Chinese scientists have succeeded in using biological technology to save "momordica grosvenori swingle" from degeneration.

Momordica grosvenori swingle is a rare species of herbal liana, the fruit of which, rich in glucoside, amino acids and vitamins, is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating diseases such as faucitis and bronchitis. Medical research has proved that the fruit is also effective for preventing cancer.

A research team led by Li Bolin, a botanist at Guangxi Normal University, has succeeded in developing a new generation of quality seedlings by using high technology, and lianas grown from these seedling are now doing well.

"We have got shoots from a healthy liana, been blessed with healthy and quality cells by way of physical- and chemical- induced mutation and cultivated new seedlings through cloning," explained Li, adding that in their experimental fields in suburban Guilin City the lianas planted with the new generation of seedlings bear more fruit.

In addition, 80 percent of the lianas bear fruit the next year after planting, and the extraction rate of herbal content goes up by five percent to ten percent.

Researchers from China, Japan and the United States have succeeded in extracting from liana fruits a kind of glucoside essence which is over 300 times sweeter than common sugar but will not result in fatness, and is therefore used to treat diabetes, obesity, hypertension and heart disease.

According to Li, his university is cooperating with an American cancer prevention foundation to develop new medicine from liana fruit.

An official with the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine said Chinese scientists use high technology such as cellular technology to save rare herbal plants including the momordica grosavenori swingle, and this will contribute enormously to the improvement of human health worldwide.

China is home to over 10,000 kinds of herbal plants, most of which grow in the wild. Some species, including "momordica grosvenori swingle" have shown signs of variation and degeneration due to artificial planting over many years.

(China Daily March 4, 2002)