Diversity of medical plants of Mt. Kumgang, DPR Korea: efficacious plants for cancer treatment

This paper is designed to produce original documentation of medicinal plants in Mt. Kumgang in the middle eastern part of the Korean Peninsula. The plants are selected from the literatures, interviews with the local natives and extensive field research. Among 1876 vascular plants in the area, 87 species and 2 varieties have been listed as efficacious ones for cancer treatment. The research result provides a fresh database of medical plants for cancer treatment and a considerable contribution to the traditional Koryo medicine. It also enriches the content of the Korean eFlora and encourages to establish one of the priorities in the Shenzhen This article provides a declaration on plant sciences to value, document, and protect indigenous, traditional, and local knowledge about plants and nature.