Isolating the anti-cancer active substance from the roots of disease-spreading plants

The team of the Institute of Marine Biochemistry successfully isolated two components in the plant's roots, which have anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects on tumor cells.

Dr. Nguyen Hai Dang of the Institute of Marine Biochemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology and the research team successfully isolated quassinoid and alkaloid active ingredients in disease-spreading roots. This is the first time that 3 and 4 alkaloid compounds have been isolated from natural plant roots in Vietnam. The research results are published in the international scientific journal SAGE Journal.

The disease tree contains anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative components in tumor cells.

Epiphyllum is a bitter and warm medicinal herb in Vietnam, grown mainly in the Central region, known for its invigorating and nourishing effects. However, the anti-inflammatory and tumor cell suppression effects of this plant are not well known.

The team collected the disease-causing root in Nghe An, then identified the compounds by extracting with MeOH (methanol) at room temperature for 24 hours, and further isolated the compounds by column chromatography. The results showed that the disease roots had a rich chemical composition with 19 compounds from the roots. Especially, 6 quassinoid compounds and 10 alcaloid compounds play a major biological role of plants.

Quassinoid is a compound that inhibits inflammation, anti-virus, malaria parasites. In vitro anti-inflammatory alcaloid compounds (in laboratories) and in vivo (in real life). Test on molecular biology targets, two compounds that effectively inhibit the expression of iNOS and COX-2 enzymes involved in the inflammatory process at test concentrations from 50-150 µg / mL.

"Currently, some anti-inflammatory drugs are nacotics, steroids, and if they are used for a long time, they can cause side effects for the body. While the two anti-inflammatory compounds in the disease tree have natural extracts. so there were no side effects, " said Dr. Dang.

He said that, in addition to anti-inflammatory activity, the team also discovered that these two compounds both have anti-proliferative effects on different types of tumor cells in the human body, have potential in supporting cancer treatment. . The test results are shown by the inhibition of NO production in macrophage cell lines in mice infected by ccarragenan at the concentration of 250mg / kg body weight with the maximum inhibitory concentration of half 28.18 µg / mL.

The team is currently researching the effectiveness of quassinoids and alkaloid in inhibiting tumor cells as well as methods of extracting and purifying the whole compound, which will then combine with enterprises to produce supportive medicine treatment.