Experts from the Institute of Biotechnology have successfully developed a rapid biomass propagation process for the Huanglian plant (Coptis chinensis) to produce a synthetic source of berberine, replacing the increasingly scarce natural supply.
With this process, after approximately 3-4 weeks of tissue culture of the Huanglian plant, a biomass amounting to several dozen times the initial quantity can be harvested.
These cell masses contain berberine with quality and concentration equivalent to that found in the roots of natural Huanglian (3-4% of the dry weight of the root). Meanwhile, harvesting Huanglian roots requires waiting for the plant to be 3-5 years old.
In addition to the rapid biomass propagation process, scientists are also researching a method for the rapid propagation of Huanglian seedlings through asexual reproduction. The goal is to provide sufficient seedlings for future raw material cultivation areas.
According to Dr. Dinh Thi Thu Hien, the leader of the research team at the Plant Cell Technology Department, the two aforementioned processes can help Vietnam proactively create enough berberine material to meet the current high demand. Additionally, these processes will aid in the conservation of natural genetic resources, preventing the Huanglian plant from nearing extinction, as it has been listed in Vietnam’s Red Data Book due to over-exploitation.
It is known that to obtain berberine, domestic pharmaceutical companies must import it or extract it from other plant species.
However, the berberine content in Huanglian and Huanglian jian ga (Coptis teeta) is among the highest of all berberine-containing plants (3-7% in tubers and roots). Today, the most important application of berberine is its effective treatment for intestinal infections, dysentery, and trachoma. Moreover, this compound is low in toxicity and inexpensive.
