The story of 'father' Berberin drug: 'god of medicine' for millions of Vietnamese in 45 years

Professor Ton That Tung was the one who directly used Berberin to test the effect and opened a dangerous path to extinguish the epidemic in the North since the 70s.

The age of 80 is clearly visible in thin physique, Pharmacist Phan Quoc Kinh with a trembling voice opening books with a book he signed "Kinh".

He carefully used colored paper to mark the note. At the end of the book, there are a few family photos in front of him, next to the poem he just wrote.

Doctor Phan Quoc Kinh.

The pioneer "breaking down " the wall between modern medicine and traditional medicine has shared about nearly 60 years of doing his scientific research with memories of making Berberin to suppress dysentery and Love story with his wife is his pupil.

He is the "father" of Berberin. Can you share the background of Berberin?

In the early years of the 70s of the 20th century, the US Air Force had greatly increased the number of terrible bombings across all parts of the North. In addition to natural disasters (large floods in 1971), Vietnamese people still have to suffer from the consequences of dangerous epidemic diseases .

The epidemic spreads rapidly in the plain and mountainous provinces, many patients suffer from continuous diarrhea to exhaustion and death.

The central food depot ran out of medicine because it could not be imported via air, water and land because of aircraft bombarded by US troops. Out of medicine makes treatment difficult.

In early 1972, the leadership of the Ministry of Health, chaired by Minister Vu Van Can and Professor Ho Dac Di - Rector of Hanoi Medical University held an emergency meeting of medical practitioners to discuss the method of stamping. turn off translation.

The conference specifically outlined effective measures to prevent and combat this dangerous epidemic such as: measures to treat the environment, treatment and emergency regimens in which the core is to have preventive medicine. and treatment of dysentery caused by amoeba bacteria .

The question with the whole conference is "Where to get that medicine?". Minister Vu Van Can put forward a solution to quickly study the production of anti-leprosy drugs with plants in the country. Everyone is waiting.

I was 35 years old and stood up on behalf of the Hanoi University of Pharmacy to accept this task and promised to provide enough medicine for the Ministry after 6 months.

How was the reaction of the people in the Conference after he accepted that assignment?

Professor Ho Dac Di asked : "How's your medicine compared to Western medicine? Is it better?"

I replied: "Our drugs will produce the effect not as much as the French and German drugs produced but it is believed that it will contribute to quenching this dangerous epidemic."

What is the first thing he and his colleagues do?

Immediately after that, I suggested that Hanoi University of Pharmacy to mobilize the maximum of teaching staff and students to the villages in the mountains and plains, start to learn and gather the experience of the people, he The healers and the midwives about the use of male medicines to treat dysentery.

After how long does the team have results?

Ten days later, the research team producing dysentery drugs had hundreds of articles of medicine for treating dysentery collected from many regions in the country.

That document, combined with traditional medical and modern medicine materials, the team selected 20 medicinal plants that are resistant to dysentery to test antibiotic effects.

After two weeks of hard work, the team identified a number of plants and active ingredients that are effective against bacteria and amoeba that cause dysentery.

Three months later, the group embarked on collecting medicinal herbs in Lao Cai province and some delta provinces, and prepared two drugs: Codanxit and Berberin.

Who is the first to use Berberin and how do they respond?

Professor Ton That Tung is the direct user of Codanxit and Berberin for himself and patients in Viet Duc Hospital and concludes that the medicine is effective. Prof. Ton That Tung asked the Ministry of Health for large-scale production of these two drugs.

The Minister of Health at that time was Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Huong also tried and cured him. Professor suggested providing a quantity of medicine to serve high-ranking officials of the health sector to prepare for the South.

After that, local authorities confirmed that Codanxit and Berberin were effective in treating dysentery. These two drugs have contributed to extinguishing dangerous and complex epidemics in the North.

After that, what research did you make and make medicines from the locally available medicinal herbs?

Also during the period of anti-American rescue, mental patients, neurasthenia appeared a lot, our group combined with Central Neurological Hospital, Institute of Medicine, Central Pharmaceutical Factory 2 studies, put into the production of tranquilizers that cause lotus sleep and have been widely used since 1973.

Born in the village of Dong Thai and land school of Tung Anh, in the early days of entering the Hanoi University of Medicine and Pharmacy, what did he remember?

I was born in Dong Thai village, Tung Anh commune, Duc Tho district, Ha Tinh province, which is home to many celebrities, national heroes and academics.

Looking at the studious tradition with more than 20 people passing the feudal Ph.D., I was determined to study to be worthy of my hometown tradition.

At that time, the university had only two branches: Education and Medicine. I like medicine better so I studied.

I remember, I wrote verses in those first days: Seventeen years old came to Thang Long / There were no relatives, no money.

When did you start studying science?

In 1959, when I was a final-year student at Hanoi University of Medicine and Pharmacy, I had the opportunity to participate in researching and manufacturing some medicines from lotus heart, lotus leaf, lime pot . This is a milestone. marked the path of my scientific research.

In the first few days, he became a student of Hanoi Medical and Pharmaceutical University and began to study when he was a final year student, what did he want?

At that time, we were determined to study the traditional medicine experience, to grasp the most modern knowledge of medicine, chemistry and medicine of the world's leading scientists.

In the country, we are interested in the leadership of the Ministry of Health and many leading professors direct and collaborate on research.

In principle, we study drugs from domestic available materials to serve patients and find endemic plants and animals of Vietnam, research and development for Ministry of Health to allow production with scale. great.

Where did you go to work with plants, where did you go to find medicine?

I went to the suckling villages in the Northwest, Northeast, and Central regions to ethnic areas bordering Chau Doc, Tay Ninh and even remote areas at Ca Mau and Phu Quoc Cape to learn valuable experiences about use plants as medicinal plants of the people.

What made him retire but still spent his whole life studying medicine?

Although I was retired, I continued to study science. I still write newspapers, write books and write poetry . I think, I still work every day.

From the beginning of my step into the path of research, I only had one greatest desire to bring happiness to the sick in Vietnam, first of all the poor.

For nearly 60 years, what is the experience of scientific research, the joys, the sadness he has experienced?

My way of doing scientific research has many joys and sorrows. I am most happy to research and find drugs that can promptly cure patients.

People who do science like us also get mixed opinions. I steadfastly follow the path I have chosen and I think I have an affinity with the pharmaceutical industry.

Is there any goal when studying the pharmacology you set without completing it?

I am a real person. I often look at the actual situation to set appropriate goals.

In your life doing scientific research, what memories do you miss most?

Participation in the research of making Codanxit and Berberin drugs, contributing to extinguishing dangerous epidemics in the 1970s is a memory I will never forget.

He shared that he still wrote poetry, how often did his inspiration come from?

10 years ago, I composed more now. Almost everywhere I also marked it with a poem, at Washington airport, on a plane to return to the country, . That's what happens in everyday life.

Show that he is an extremely romantic person .

Right! I am a life lover. Verses help my life be more gentle.

Do not know if he used to write poetry for his wife?

My wife is my student. My wife at that time was the most beautiful student in the school, the daughter of the authorities, the daughter of Hanoi, many people pursued. Everybody guessed I couldn't spread her.

Her family did not agree to let us come together. After that, they looked at the real me, who was a good person, so the family finally agreed. After 33 years of marriage, I wrote the poem "Love" to her.

How did you and your wife support each other at work?

My wife is in the same industry as me. This is also a good thing because the wife understands what I do.

Things to know about Berberin

Berberin is a drug with anti-inflammatory antibiotic activity. Berberin is of herbal origin, extracted from the roots and bitter yellow stems.

Uses

Berberin treatment of intestinal infections and does not affect the normal development of beneficial intestinal bacteria. Some intestinal antibiotics if used in combination with berberine will limit the side effects caused by antibiotics to the intestinal microflora.

The drug Berberin is indicated for the treatment of dysentery syndrome, bacillary dysentery, diarrhea, enteritis, and bile duct inflammation.

Berberin is also made into eye drops to treat conjunctivitis, pinkeye caused by external stimulation such as (wind, sun, cold, dust, smoke .) and treatment of trachoma. In addition, the drug also helps prevent fungal and superinfection infections and works against the harmful effects of cholera and E. coli toxins.

Dosage

• Adults: you take 4-6 50mg tablets or 1-2 tablets of 100mg each time, 2 times a day.
• Children: depending on the age of the child, give your child 1 / 2-3 tablets of 50mg each time, 2 times a day.

The information provided does not replace the advice of health professionals. You need to consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking the medicine. The time of administration depends on the condition of the disease, the infection status or amazement, which will be decided by the treating doctor.

How to use

You should take the medicine once in the morning before meals, and once in the evening before going to bed.

When taking it, if you take another medication, you should take it 1-2 hours away.

You do not use the drug in a low, high or longer dosage than the indicated time. Using an overdose will damage you because of the excessive welding of berberin, making your digestion worse. At this point, you stop taking the medicine and drink ginger or ginger.

If you have any questions during the medication process, ask your doctor or pharmacist.