PHNOM PENH: Vietnamese scientists are turning discarded mung bean pods into a valuable natural ingredient that could be used to develop health supplements for diabetes management.
Scientists at the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) are extracting vitexin, a plant compound found in mung bean husks, and converting it into nanovitexin, a nano-formulated raw material designed to improve absorption in the human body.
Researchers believe nanovitexin could help regulate blood sugar levels and offer greater therapeutic benefits than conventional vitexin formulations.
"Nano drug-delivery systems can significantly improve the bioavailability of poorly soluble compounds, enhance their stability under environmental conditions and increase their pharmacological effectiveness,” said head of the research team Dr Ngo Thi Hoai Thu from the Institute of Biology based at VAST, reported Vietnam News.
Mung beans (Vigna radiata) are widely grown in tropical climates and are commonly found in Asian countries, where they are included in cuisines and traditional medicines.
The green-coloured legume is known for its balanced nutrients such as fibre, protein, vitamins and minerals, according to health experts.
Since 2022, scientists at the academy have been experimenting with nanotechnology to formulate vitexin into nano-sized particles to produce a health supplement.
According to VAST, the innovation has the potential to become a significant breakthrough in health-protective foods, particularly for people living with diabetes.
Vietnamese researchers are confident that the ingredient will be a major breakthrough in the field of health-protective foods, especially for diabetic patients, according to the Hanoi-based VAST’s website.
The International Diabetes Federation says there are about 589 million adults living with the disease, and 3.4 million deaths were recorded in 2024.
Three in four diabetic adults come from low- and middle-income countries.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces, leading to elevated blood sugar levels, according to the federation’s website. - Bernama
