Four plants used by Northern Thai ethnic communities for hypertension were screened as ethanolic extracts for ACE inhibition, with cytotoxicity tested in HEK293T kidney cells.
Key findings
- B. balsamifera inhibited ACE by 29%, 36% and 64% at 0.4, 2.0 and 10.0 mg/mL; Z. purpureum achieved 34%, 39% and 40%. Cross-culturally used plants tended to show stronger activity.
Why this matters globally
Linking traditional knowledge with bioassays can prioritise discovery, but benefit sharing and community rights matter. The findings should not become treatment advice.
Thai researcher contribution
Thai teams from Chiang Mai University and Prince of Songkla University connected Northern community knowledge with laboratory screening.
Limitations to consider
High-concentration crude-extract activity does not predict blood-pressure effects. One cell line cannot establish safety; active compounds, specificity and long-term toxicity remain unknown.