On October 14th, 2024, Kien Giang University organized a meeting of the Professional Council to evaluate and approve at the basic level a Ministerial-level scientific project in 2023 "Research on chemical composition and α-glucosidase enzyme inhibitory activity of Schefflera elliptica (Bl.) Harms.), Araliaceae family", chaired by Dr. Ngo Trong Nghia.

The Council evaluated the research results of the project in terms of the objectives, content, and the collected products approved in the description and contract. The project was led by Dr. Ngo Trong Nghia, lecturer of Natural Resources and Environment Faculty, chairman of the project with the aim of isolating and determining the structure of compounds from the oval bird's foot plant, and testing the ability to inhibit the α-glucosidase enzyme of these compounds. Researching compounds inhibiting the α-glucosidase enzyme, an enzyme playing an important role in the process of sugar metabolism, opens up great potential in developing methods to treat diabetes - a common disease today.

Dr. Nguyen Van Thanh, Vice Rector in charge of Kien Giang University (right), chairman of the council.

In this study, for the first time, the research team have isolated and identified 17 compounds from the leaves of the oval bird's foot plant (Schefflera elliptica (Bl.) Harms.), in which 2 completely new compounds in the world are Heptaellipside A (SE17) and Heptaelliptoic acid A (SE28). Meanwhile, this is also the first time that the α-glucosidase enzyme inhibitory activity of extracts and isolated compounds from the leaves of the oval bird's foot has been evaluated.  The test results showed that 10 out of 17 compounds have had the ability to strongly inhibit the α-glucosidase enzyme, with IC₅₀ values ​​ranging from 10.90 to 105.27 μM, surpassing the positive control Acarbose (IC₅₀ = 214.5 μM).

This was considered a major step forward in the research on natural compounds with potential applications in medicinal herbs, especially in the treatment of diabetes and metabolic diseases.

Dr. Ngo Trong Nghia, head of the project, explained the issues raised by the Council.

The project has brought many important scientific achievements, including 02 international articles in the WoS category (Q2) and 01 nationwide article. In addition, the research team has supported the training of 01 master and registered a patent for a useful solution. The process of isolating compounds has also been completed, contributing significantly to the development of chemical research on natural compounds.

Council and research group

These results have not only been widely published in international scientific journals but also preserved and provided to the academic community via the access of Kien Giang University library, creating favorable conditions for students majoring in phytochemistry and medicinal plants in the process of studying and researching.

Như Ý

Minh Hiếu translated.

https://www.vnkgu.edu.vn/Tin-tuc---Su-kien/TRUONG-DAI-HOC-KIEN-GIANG-TO-CHUC-HOI-DONG-CHUYEN-MON-DANH-GIA,-NGHIEM-THU-CAP-CO-SO--CHO-DE-TAI-KHOA-HOC-CAP-BO-NAM-2023-1000916.html