From three-leaved Chưn bầu (a type of medicinal plant) to anti-inflammatory preparations: A new development in Vietnamese herbal research.
The genus Combretum is the largest genus in the Combretaceae family, with over 370 species widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. Many species in the genus have been shown to have medicinal value, notably with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities. In Vietnam, although 12 species and 2 varieties have been recorded, studies on chemical composition and biological activity have only focused on a few familiar species, and are limited in both depth and systematic approach. Among them, Combretum trifoliatum, a common species in the rivers and canals of Southern Vietnam, has not been adequately exploited for its medicinal potential. Previous studies have mainly focused on its ability to resist agricultural pests and parasites, while no studies have delved into analyzing its chemical composition and evaluating its anti-inflammatory activity. This becomes even more urgent in the context of the growing demand for new natural active ingredients derived from herbs.
A recent study by a group of researchers from the Institute of Advanced Technology - Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, entitled: “Study on the chemical composition and creation of anti-inflammatory preparations from Combretum trifoliatum” (project code: VAST04.08/23-24), led by Dr. Nguyen Tan Phat, has contributed to supplementing scientific data for the Combretum genus, while also opening up opportunities for developing herbal products from locally available raw materials, serving both medicine and social life.
Dr. Nguyen Tan Phat in his office with a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system
Scientists focused their research on the chemical composition and anti-inflammatory activity through the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production of extracts and compounds isolated from the leaves of Combretum trifoliatum.
Fresh leaf, flower, and fruit samples of the three-leaved Combretum (Combretum trifoliatum) plant
From plant leaf samples, scientists isolated and identified the structures of 25 natural compounds. Among them, the team discovered and named two new triterpene saponin compounds: comtrifoside A and comtrifoside B. Sharing these results, Dr. Nguyen Tan Phat said: Both compounds possess rather rare structural frameworks, especially comtrifoside B, which has a urs-20-en framework, the first time this has been recorded in the genus Combretum. In addition, nine compounds were discovered for the first time in the genus Combretum, and 14 compounds were isolated for the first time from the species C. trifoliatum, contributing to enriching the natural compound repertoire of Vietnamese plants.
Some purified compounds in the study
According to Dr. Nguyen Tan Phat: Inflammation is a natural protective response and also the first line of defense of the immune system. It is a common, dynamic process in the body, playing a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis and tissue repair. However, many studies have shown that when inflammation becomes chronic, it can disrupt the function of cells, tissues, or organs, while increasing the risk of acute vascular events and many serious diseases such as chronic inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, diabetes, or cancer.
Based on this, the research team tested the anti-inflammatory activity of extracts from the leaves of *Cynodon dactylon*, through their ability to inhibit nitric oxide production in RAW264.7 macrophages. The results showed that several extract fractions, especially the saponin-rich extract CTE.1, exhibited significant effects (with an IC₅₀ of only 46.39 µg/mL). Among the 12 purified compounds investigated, many compounds such as ursolic acid, pomolic acid, uncaric acid, belleric acid, quadranoside X, and chebuloside II all demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory effects, with IC₅₀ ranging from 18.30 to 35.22 µM. Notably, pomolic acid (CT02) stood out as the most potent compound.
The 10L rotary evaporator system recovers solvent from the extract, concentrates it, and collects the extract
Saponin-rich fraction CTE.1 extract from the leaves of three-leaved Chưn bầu (a type of plant)
A team of scientists has successfully formulated an anti-inflammatory preparation from the leaves of the three-leaved Chưn bầu plant. The production process was optimized to retain the maximum amount of beneficial active ingredients, from extraction methods and solvent selection to temperature and time. Notably, this preparation has not only undergone laboratory testing but has also been established with clear quality standards, encompassing safety indicators, heavy metal limits, and testing methods using modern technology. This achievement marks a significant step forward, bringing promising scientific discoveries closer to practical application.
Notably, the research results have been documented through four scientific publications, including one article in the international journal Natural Product Research (listed in the SCI-E category). This work was the first to publish the structures of two new saponin compounds, comtrifoside A and comtrifoside B, extracted from the leaves of the three-leaved Chưn bầu plant. These are triterpenoid compounds, known for their numerous biological effects such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and potential anticancer properties. The remaining publications were published in domestic scientific journals, focusing on describing and classifying diverse natural compounds including triterpenoid saponins, flavonoids, and glycosides. In addition, the project's results also successfully trained one doctoral student and two master's students in Organic Chemistry.
The research results will serve as a foundation for clinical trials, confirming the product's potential for practical application. Furthermore, the natural compounds discovered in the study hold promise for expansion into other areas such as antioxidant activity, liver protection, or cancer treatment support. With these initial results, the research team hopes to develop "made in Vietnam" herbal products in the future, thereby effectively utilizing indigenous herbal resources to serve public health.
Translated by Quoc Khanh
Link to Vietnamese version
