A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF BAMBOO LEAVES: PHYTOCHEMICALS, BIOACTIVITIES, TOXICITY, RESOURCE POTENTIAL IN VIETNAM

Abstract

Bamboo leaves (Folium bambusae) have long been recognized as a traditional medicinal material in Eastern medicine and are extensively utilized in various classical and empirical herbal prescriptions for their heat-clearing, diuretic, and anti-inflammatory properties. In recent years, bamboo leaves have attracted considerable scientific interest, leading to an increasing number of studies. Over the past two decades, research findings related to bamboo species identification, chemical composition, biological activities, and toxicity have been consistently published. This review article synthesizes and summarizes scientific studies on the chemical composition, bioactivities, and toxicity of bamboo leaf extracts. Relevant literature was collected from international scientific databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, and ScienceGate, as well as selected reliable online sources. In addition to reviewing bamboo classification systems and global bamboo resources, this article places special emphasis on the current status and development potential of bamboo resources in Vietnam, and explores the relevance of bamboo leaves in the food industry. A total of 86 references were carefully selected based on their relevance and scientific quality and were included for data extraction and synthesis. This article provides comprehensive information on bamboo resources and various research aspects related to bamboo leaves, aiming to guide more in-depth and holistic investigations, as well as broader application trials. These efforts are expected to enhance the value of bamboo, support the sustainable development of bamboo-based ecosystems, and contribute to a green future.