INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON HERBAL MEDICINAL PLANTS AND TRADITIONAL HERB REMEDIES

INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON HERBAL MEDICINAL PLANTS AND TRADITIONAL HERB REMEDIES
20-21 SEPTEMBER 2007
HANOI, VIETNAM

ORGANIZED BY

INTRODUCTION
Herbal medicines derive from the plants and plant extracts having medicinal value. During the metabolic processes, plants become the source of a variety of chemicals, which can be classified into primary metabolites that are produced by all the plants, and secondary metabolites that are produced by only some of the plants. Many of these secondary metabolites have therapeutic properties and hence are used for producing drugs. Use of herbal medicine, sometimes also referred as ‘Herbalism’, is an ancient practice for healing. In most of the developing countries, the main source of medicines is plants and emphasis is given to indigenous forms of medicine rather than to rely on imported drugs, which are not only expensive, but are often incompatible with the local diseases. The commercial value of herbal medicines is high and gaining momentum in international market. The growing market for herbal medicines and other natural health care products also demands an extensive research not only for its great healthcare potential but also for the commercial benefit.

In order to acquaint the scientists, researchers, academicians and industry representatives who are engaged in the work on the developments in the fields of medicinal plants, herbal medicines and traditional systems of medicines, the NAM S&T Centre with the approval of its Governing Council announces the organisation of an international workshop on 'Herbal Medicinal Plants and Traditional Herb Remedies' at Hanoi, Vietnam during 20-21 September 2007 in association with the Institute of Natural Products Chemistry (INPC) of Vietnam and invites nominations for participation from the member countries of the NAM S&T Centre and other developing countries. This workshop will be instrumental in bringing together the experts on traditional medicines to take an inventory of the major medicines in their respective regions / sub-regions as well as manufacturers of traditional medicines to share knowledge and experiences and seek possible business expansion.

OBJECTIVES
The workshop will broadly address the herbal medicinal plants and traditional herb remedies that are being researched or are available in academia as well as industry, with particular emphasis on technological innovations in herbal industry. The main objectives of the workshop are:

i. To facilitate sharing of information and expertise on medicinal plants, traditional systems of medicines and herbal drugs in various developing countries

ii. To enhance knowledge in research in natural products, latest practices, identification methods and bioassay techniques.

iii. To provide knowledge on recent technological advances in the herbal industries to local industry and university research groups working in industry.

iv. To provide opportunities for international collaborations of mutual benefit.

v. To facilitate public-private partnerships with academic-research-industry interaction on the subject.

ABOUT NAM S&T CENTRE
The Centre for Science and Technology of the Non-Aligned and Other Developing Countries (NAM S&T Centre) is an inter-governmental organisation with a membership of 40 countries spread over Asia, Africa, Middle East and Latin America. The Centre was set up in 1989 in New Delhi, India in pursuance of recommendations of various NAM Summit meetings for the promotion of science and technology cooperation among developing countries. The Centre implements a variety of programmes, including symposiums and meetings, workshops, training courses and collaborative projects and brings out scientific publications. These activities provide opportunity for scientist–to–scientist contact and interaction; familiarizing participants on the latest developments and techniques in various subject areas; identifying requirements for training and expert assistance; locating technologies for transfer between the member and other developing countries etc.

ABOUT INPC
The Institute of Natural Products Chemistry (INPC) is the national institution of Vietnam responsible for fundamental and applied research in the field of Natural Products. Its main activities are investigating the medicinal and essential oil bearing plants, biochemistry of marine organisms and biotechnology of microorganisms. The institute was established in 1990, belonged to National Centre for Natural Sciences and Technology (NCNST), now Vietnamese Academy of Science and Technology (VAST; www.vast.ac.vn). INPC currently represents 120 Scientists and its headquarter is situated at Hanoi with a branch in Ho Chi Minh City and one Union of Scientific Research and Production on Chemical Engineering (UCE). The scientific research aims of INPC are isolation of new biological active compounds by bioassay-guided chemical fractionation based on the bioassay arrays: antimalarial activity assay, cytotoxicity activity assay, antimicrobial activity assay, antioxidant activity assay, insecticide activity assay, antifeedant, pheromone and Plant growth regulatory assays, etc; development of new drugs and agrochemicals for the progress of the domestic chemical and pharmaceutical industry; scientific and technical cooperation with domestic research and production units for spreading applications of new technology in chemical and related fields; and international cooperation on scientific exchange and transfer of the latest technology to Vietnam from abroad. INPC is also a postgraduate training unit of the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam, and the only institute in Vietnam responsible for graduate training (M.Sc. and PhD courses) in Chemistry of Natural Products. In November 1991, Vietnam became a member of the UNESCO Regional Network for Chemistry of Natural Products in Asia and Pacific Ocean with INPC as the National Point of Contact. Since then, INPC has been setting up scientific and technical cooperation with institutions, universities and production units in Vietnam as well as around the world.

WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS
The workshop has been primarily designed for the specialists and professionals from the government departments, academic institutions, private sectors and manufacturers in the developing countries with relevant scientific background and from specific disciplines such as Chemistry, Medicine, Pharmaceutical Industry, Agriculture, Chemical Ecology, Industrial Chemistry, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, who are actively involved in research and application of herbal medicinal plants and traditional herb remedies and their production. Priority will be given to those advocating novel technologies.

The selection of the participants will be strictly based on merit and quality of the extended abstracts of the presentation material to be submitted along with the completed Nomination Form. A pre-condition for participation in the workshop is that the participants must submit the final manuscript of their presentation material at least a fortnight before the commencement of the workshop.
English is the official language of the workshop.

VENUE
The international workshop will be organized at Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam.

RESOURCE PERSONS
The resource persons for the Workshop will comprise eminent herbal medicines specialists from Vietnam and other countries.

SUBMISSION OF NOMINATION
Experts and scientists desirous of participating in the Workshop, excepting those from Vietnam, are required to submit their nomination form directly to the NAM S&T Centre as early as possible but latest by 14th August 2007. The form should be completed in all respects and no column should be left blank.
Applicants from Vietnam should submit their requests directly to the Institute of Natural Products Chemistry (INPC), Vietnam.
The submitted application should contain an extended abstract of the presentation to be made in the Workshop.

PRESENTATION OF PAPERS
Each selected participant will be required to present a country status report and / or a research / scientific paper on any of the themes appropriate to the workshop.

PUBLICATION OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE WORKSHOP
A publication edited by one or more international expert(s) and based on the papers presented during the workshop and also containing papers contributed by eminent experts in the field will be brought out soon after the workshop. Therefore all participants are required to submit the manuscripts of their full Country Reports / scientific or research papers well in advance, but at least 15 days before the commencement of the workshop (i.e. by 05 September, 2007), for inclusion in the workshop documents.

LOCAL HOSPITALITY AND TRAVEL WITHIN VIETNAM
Local hospitality including accommodation, meals and local transport for the participants will be arranged by INPC, Vietnam for the period 19 - 22 September 2007 i.e. one day before and one day after the completion of the Roundtable. The participants will have to make their own arrangements of stay beyond these dates and therefore they are requested to book their flights accordingly.

FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR TRAVEL
This is being conveyed separately to each member country of the NAM S&T Centre and other developing countries.

ENTRY FORMALITIES, IMMIGRATION AND HEALTH
Participants of the workshop must be in possession of a current passport or any other internationally recognized travel document. They must be endorsed for travelling to Vietnam and have a period of validity of at least six months beyond the time of stay allowed in Vietnam.
Participants should have a valid visa for entry into Vietnam. The Vietnam embassy located in the country of participants should be approached for obtaining an entry visa. If required, INPC, Vietnam will facilitate the issuance of a visa by providing the participants with an official letter of invitation.
Participants of the workshop from yellow fever endemic countries must ensure that they obtain a Vaccination Certificate before arrival in Vietnam.

OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION
The temperature during the period is likely to be between 20- 30oC
The voltage is 220 volts.
Vietnamese Standard Time is +7 hours ahead of GMT
The Vietnam Currency is: Dong (VND). The current exchange rate of VND is approximately 16,500 VND to a US dollar.
Presently there is no departure airport tax in Vietnam.

Note
° The governments / institutions of all the participants will be required to bear the following costs:
- All expenses in the home country incidental to travel abroad, including expenditure for passports, required medical examinations, vaccinations and miscellaneous expenses such as internal travel to the airport of departure in the home country.
- Salary and other related allowances for the participants during the period of the workshop.
- Cost of medical insurance to cover the period of participation in the workshop.
° The organisers will not assume responsibility for the following expenditure in connection with the participant’s attendance in the Workshop:
- Expenses incurred with respect to any insurance, medical bills or hospitalization fees.
- Compensation in the event of death, disability or illness of participants.
- Loss of personal belongings or compensation for damage caused to them by climatic or other conditions.
- Other costs, including airport tax and excess baggage.

All Correspondence to be addressed to:
CENTRE FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF THE NON-ALIGNED AND OTHER DEVELOPING COUNTRIES (NAM S&T CENTRE)

Prof. Arun P. Kulshreshtha,
Director, NAM S&T Centre,
Core-6A, 2nd Floor, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road,
New Delhi – 110003, INDIA
Tel: (O) +91-11-24645134, 24644974 (Mobile) 9810442742
Fax: (O) +91-11-24644973
E-mail: [email protected],[email protected]
Website: http://www.namstct.org

Mr. M. Bandyopadhyay,
Senior Expert & Administrative Officer
Address, Tel. and E-mail: (O) as above. Tel. (R) 91-11-29941203

INSTITUTE OF NATURAL PRODUCTS CHEMISTRY (INPC), HANOI, VIETNAM
Dr. Le Mai Huong,
Deputy Director, INPC,
18 Hoang Quoc Viet Rd.,
Caugiay, Hanoi, VIETNAM
Tel: 8448361899 (Mobile): 844-0936180907
Fax: 8447564390
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
Website: www.vast.ac.vn

DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (MOST), VIETNAM
Mr. Thach Can,
Director General, MOST,
39, Tran Hung Dao,
Hanoi, VIETNAM
Fax: 844-9439987
E-mail: [email protected]

Dr. Thai Van Tan,
Deputy Director General, MOST,
Address and fax as above
Tel: 844-9435376
E-mail: [email protected]

In order to avoid confusion, interested scientists from countries other than Vietnam may in the first instance please correspond only with the NAM S&T Centre, and not with INPC. All these applications will be initially processed by the NAM S&T Centre.

Scientists from Vietnam should however submit their requests to the INPC.

NOMINATION FORM
(PLEASE TYPE OR USE BLOCK CAPITALS; NO COLUMN SHOULD
BE LEFT BLANK, OTHERWISE THE FORM WILL BE REJECTED)

SECTION –A
(To be filled in by the nominee)

1 Name (Dr/Mr/Mrs/Ms):........................................................................................
(Last Name) (First Name) (Other Names)

2 Designation (Position held):…………………………………………………………

3. Nationality:...............................................................................................………..

4 Date of Birth:…………. Place of Birth (City) ……….….. (Country)……………….

5 Passport No: ....................Place of issue: ........................................

Date of Issue: ............................... Valid up to: .................................................….

6 Name of the Parent Institution: ……………………………………………

Full Address (Office):............................................…………………………………

..............................................................................................................................

Phone: ........…................................. Mobile: ........................................................

Fax: ............................................…. E-mail: .........................................................

7 Full Address (Home): ..........................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................

Phone: ........…................................. Mobile: ........................................................

Fax: ............................................…. E-mail: ..........................................................

8 Educational Qualifications: Highest Degree: ..............................................................

Year of Award: ...................... University:...................................................................

Field of Study: ...........................................................................................................

9 Brief Bio data: ………………………………………………………………………….
(To be attached on separate sheet)

10 What in your opinion qualifies you for the participation in this Workshop?
(To be attached on separate sheet)

11 Brief (1-2 page) Resume of your presentation in the Workshop.
(To be attached on separate sheet)

Date: .............................. Signature: .............................................................….

SECTION -B

ENDORSEMENT BY NOMINATING AUTHORITY

(Applicant must get the following endorsement signed by the Focal Point of the NAM S&T Centre in his/her country or the concerned Scientific Ministry / Government Agency. For name / address of the Focal Point please visit Centre’s website www.namstct.org)

Signature:...............…...............................................................

Name (in full): ...........................................................................

Designation:.......................…....................................................

Date:....................….......................………….............................