A precious plant variety that cures liver cancer has been successfully propagated in Vietnam.
The plant has high antioxidant activity but poor natural regeneration ability and has been successfully propagated for medicinal use.
The man dia tree is abundant in natural forests in the Central Highlands. In the past, the tree was only considered a tree with low economic value, and its precious medicinal value was not given much attention. However, through research on the pharmacological effects and chemical composition of the tree, scientists from Hue University of Sciences discovered that this is a valuable tree, capable of supporting the treatment of human diseases.
Through isolating 12 compounds in the plant, the research team determined the content of 5 active ingredients with high antioxidant activity, protecting the liver and inhibiting cancer cells.
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Man dia tree. Photo:ST |
The tree can grow on soil with humus content and prefers light. However, this tree species only grows in natural forests and is difficult to regenerate. After two years of research, Associate Professor Vo Thi Mai Huong and scientists from Hue University of Sciences have investigated and determined the distribution area, growth and development characteristics of the man dia tree and found ways to successfully propagate it.
The research team found that dried man dia seeds do not have the ability to germinate, while fresh seeds have a very high germination rate (94.8%). The germination time is from 6 to 7 days, and seeds can be preserved by cold-fresh method for no more than 3 weeks or preserved in moist sand for no more than a week.
In addition to developing a natural propagation process, the research team initially propagated by tissue culture of leech cells and selected the optimal environment for shoot growth.
Currently, the experimental model is planted with 500 man dia trees on an area of 0.5 ha in Huong Loc commune, Nam Dong, Thua Thien Hue with a survival rate of 87%. The trees adapt and grow well.
Associate Professor Vo Thi Mai Huong, Project Leader, said that natural man dia plants have high activity, but when propagating, it takes time to research and compare.
"If the cultivated plant has the same activity as the natural plant in the forest, it is truly a valuable source of medicinal herbs. We will continue to research to use the active ingredients from the plant to produce functional foods to support the treatment of liver diseases," Associate Professor Huong said, adding that the research topic has just been accepted by the Provincial Science Council.
The scientific name of the man dia tree isArchidendron clypeariabelongs to the Mimosa family. This species is distributed in swamp forests, evergreen forests on clay soil and mixed deciduous forests in mountainous areas from the northern provinces to Dong Nai, Minh Hai, Kien Giang.
In Thua Thien - Hue, the tree appears a lot in the areas of A Luoi, Nam Dong, Phong Dien, Huong Tra, Huong Thuy, Phu Loc.
People often use the leaves to dye black or boil water to bathe to treat scabies. In Laos, people use dried and powdered leaves to treat wounds.
