As global interest in green technology and precision health continues to rise, the “Herbal Green Extraction Technology Team” from the Department of Biochemical Science and Technology at National Chiayi University has once again achieved a remarkable breakthrough. Under the guidance of Prof. Chen Cheng-Nan, the student innovation and entrepreneurship team at NCYU won the Gold Award at the 2025 World Genius Convention & Education Expo in Tokyo, Japan, with their research achievement — the “Biopolymer Oral Gel Utilizing Phalaenopsis Polysaccharides.” The team was also honored with the Special Award by the event organizers, further elevating Taiwan’s medicinal plant application technology to international prominence.
The product was developed through a comprehensive multi-stage experimental process, including smart cultivation of Taiwanese medicinal plants, screening of bioactive compounds, establishment of a green solvent system, optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction conditions, and assessment of the physical properties of polymer carriers. The core technology features low-carbon, high-efficiency extraction of plant bioactive compounds using green solvents, combined with a mild ultrasound-assisted system to enhance both extraction yield and bioactivity stability. The plant-derived exosomes and Polysaccharides demonstrated excellent anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties in cellular experiments.
The product centers on native Taiwanese medicinal herbs like Sophora tonkinensis and Bletilla striata. It combines green solvent and low-carbon extraction technologies with highly bioactive plant Polysaccharides and natural anti-inflammatory compounds. Paired with a polymer hydrogel carrier, this mild functional medical material facilitates long-lasting protective film formation, ulcer healing, and mucosal regeneration. This hydrogel effectively relieves oral discomfort and is especially suitable for daily oral care in patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy, as well as immunocompromised individuals.
Team members include students Chou Tai-Chun, Liao Er-Chen, Hung Yun-Hsuan, and Lee Szu-Li from the Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, along with Liu Pei-Hsuan from the Department of Technology Management at NCYU. The team recently secured NT$500,000 in startup funding after successfully passing the Ministry of Education’s “U-start Plan for Innovation and Entrepreneurship,” laying a solid foundation to advance the technology toward commercialization and clinical use.
Winning the Gold Award and Special Award at the
World Genius Convention & Education Expo, Tokyo, showcases NCYU’s strong
research capabilities in medicinal plant applications, biomedical materials,
and sustainable processes, while also underscoring the global potential of
Taiwan’s indigenous plant resources in the green health industry. Looking
ahead, NCYU will continue to strengthen industry-academia collaboration and
advance the global reach of Taiwan’s herbal innovations, paving the way for new
milestones in botanical drug development and healthcare.
Photo 1: NCYU student team won Gold and Special
Awards at the 2025 World Genius Convention & Education Expo, Tokyo.
Photo 2: The NCYU faculty-student team developed
the “Biopolymer Oral Gel Utilizing Phalaenopsis Polysaccharides,” showcasing
Taiwan’s indigenous medicinal plant technology on the international stage.
(Left to right: Lee Szu-Li, Liu Pei-Hsuan, Hung Yun-Hsuan, Chen Cheng-Nan, Liao
Er-Chen, Chou Tai-Chun)
Photo 3: “Biopolymer Oral Gel Utilizing Phalaenopsis
Polysaccharides”.