Stephania rotunda medicinal plant listed as endangered

The Stephania rotunda plant, commonly known as 'binh voi', is a medicinal tuber used in traditional treatments for insomnia and sedation. Despite its widespread use, the species was classified as endangered (EN) in the 2007 Vietnam Red Data Book.

Dr. Ngo Duc Phuong, Director of the Institute of Southern Traditional Medicine, noted that the plant's large tuber is the primary part harvested for medicine. Because harvesting often requires digging up the entire plant, continuous extraction in the wild has placed significant pressure on its natural populations, leading to a decline in wild sources.

Experts warn against the indiscriminate use of the plant. While it contains alkaloids like L-tetrahydropalmatin (rotundin) used for pain relief and sleep support, the plant should not be treated as a common herbal tea. Misidentification is a risk because several species within the Stephania genus have similar tuber shapes, and the potent neurological effects of its alkaloids mean it must be used with caution rather than under the assumption that all traditional medicines are inherently harmless.