Many Vietnamese consumers are aware of food supplement such as Cot Thoai Vuong, Hasamin, Cefish, Bionamine. These products are the result of research over many years by scientists from the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.
The research project focusing on the exploitation and use of marine organisms to produce valuable products was the result of work by Prof. Dr. Chau Van Minh, Associate Professor Dr. Phan Van Kiem, Associate Professor Dr. Pham Quoc Long, Associate Professor Dr. Le Mai Huong, Master Nguyen Xuan Cuong, Dr. Nguyen Hoai Nam, Associate Professor Dr. Do Cong Thung and Associate Professor Dr. Bui Minh Ly received a National Science and Technology Award.
According to experts, the research project is regarded as an outstanding achievement, meeting international standards, and opening up new research into the study of marine biochemical and biologically active elements from marine organisms in Vietnam. The research project documented the pharmaceutical materials, storage methods, extraction and isolation process and determination of the molecular structure of the elements used. Hundreds of valuable compounds sourced from marine organisms were detected, including newly discovered natural compounds, contributing greatly to global knowledge on marine natural compounds and the promotion and international publishing of Vietnamese marine research information.
The research project associated basic research with applied research to create seven kinds of food supplement licensed the production of products such as Cefish to supplement Omega-3, which improves the lipid metabolic function of blood and treats blood pressure in cardiovascular patients; Bionamine from starfish to enhance physical strength for athletes; Seavie from soft coral to prevent osteoporosis and degenerative joints; Fucoidan from seaweed to prevent stomach ulcers and cancer; and Cot Thoai Vuong to treat degenerative spine.
Head of the project Prof. Dr. Chau Van Minh said that while Vietnam's 3,260km coastline and continental shelf of one million square kilometers had been the focus of exploitation of marine organisms for food or export, little attention had been paid to the pharmaceutical value and biologically active elements present in marine life.
The project began in 2001 with the authors collecting samples of marine organisms for research. 247 out of the 405 samples collected and screened contained active elements useful in antibiotics and cancer prevention. In particular, the result from research on five marine organisms selected, including Haliclona Sp, Icrinia Echinata, Diaema setosum, Holothurua vagabunda and Holothuria scabra indicated that 30 clean substances had active elements that could be used against cancer and were capable of inhibiting the growth of breast, throat and cervix cancer cells. This would widen the array of drugs available to treat deadly diseases in the future.
From these findings, the government decided to establish the Institute of Sea Biochemistry through Decision 470/QD-TTg. This national research institute will perform basic and applied research into marine biochemistry. In addition, the Ministry of Science and Technology admitted that research into marine biologically active elements would be a key research project during the 2011-2015 period./.
