Tags: Healthy Food and Drinks
By Anna Valmero
BAYBAY CITY, LEYTE— The unique ube (purple yam) that Filipinos love in cakes, yogurt and ice cream can also be a good source of protein to ward off hypertension.
A study by Visayas State University (VSU) at its Philippine Root Crops Research and Training Center (Philrootcrops) from 2005 to 2010 affirmed the presence of PRP-1 (Philippine Rootcrops Protein 1), a novel anti-hypertensive protein isolated from ube.
PRP-1 is found to have angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) which prevents conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II, a compound that causes blood pressure increase in the body.
This could make the locally produced ube a good source of alternative drug for the treatment of hypertension which affects 11.5 million Filipinos, according to 2010 data of the Philippine Society of Hypertension.
“The significant role of yam in human health could not be overemphasized. It can be used safely as a potential anti-hypertensive drug. And because it is a natural protein, it could be a valuable molecule in today’s health-conscious society,” said Dr. Edgardo E. Tulin of VSU.
Ube is also known to be rich in anthocyanin which is considered a flavonoid. It has beneficial health effects against cancer, aging and neurological diseases, inflammation, diabetes and bacterial infections.
This set local researchers from VSU and the Bali Farms Crops Research Center (BFCRC) to produce ube seedlings throughout the year using a local tissue culture technology. The technology won a bronze medal in the Bureau of Agricultural Research’s (BAR) National Research Symposium this year.
Production of seedlings is seasonal and can be done only once a year from January to May. Tuber supply cannot meet market demand, causing an underdeveloped industry despite the country’s competitive edge, said VSU’s Dr. Villaluz Acedo.
By using the tissue culture technology, ube farmers can net an income of P185,000 per hectare per cropping on the first year and some P258,000 on the second year.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has pushed for increased intake of natural food with anti-hypertensive content such as ube since commercial anti-hypertensive drugs are expensive.
One billion people live with hypertension worldwide, two-thirds of which are in developing nations like the Philippines.
Hypertension or high blood pressure leads to organ damage and several illnesses such as heart attack, stroke, heart failure, aneurysm or renal failure. That is why the WHO recommends and encourages the use of plants as an alternative treatment for the disease.
Meanwhile, companies like La Union-based Sunlight Foods have found big economic value in indigenously-grown crops like ube.
The company supplies ube puree to Red Ribbon and Gardenia, Chowking, Fitrite, Jollibee and Selecta. It also exports bottled ube preserves to Japan, Europe, United States, Canada and Middle East through consolidators.
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