Promoting the application of science and technology in research and development of marine medicinal herbs

Vietnam has extremely favorable natural conditions to develop the production of medicines, health care and protection products from domestic medicinal resources in general and marine medicinal materials in particular.

Some presentations at the conference stated that the initial research results on marine medicinal materials showed that the ocean has become a promising source of natural products and therapeutic drugs. The leading bioactive substances and drugs marketed for various clinical trials are derived from marine organisms. Natural products developed from marine bioactive substances are used to treat a number of diseases. They have significant effects on many chronic diseases and diseases that have not been reported before.

Scientific discoveries and the pharmaceutical industry have turned the ocean into a potential source of marine medicines. The biodiversity of the ocean is higher than that of land, so there is good reason to believe that many marine-derived medicines will be used to treat human diseases in the future.

However, there are still many problems to be solved in the current research of marine medicinal materials. The collection of marine biological samples is facing many difficulties, especially collecting samples in offshore waters and samples in deep sea areas due to the lack of specialized ships for marine survey and research, and the lack of specialized equipment for deep sea exploration and sample collection. Introducing new drugs to the market is a highly selective process in which only the most suitable compounds can survive, but it is possible to design derivatives based on the characteristics and structure-bioactivity relationships of marine-derived pharmaceuticals to improve the treatment of human diseases.

Brown algae is the raw material for Fucoidan extraction.

To exploit and develop marine medicinal resources, delegates proposed many solutions such as continuing to institutionalize the Party's policies on sustainable development of the marine economy; focusing all resources on overcoming limitations, weaknesses, and difficult-to-achieve goals; effectively implementing environmental protection and conservation of marine ecosystems...

In particular, opinions emphasized the need to promote innovation and strongly apply advanced scientific and technological achievements in this field. Specifically, it is necessary to promote research and establish scientific arguments for planning and perfecting policies and laws on sustainable development of the marine economy; prioritize investment in basic investigation, scientific and technological research, and training of marine human resources; form centers for research and application of marine biotechnology, and exploit the deep seabed at an advanced level in the region; pay attention to investing in advanced marine research infrastructure and underwater equipment capable of conducting research in deep sea areas.

In addition, it is necessary to pay more attention to policies for the team performing tasks, research projects, and basic investigations of marine resources and environment. Focus on investing in building a specialized scientific research unit on marine medicinal herbs from investigating and evaluating species composition; researching the conservation and development of marine medicinal herbs; researching solutions to develop medicinal herbs with advantages to create raw materials for medicine; researching to enhance the value and create health protection products from Vietnamese marine medicinal herbs; investigating, evaluating and developing a plan for the development of marine medicinal herbs for the region in accordance with natural conditions, potential and advantages.

Synchronously research technical measures to increase productivity and quality of selected marine species in each ecological region to adapt to climate change and protect sea and island sovereignty. Promote training and fostering of a team of scientists with focus and key points to meet resources for research and development of marine medicinal herbs.

Delegates also said that it is necessary to effectively implement key projects related to marine resources to promote the strong development of marine medicinal resources for medicine in the coming time. These are: Project on investigation, overall assessment and ranking of marine ecosystem health; Project on Vietnam's fisheries development strategy to 2030, vision to 2045; Project on research, application of high technology in searching, exploring, exploiting, processing and distributing marine minerals; improving exploitation efficiency, increasing the recovery coefficient of marine mineral resources; Project on developing marine medicine; Project on developing a fleet of ships for marine investigation, survey and research; Project on developing marine aquaculture in the direction of industry, applying high technology, and being environmentally friendly; Project on research on marine biopharmaceuticals in Vietnam's seas applied in the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries; Project to establish advanced and excellent research centers in the fields of marine monitoring technology, marine biology, marine medicine and to build a national key laboratory for seas and islands.

The opinions at the Workshop are expected to make important contributions to planning, building mechanisms and policies for the development of marine medicinal herbs in particular and the strategy for the development of Vietnamese medicinal herbs in general, contributing to the successful implementation of the policies and guidelines of our Party and State on the strategy for developing Vietnam's marine economy in the coming time.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/thuc-day-ung-dung-khoa-hoc-cong-nghe-trong-nghien-cuu-phat-trien-duoc-lieu-bien-post825129.html