wild “dang sam” were described, and the plant was identified as Codonopsis javanica (Blume) Hook f. The acclimatized “dang sam” also exhibited the characteristics of the Codonopsis genus, and has been planned to be the object of a further study in the future.