Scientists from the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology's Institute of Marine Biochemistry have identified many valuable compounds in a plant, called Luoc vang ( golden comb) in Vietnamese, reported by state-run Vietnam News quoting the Institute's scientific council chairman Nguyen Van Hung as saying.

The plant, with a scientific name as Callisia fragrans, consists of compounds as ecdysteroid, megastigmane, adenosine and N-transferuloytyramine agents, which can be used in preventing inflammation and osteomalacia, protecting the nervous system and improving the immune system.

Scientists from the institute conducted tests on more than 400 kg of the plant to find the medicinal agents. Different parts of the plants were dried, soaked with methanol solvent and carefully studied.

Traditionally the Luoc vang plant has been used to relieve pain, reduce fever and treat digestive disorders for years. Realizing its effective treatment, scientists decided to conduct research on the plant.

The institute's research revealed that the plant's toxicity rate is very low and does not affect human health. The plant has antibiotic agents that benefit a person's metabolism.

This is the first time in Vietnam and the world as well that official research on the plant's chemical composition and biological effects is carried out, said chairman Hung, adding that his institute plans to do more research before manufacturing products from the plant.