Sea cucumber in Vietnam: Detecting active ingredients inhibiting cancer

Three new structural compounds have been discovered in white sea cucumber species that inhibit human cancer cell lines. This finding was conducted by two young scientists who were awarded the 18th Youth Science Award.

White sea cucumber

The topic of two scientists 8X Nguyen Xuan Cuong and Nguyen Hai Dang, Institute of Natural Products Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, have a long name:

Study on chemical composition, biological activity and application of Holothuria scabra white sea cucumbers living in Vietnam's waters.

For three years (2006-2008), the two brothers and their colleagues studied, isolated, structured and evaluated cytotoxic activity of nine compounds from white sea cucumber.

The scientists discovered three new structural compounds named holothurin A3, A4 and holothurigenin B. These three compounds exhibit cytotoxic activity on three human cancer cell lines, liver cancer, carcinoma and uterine membrane cancer.

This finding suggests future studies in the direction of creating drugs that can treat cancer in the future.

Producing nutritious food

Based on the research results, the authors cooperated with Indochina Pharmaceutical and Commercial Joint Stock Company, prepared and marketed the soft capsules of sea cucumber capsule Hasamin, which has effect of accretion. body.

This product is certified by the Ministry of Health with product standards and allowed to circulate nationwide.

Hasamin has a rich content of mineral elements, amino acids and some hormones that provide nutrition to the body and enhance immunity.

In Vietnam, there are four commonly found species: black sea cucumbers, white sea cucumbers, nudibranchs and jackfruit. They are most abundant in Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Vung Tau, Con Dao, Phu Quoc and Kien Giang.

Sea cucumbers are easy to raise, high yield in some localities like Cam Ranh, Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa .). This is also the source of sea cucumbers for research and production of nutritious food Hasamin.