Processing brain edema from mushrooms and seaweed

Scientists from the Vietnam Chemical Society have succeeded in extracting and purifying mannitol from termite fungi to produce brain edema drugs, brain injury.

GS.TSKH Tran Dinh Toai extracted Mannitol
from termite fungus in the laboratory. (Photo: Nhu Y)

Prof. Dr. Tran Dinh Toai, Chairman of the project said, every 100g of dried termites will be extracted and purified 6.2g of clean mannitol. For every 100g of dried seaweed extracted 8.2g manitol is clean.

According to the survey, raw material sources of termites are found in An Dong (Thua Thien - Hue) and Phu Tho province. Seaweed is also available in many places on the waters of the country. Currently, the research results have been successful in the laboratory, but to deploy into technology to apply in production, it is necessary to invest about 300 million VND in 1 year.

Worldwide, manitol production is mainly done by using microorganisms for fermentation to convert sugar into mannitol. This technology requires complex, expensive equipment systems due to the need to respond to high temperature and pressure conditions.