Vietnamese Traditional Medicine Research Articles

Major Sesquiterpenoids in Psychotria laui Leaf Essential oil Exhibit Anti-Inflammatory and Cytotoxic Properties

Objective: This study aims to investigate the chemical constituents and biological properties of the essential oil derived from Psychotria laui, a plant recognized for its medicinal applications, particularly in traditional Vietnamese medicine, where it is utilized for the treatment of digestive and inflammatory disorders. Methods: Fresh leaves of Psychotria laui were gathered in Quangtri, Vietnam, and subjected to hydro-distillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus to obtain the essential oil. The chemical composition of the essential oil was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The antioxidant potential was measured using the DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay, while the inhibition of nitric oxide production was tested in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Cytotoxicity against the SK-LU-1 cell line (human lung adenocarcinoma) was evaluated using the sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. Results: The essential oil from Psychotria laui contained 78 distinct constituents. The major compounds identified were spathulenol (10.4%), thujopsan-2- α-ol (9.5%), 7- epi- α-eudesmol (6.5%), 14-hydroxy-9- epi-( E)-caryophyllene (4.4%), epi- α-cadinol (3.9%), α-muurolol (3.8%), 1- epi-cubenol (3.5%), and δ-cadinene (3.2%). The essential oil showed no antioxidant activity, with an IC50 (half-maximal inhibitory concentration) value greater than 500 µg/mL, in contrast to the positive control, L-ascorbic acid, which had an IC50 of 7.78 ± 0.39 µg/mL in the DPPH assay. However, its anti-inflammatory activity was evident by its ability to inhibit nitric oxide production, with an IC50 of 19.48 ± 1.53 µg/mL in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Moreover, the essential oil exhibited potent cytotoxicity against the SK-LU-1 cancer cell line, with an IC50 of 8.49 ± 0.73 µg/mL in the SRB assay. Conclusion: The essential oil from Psychotria laui leaves contains numerous bioactive compounds and exhibits significant anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic properties, although it lacks antioxidant activity.

Efficacy of Jasminum subtriplinerve Extract against 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-Induced Cancer in Mice.

Jasminum subtriplinerve Blume tea is a traditional Vietnamese medicine used to treat impetigo, menstruation issues, and painful menstrual hematometra. Previous studies have shown that extracts and isolated compounds from J. subtriplinerve possess diverse pharmacological properties, such as antioxidant, antibacterial, and antidiabetic effects. However, their potential anticancer effects and underlying mechanisms of action have not been clear. Here, we examined the effects of J. subtriplinerve extracts against three human cancer cell lines. We also conducted in vivo analyses using a mouse model of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced breast cancer, including an investigation of changes in histological sections. The effect of the J. subtriplinerve ethyl acetate fraction on cytokine levels (IL-2, PGE2, TNF-α) in serum was determined using ELISA kits. Results showed that the EtOAc fraction had the highest anti-proliferative activity (IC50 = 13.7 mg/ml) against the breast cancer (MCF-7) cell line, while the BuOH and water fractions did not show any anticancer effects. Additionally, the EtOAc fraction at a dose of 14.4 mg/kg was able to elevate IL-2 levels and suppress the expression of PGE2 in the serum of mice. A remarkable decrease in the percentage of death and tumor incidence in mice was achieved following treatment with the EtOAc fraction at a dose of 14.4 mg/kg. No abnormal parameters in blood were observed in the J. subtriplinerve treatment groups. These results suggest that J. subtriplinerve, when used as tea or a functional food, is nontoxic and has clear chemopreventive effects against breast cancer.

Effects of Vietnamese Balm (Elsholtzia ciliata (Thunb.) Hyland) Essential Oil on Growth Performance of Striped Catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) Juvenile stage

Graphical Abstract Highlight Research Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry identified major components of the essential oil, including (Z)-β-Farnesene (24.02%), neral (15.06%), geranial (15.02%), and β-ocimene (13.61%). Diets enriched with 5% Vietnamese balm leaf essential oils significantly improved the survival rate, feed conversion ratio, and feed efficiency. Diets enriched with 5% Vietnamese balm leaf essential oils significantly improved the weight parameters (average weight; weight gain; percentage weight gain; percentage specific growth rate; daily weight gain). Diets enriched with 5% Vietnamese balm leaf essential oils significantly improved the length parameters (average length; length gain; percentage length gain; percentage specific growth rate; daily length gain). Abstract Vietnamese balm (Elsholtzia ciliata) is a prominent herb in Vietnamese traditional medicine. This study investigated the impact of Vietnamese balm leaf essential oils on the growth of striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) in the juvenile stage. Essential oils were extracted using steam distillation, following European Pharmacopoeia guidelines. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry identified the essential oil components. The experiment encompassed three treatments: 0% (control), 3%, and 5% of Vietnamese balm leaf essential oils in a completely randomized design. The results demonstrated a time and dose-dependent modulation of striped catfish growth by the essential oils. Diets enriched with 5% Vietnamese balm leaf essential oils significantly enhanced survival rate and growth, indicating potential as a fish feed additive. The essential oil yield was 0.83% dry weight, with major components including (Z)-β-Farnesene (24.02%), neral (15.06%), geranial (15.02%), and β-ocimene (13.61%). Additionally, the study emphasized the growth-promoting effects of herbal extracts on various growth parameters. Further investigations should explore the impact of Vietnamese balm essential oil on catfish immune response and disease resistance, providing a comprehensive understanding of its potential benefits.

Potent inhibitory effect on human platelet aggregation of the aerial part of Canna edulis

Canna edulis Ker Gawl has been used in Vietnamese Traditional Medicine for the treatment of heart diseases with very limited scientific evidence. This study aimed to evaluate the inhibitory effect on human platelet aggregation of the aerial part of C. edulis. Aerial C. edulis was firstly macerated with methanol, and then fractionated with different solvents to obtain 3 fractions: n-hexane, ethyl acetate and aqueous extracts. The inhibitory effects on human platelet aggregation of extracts were evaluated via three parameters: percentage inhibition of platelet aggregation (%I), area under the aggregation curve (AUC) and aggregation slope, using two agonists adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and collagen. The results showed that all extracts significantly inhibited platelet aggregation in a dose-dependent manner for both agonists. Moreover, all extracts significantly decreased AUC and slope, indicating their antiaggregatory effects on both general aggregation and aggregation velocity. Among extracts, the ethyl acetate fraction exhibited the strongest effect regardless of agonists used (%I at 4 mg/mL, 99.2% for both ADP and collagen). The n-hexane fraction also had significant inhibitory effect but it was weaker than the others (p < 0.05). This is the first study to demonstrate the potent antiplatelet effect of the aerial part of C. edulis. This plant could be a potential natural source for searching novel antiplatelet agents and developing dietary supplements for management of cardiovascular diseases.

SYNDIAG: an expert system for disease syndrome diagnosis of traditional Vietnamese medicine

SYNDIAG: an expert system for disease syndrome diagnosis of traditional Vietnamese medicine

Phenolic Acids, Steroids, and Triterpenoids Isolated from Platycodon grandiflorus (Jacq.) A. DC.

Platycodon grandiflorus (Jacq.) A. DC. is a precious medicinal plant, which is one of 54 medicinal species selected by the Vietnamese government for development in specialized areas of medicinal herbs. Currently, P. grandiflorus has been planted in some regions in Vietnam. Although P. grandiflorus has been commonly used in traditional Vietnamese medicine, the reports on the chemical composition and biological activity of this plant are limited in our country. As a part of our research on the hypolipidemic effect of P. grandiflorus, six compounds including ferulic acid (1), caffeic acid (2), p-hydroxy benzoic acid (3), spinasterol (4), sitostenone (5), and betulin (6) were isolated from the ethyl acetate and n-hexane extracts of the roots of P. grandiflorus. The structures of these compounds were determined based on NMR and MS spectral data and comparison with those reported in the literature. Compound 5 has been found in P. grandiflorus for the first time.

Chemical Composition, Anti-bacterial Activity and Molecular Docking Studies of Essential Oil Isolated from Sa Sam Nam (Launaea sarmentosa).

Launaea sarmentosa, also known as Sa Sam Nam, is a widely used remedy in Vietnamese traditional medicine and cuisine. However, the chemical composition and bioactivity of its essential oil have not been elucidated yet. In this study, we identified 40 compounds (98.6% of total peak area) in the essential oil via GC-MS analysis at the first time. Among them, five main compounds including Thymohydroquinone dimethyl ether (52.4%), (E)-α-Atlantone (9.0%), Neryl isovalerate (6.6%), Davanol D2 (isomer 2) (3.9%), and trans-Sesquisabinene hydrate (3.9%) have accounted for 75.8% of total peak area. The anti-bacterial activity of the essential oil against 4 microorganisms including Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa has also investigated via agar well diffusion assay. The results showed that the essential oil exhibited a strong antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis with the inhibition zones ranging from 8.2 to 18.7 mm. To elucidate the anti-bacterial effect mechanism of the essential oil, docking study of five main compounds of the essential oil (Thymohydroquinone dimethyl ether, (E)-α-Atlantone, Neryl isovalerate, Davanol D2 (isomer 2), and trans-Sesquisabinene hydrate) against some key proteins for bacterial growth such as DNA gyrase B, penicillin binding protein 2A, tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase, and dihydrofolate reductase were performed. The results showed that the main constituents of essential oil were highly bound with penicillin binding protein 2A with the free energies ranging -27.7 to -44.8 kcal/mol, which suggests the relationship between the antibacterial effect of essential oil and the affinity of main compounds with penicillin binding protein. In addition, the free energies of main compounds of the essential oil with human cyclooxygenase 1, cyclooxygenase 2, and phospholipase A2, the crucial proteins related with inflammatory response were less than diclofenac, a non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug. These findings propose the essential oil as a novel and promising anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory medicine or cosmetic products.

IRIDAL-TYPE TRITERPENOID DERIVATIVES AND ISOFLAVONOIDS FROM BELAMCANDA CHINENSIS ROOTS

Belamcanda chinensis (L.) DC is a popular ornamental and medicinal plant belonging to the Iridaceae family. Its rhizomes were used in Vietnamese traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammation and respiratory disorders, such as asthma, tonsillitis, coughing, and pharyngitis. In this study, four iridal-type triterpenoid derivatives (1–4) and four isoflavonoids (5–8) have been isolated from the methanol extract of Belamcanda chinensis roots. The structures of the isolated compounds were determined using NMR spectroscopic analysis combined with comparison with the literature and were found to be isoiridogermanal (1), iridobelamal A (2), 16-O-acetylisoiridogermanal (3), 16-O-acetyliridobelamal A (4), irigenin (5), irisflorentin (6), irilin D (7), and tectoridin (8).

Comparison of students' readiness from six health education programs for interprofessional learning in Vietnam: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundInterprofessional education (IPE) is expected to help prepare undergraduate health profession students to collaborate with other healthcare professionals in realising quality of care. Studies stress the necessity of students’ readiness for interprofessional learning (IPL) in view of designing IPE programs. The present study aims to determine students' IPL-readiness and looks at related differences in students enrolled in different programs and at different phases in their educational program.MethodsA cross-sectional survey study was set up among 1139 students from six health programs at HueUMP, using the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS). Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal–Wallis H and Mann–Whitney U tests.ResultsThe overall mean RIPLS score was 68.89. RIPLS scores significantly differed between programs and between phases in the educational programs. Medical students presented a lower readiness level for IPL than students from other programs. In contrast to a significant increase in RIPLS scores of students in the clinical phase in Vietnamese traditional medicine, medicine, and pharmacy, a decrease in RIPLS scores was observed in students in the clinical phase in odonto-stomatology.ConclusionsThe differences could be related to differences in educational programs and the study phases in a particular program. These results offer insights to direct the design and implementation of IPE in health education curricula and especially underscore the need to provide IPE throughout the curriculum.

Effects of Roasting Conditions on Antibacterial Properties of Vietnamese Turmeric (Curcuma longa) Rhizomes.

Processing with heat treatment has been reported to alter several therapeutic effects of turmeric. In Vietnamese traditional medicine, turmeric has been long used for bacterial infections, and roasting techniques are sometimes applied with this material. However, there have been no studies investigating the effects of these thermal processes on the plant's antibacterial properties. Our study was therefore performed to examine the changes that roasting produced on this material. Slices of dried turmeric were further subjected to light-roasting (80 °C in 20 min) or dark-roasting (160 °C in 20 min) processes. Broth dilution and agar-well diffusion methods were applied to examine and compare the effects of ethanol extracts obtained from non-roasted, light-roasted and dark-roasted samples, on a set of 6 gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. In both investigations, dark-roasted turmeric was significantly less antibacterial than non-roasted and light-roasted materials, as evident by the higher values of minimum inhibitory concentrations and the smaller diameters of induced inhibitory zones. In addition, dark-roasting was also found to clearly reduce curcumin contents, total polyphenol values and antioxidant activities of the extracts. These results suggest that non-roasting or light-roasting might be more suitable for the processing of turmeric materials that are aimed to be applied for bacterial infections.

Ngu-Vi-Tieu-Khat decoction, a Vietnamese traditional medicine, possesses hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects on streptozotocin-induced type-2 diabetic rat model

This study aims to assess the hypoglycemic effects of Ngu-Vi-Tieu-Khat (NVTK) decoction, a traditional Vietnamese medicine, in a rat model of type-2 diabetes. The NVTK decoction was prepared using the maceration method and tested for its hypoglycemic effects by measuring blood glucose levels, insulin resistance indicators, and pancreatic mass. The results showed that NVTK decoction improved diabetes symptoms, increased insulin levels, reduced insulin resistance, restored pancreatic mass, and decreased total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) while increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). The hypoglycemic effects of NVTK were comparable to those of gliclazide at a dose of 10 mg/kg. In conclusion, NVTK decoction possesses hypoglycemic properties and could be explored as a potential traditional medicine for treating type-2 diabetes in humans.

A NOVEL APPROACH TO MODELLING A DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF TRADITIONAL VIETNAMESE MEDICINE

Traditional Vietnamese Medicine (TVM) is based on the experiences of thousands of years of Vietnamese people in the struggle against diseases; therefore, TVM is very important in the medical system of Vietnam. In this paper, we propose a novel model of an expert system for diagnosing disease syndromes and treating traditional Vietnamese medicine. In this model, the knowledge base consists of IF-THEN rules, in which the antecedent of a rule is an elementary conjunction of propositions and negated propositions. The inference mechanism for the diagnosis of disease syndromes and treatment of traditional Vietnamese medicine applies Abelian group operations. A comparison of the inference of our model with the fuzzy max-min inferences shows that our model can have very similar rules whose contributions sum up to high weight. On the other hand, in our model, a rule with a negative weight may diminish an effect of a rule with a good weight. This feature is absent in the systems with fuzzy max-min inferences. We have built rule patterns for the diagnosis of about 50 disease syndromes and their treatment by Herbs and Acupuncture with the cooperation of practitioners of Oriental Traditional Medicine in Vietnam. Some examples of databases and the rules for disease syndrome differentiation and treatment by herbal medicine and Acupuncture are shown. Finally, some conclusions and future works are given.

Xanthine oxidase, α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activities of the essential oil from Piper lolot: In vitro and in silico studies

IntroductionPiper lolot is a species of herb used as a popular food in Vietnam. Furthermore, the species has been used as a Vietnamese traditional medicine to treat many diseases. MethodsChemical constituents in the essential oil from leaves of Piper lolot were determined using GC/MS analysis. The anti-gout and anti-diabetic activities of the essential oil were determined through the inhibitory assays against xanthine oxidase, α-glucosidase and α-amylase enzymes. In addition, molecular docking simulations were used to elucidate the inhibitory mechanism between the main compounds and the enzymes. ResultsThe dominant constituents of the Piper lolot essential oils were determined as β-caryophyllene (20.6%), β-bisabolene (11.6%), β-selinene (8.4%), β-elemene (7.7%), trans-muurola-4(14),5-diene (7.4%), and (E)-β-ocimene (6.7%). The essential oil displayed xanthine oxidase, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities with IC50 values of 28.4, 130.6, and 59.1 μg/mL, respectively. The anti-gout and anti-diabetic activities of the essential oil from the P. lolot species are reported for the first time. Furthermore, molecular docking simulation was consistent to in vitro experiments. ConclusionThe present study provides initial evidence that the essential oil of P. lolot may be a potential natural source to develop new diabetes preparations.

Traditional Vietnamese Medicine Containing Garlic Extract for Patients With Non-severe COVID-19: A Phase-II, Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still ongoing with the omicron variant. Low-cost, effective treatments are still needed, particularly in low-to-middle-income countries. This study assessed the safety and efficacy of TD0068, an herbal medicine developed from mainly garlic, for patients with non-severe COVID-19. Methods This is a phase-II, double-blind, randomized controlled trial to compare oral capsule TD0068 and placebo in adults aged 18-65 years with non-severe COVID-19 between September and October 2021. The efficacy outcomes measured included daily cycle threshold (Ct) value from the time of the initial reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test, time to viral clearance, daily symptom severity score from 15 symptoms of interest, time to symptom resolution, and progression to severe/critical COVID-19. Safety outcomes included adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs). Results Sixty patients were randomized (31 received TD0068, and 29 received a placebo). The two groups were balanced in baseline characteristics: mean age was 39 years, and female was predominant (66%). Daily Ct value (median on days 3, 5, 7, and 9 was 25.7, 30.8, 35.4, and 37.6 in the TD0068 group, and 26.4, 31.2, 36.0, and 37.4 in the placebo group, respectively) and time to viral clearance (median: 10 vs. 11 days in TD0068 and placebo groups) were similar between groups. Daily symptom severity score (median on days 3, 5, 7, and 9 was 2, 2, 1, and 0 in the TD0068 group, and 3, 2, 1, and 1 in the placebo group), and time to symptom resolution (median: seven vs. nine days, respectively) were also comparable between groups. No SAE occurred in the study. Conclusions TD0068 is safe but does not show an effect for non-severe COVID-19 patients. Further research is needed to explore the potential benefits of garlic in other forms or dosages for the treatment of COVID-19.

Flavonoid glycoside constituents of the leaves of Solanum melongena collected in Thua Thien Hue and their anti-inflammatory activity

Solanum melongena is a member of Solanum genus that widely cultivated as fruit vegetable in Vietnam. According to Vietnamese traditional medicine, the fruits and whole plants are used to treat toothache, turgescence, pruritus, and haemorrhoids. As part of our project to study the chemical composition and bioactivity of Solanum genus in Vietnam, five flavonoid glycosides including kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), isovitexin (2), kaempferol 3-O-β-D-glucoside-7-O-α-L-rhamnoside (3), kaempferol 3-O-β-D-sophoroside-7-O-α-L-rhamnoside (4), and kaempferol 3-O-β-D-sophoroside (5) were isolated from the methanol extract of the leaves of Solanum melongenagrowing in Thua Thien Hue province, by using various chromatography methods. Their chemical structures were determined by detailed analysis of 1D- and 2D-NMR and HR-ESI-MS data as well as comparison with the literature. Compounds (2) and (5) were isolated from Solanum melongena for the first time while compounds (3) and (4) were the first isolated from the Solanum genus. Besides, compounds 2-4 showed weak anti-inflammatory activities against NO production in RAW 264.7 macrophage line with IC50 values ranging from 54.28 to 91.37 μg/ml.

Traditional Medicine in the Developing and Developed Countries and Expected Trends in Future

TRADITIONAL Medicine has been practiced all through the whilst in almost all countries, imparting increased health care. Traditional drugs have also been used for this purpose. locally accessible plant, animal, and mineral supplies and proceed to supply healthcare for humans, in several developing countries. Traditional Medicine (TM) has developed over time and continues to be the primary health service of rural communities and the poorest stage of society. Presently there is a developing reliance on regular health care using city populations. WHO defines frequent treatment as “diverse health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating plant animal and/ or mineral-based medicines, spiritual therapies, information techniques, and exercising routines utilized singularly or in combination to keep well-being as appropriate as to treat, diagnose or prevent illness” In Asia, there are formalized traditions/systems which have theoretical frameworks. With hooked-up traditions of training, formalized educational processes, recorded materia medica with many preparations, and scientific practices with a variety of preventative and therapeutic modalities, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine, Traditional Vietnamese Medicine, Unani, and Siddha.

Hepatoprotective and Antioxidant Activities of Phenolic Compounds from Heliciopsis terminalis

Objective Heliciopsis terminalis (Kurz.) Sleum (family Proteaceae) is distributed in India, Mianma, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and China. In Vietnamese traditional medicine, it is used as an antidote for detoxifying the liver and detoxifying alcohol, a contraceptive, and to treat infections. The purpose of this study is to determine the chemical constituents of the plant, as well as their in vitro hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities. Methods The dried powdered sample was ultrasonically extracted with MeOH, and the extract was fractionated by various chromatographic methods, including high-performance liquid chromatography. The structures of the isolated compounds were identified by NMR, high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and CD spectral analysis, and then screened for their in vitro hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities. Results One new phenolic glycoside, named helitermioside (1), and eight known compounds (2-9) were isolated from the trunk and branches of H terminalis. All of the isolates were reported from H terminalis for the first time. Compound 6 showed antioxidant activity in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) lipid peroxidation inhibition assays, with an IC50 value of 61.16 ± 1.17 µg/mL, compared to that of Trolox (positive control), IC50 = 7.06 ± 0.11 µg/mL. At a concentration of 100 µg/mL, none of the isolates exhibited hepatocellular protective activity. Conclusion Nine phenolic compounds (1–9) were recorded from H terminalis. Of these, compound 1 was new. Compound 6 exhibited moderate antioxidant activity in TBARS lipid peroxidation inhibition assays, but none of the compounds exhibited hepatocellular protective activity against CCl4-induced toxicity.

Beyond the Asylum: Mental Illness in French Colonial Vietnam by Claire E. Edington (review)

Reviewed by: Beyond the Asylum: Mental Illness in French Colonial Vietnam by Claire E. Edington C. Michele Thompson Edington, Claire E.–Beyond the Asylum: Mental Illness in French Colonial Vietnam. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2019. 291 p. Claire E. Edington’s Beyond the Asylum: Mental Illness in French Colonial Vietnam truly does go “beyond the asylum” in its examination of the complex interplay between culture, both French and Vietnamese, medicine, and patterns of colonization and resistance to it in French Indochina, primarily Vietnam. This solidly researched and gracefully written volume is thought-provoking in many ways, and pertinent to the study of many topics in Vietnamese history from the late nineteenth century to about 1950, that it really should be read by anyone who studies or teaches about Vietnam during that period. Beyond the Asylum is based on Edington’s extensive archival research in Vietnam, France, and Cambodia and on a solid selection of secondary sources in English, French, and Vietnamese. She uses her numerous archivally sourced illustrations, which range from blueprints to reproductions of artwork from popular literature of the period, to maps and photographs, to draw attention to important points in the text in a way that a mere written description never could. For example, the very first figure, a 1934 photograph of the entrance to the Biên Hòa Asylum, [End Page 213] shows a road through a gate that is clearly decorative, rather than truly confining, and grounds with large trees and grassy lawns. The photograph illuminates and supports Edington’s statement that this asylum was based on a “more humanitarian conception of care than earlier methods of confinement—one that proved useful in improving the poor public image of the asylum” and that “the appearance of freedom itself was seen as curative” (p. 56). This, in turn, sets the scene for much of the discussion which follows on the everyday lives of patients and staff in Chapter 2 and even the author’s arguments regarding therapeutic labour in an increasingly exploitative colonial agricultural system in Chapter 3. Edington’s discussion of these subjects builds her case that while the French tried “to fashion the asylum as a world unto itself,” the paradigms in the outer world constantly impinged on French colonial asylums (p. 85). The author’s depiction of the history of the French colonial adoption of the labour-as-therapy pattern of treatment primarily from Dutch colonial mental health practices in the Dutch East Indies (today’s Indonesia) is especially interesting. It is rare for works on the history of colonial era medicine in Southeast Asia to go beyond the boundaries of any one colonial power or to discuss in any detail collaborative efforts between and among medical professionals from them. Clearly, there is more work to be done on the subject and Edington is leading the way. No work of scholarship is perfect and, despite its many strengths, this one is not either. It appears that most, if not all, of the small problems that I feel compelled to note appeared during the process of cutting this volume down in terms of length and, probably, in terms of notes. For example, on page 23 Edington discusses the Vietnamese concept of mental health and mental illness. She mentions both fourteenth-century documents and the physician Lȇ Hữu Trác in a sentence structure that suggests he himself lived in the fourteenth century when he lived in the eighteenth. There are also places (for example, page 25) where the source cited does not match the source from which the quote derives. On page 25, Edington is citing one of my own publications, but the wrong one. There are other small problems of this sort that are not worth going over in detail. Almost all of them concern the pre-modern period and Vietnamese Traditional Medicine and they do not materially affect Edington’s argument or the many great strengths of this book. One of those strengths is Edington’s commitment to discussing the effects of French colonization on ordinary everyday Vietnamese people and the resulting deterioration in what the French, and sometimes the Vietnamese, defined as mental health. This can be...

Antiproliferative, Anti-Inflammatory Activities, and Molecular Docking Studies of Secondary Metabolites from Macrosolen tricolor

In Vietnam, Macrosolen tricolor is used for the treatment of bloating, broken bones, cough, diarrhea, diuretic, rheumatism, and laxative effects. The study aimed to identify the in vitro antiproliferation and anti-inflammation of all fractions and purified compounds from the M. tricolor whole plants, as well as the in silico molecular docking of the potentially cytotoxic compounds. As the results, fractions (MTH.I, MTH.II, MTE.I, and MTE.II) strongly demonstrated antiproliferative properties against three tested cells, MDA-MB-231, RD, and HepG2 (IC50 values ranged from 4.00 ± 0.20 to 70.60 ± 1.44 μg/mL), as well as anti-inflammatory effects (IC50 values ranged from 4.45 ± 0.08 to 23.00 ± 1.18 μg/mL), whereas other fractions meaningfully evidenced selective cytotoxicity and/or anti-inflammation. Therefore, the phytochemical compositions of the active fractions were illuminated, leading to the characterization of eighteen compounds. Compounds (3–5) revealed the most cytotoxic effects towards all examined cells (IC50 values ranged from 6.88 ± 0.12 to 71.64 ± 1.17 μM) and the strongest anti-inflammatory properties (IC50 values of 16.30 ± 0.92, 7.31 ± 0.55, and 9.23 ± 0.60 μM, respectively). Compound 11 showed potential cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231, RD, and HepG2 cells (IC50 values of 24.42 ± 0.28, 20.60 ± 0.25, and 3.20 ± 0.02 μM, respectively). Furthermore, compounds (4, 5, and 11) interacted with the active site of the apoptosis regulator Bcl-2 protein (PDB ID: 2O2F), were comparable to PAC, and were compatible with their anticancer activity. This project suggests that M. tricolor is a good source of natural antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory agents and contributes to understanding the biological activities of Macrosolen species in traditional Vietnamese medicine.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF DICHLOROMETHANE EXTRACT FROM THE STEM BARK OF GARCINIA FAGRAEOIDES

The Garcinia genus belonging to the Clusiaceae family (Guttiferae) has been reported to be a rich source of polyisoprenylated benzophenones, xanthones and biflavonoids with various biological activities. Garcinia fagraeoides A.Chev is an evergreen hardwood tree found only in the north provinces of Viet Nam and Guangxi province of China. Its stem bark and leaves have been used in Vietnamese traditional medicine for treatment of malaria and dermatitis diseases. In our continuing studies on chemical constituents and biological activities from the genus Garcinia, the phytochemical of Garcinia fagraeoides’s stem bark collected from Thua Thien Hue province was investigated. Repeated chromatography steps over silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 of the dichloromethane partition from the methanol extract of Garcinia fagraeoides’s stem bark led to the isolation of five compounds including one polyisoprenylated benzophenone (isogarcinol (1)), two tetraoxygenated xanthones (rubraxanthone (2), a-mangostin (3)), ferulic acid (4), and pyromeconic acid (5). Their structures were elucidated mainly by analysis of their 1D, 2D NMR spectroscopy and ESI-MS data, and by comparison with reported data. The absolute configuration of isogarcinol (1) was determined by comparison of its experimental optical rotation and NMR data with the values of its stereoisomer. This is the first reported isolation of compounds 1-5 from the stem bark of Garcinia fagraeoides.