Collaborate with Bulgarian scientists to study of chemical composition, biological activity of Vietnames propolis, and plant sources. The extract and isolated compounds are evaluated to identify bioactive compounds. 

Two propolis samples of Lisotrigona cacciae and Lepidotrigona ventralis stingless bees collected in Hoa Binh and Tuyen Quang provinces, respectively, were investigated. Chemical study of Lisotrigona cacciae propolis sample led to the isolation of 6 compounds including cycloartenol (HB1), cochinchinone A (HB2), mangostin (HB3), isomangiferolic acid (HB4), moronic acid (HB5) and lantanolic acid (HB6). From Lepidotrigona ventralis  propolis, 4 compounds were isolated and elucidated as lantanolic acid (TQ1), eudesmin (TQ2), yangambin (TQ3), and cabraleadiol (TQ4). Compounds HB5-HB6, TQ2-TQ4 were found in stingless bee propolis for the first time. The chemical results suggested that Cratoxylum cochinchinenese and Mangifera indica are the resin sources for Lisotrigona cacciae propolis. The propolis of Lisotrigona cacciae showed antimicrobial activity against Gram (+) bacteria with MIC value of 8-32 µg/ml, better than those of Lepidotrigona ventralis propolis collected in Tuyen Quang province. Compounds α-mangostin và isomangiferolic acid showed good antimicrobial activity against Gram (+) bacteria and Candida albicans. Lantanolic acid showed significant cytotoxicity against HepG-2 cancer cell line with IC50 values of 25.84±0.48 g/mL.
Training: 02 BS student.
Cooperation: Establish the research collaboration of IMBC-VAST and Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Science.

Chemical composition of Lisotrigona furva propolis collected in Hoa Binh province and Lepidotrigona ventralis collected in Tuyen Quang province were studied for the first time.  10 compounds were isolated , among that 5 compounds including moronic acid (HB5), lantanolic acid (HB6/TQ1), eudesmin (TQ2), yangambin (TQ3), cabraleadiol (TQ4) were found in propolis for the first time. Lantanolic acid showed significant cytotoxicity against HepG-2 cancer cell line with IC50 values of 25.84±0.48 g/mL.

- Publications:
1. Milena Popova, Boryana Trusheva, Nia Ilieva, Le Nguyen Thanh, Nguyen Thi Phuong Lien and Vassya Bankova (2021), Mangifera indica as propolis source: what exactly do bees collect?, BMC Research Notes  14:448 (Scopus-Q2)
2. Popova, M., Trusheva, B., Chimshirova, R., Antonova, D., Gechovska, K., Thanh, L. N., Lien N.T. P, Phuong D. T. L., Bankova, V. (2022). Chemical Profile and Antioxidant Capacity of Propolis from Tetragonula, Lepidotrigona, Lisotrigona and Homotrigona Stingless Bee Species in Vietnam. Molecules, 27(22), 7834 (ISI).
3. Thanh, L.N., Thu, N. A., Oanh, V.T.K., Hue, V. T., Minh, N. T., Minh, N. P. N.,  Xuan, T.V., Phuong, D.T.L., Lien, N. T. P. (2023) Chemical constituents and cytotoxicity of Lepidotrigona ventralis propolis. Vietnam Journal of Chemistry, 61(1), 74-79 (VAST1)..
- Products: Isolated compounds, the final report- IMBC
- Other products: Training: 02 BS student

We expect that the Institute of Marine Biochemistry, International Relations Department -VAST will continuously support our research collaboration with Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Science in the natural product chemistry projects of Vietnamese bee products.