Scientists from the “Metabolomics” laboratory within the Department of Biotechnology at the “Stephan Angeloff” Institute of Microbiology of BAS led by Prof. Milen Georgiev, in collaboration with researchers from the Centre of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology (CPSBB), have protected a utility model for a newly developed combination of natural bioactive compounds comprising the isoflavonoid maackiain, the triterpene betulinic acid and the alkaloid piperine.
The scientific results have been obtained during five years of pre-clinical studies using the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans and have been confirmed in experimental rodent models. The toxicological studies conducted found no toxic effects at the doses administered and under the experimental conditions. A clinical trial is due to be conducted to assess the effects of the developed combination on metabolic health in humans.
The research team also includes Dr. Monika Todorova from the Department of Biotechnology of IMicB-BAS, who, under the academic supervision of Prof. Milen Georgiev, in 2026 successfully defended her doctoral thesis on “Modulation of mechanisms for extending lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans through the use of biologically active substances”.
The prevalence of metabolic disorders and obesity has reached alarming levels in recent decades, with the incidence of obesity having more than doubled since 1990. Recent research is providing increasingly compelling evidence of the link between obesity, disturbances in metabolic homeostasis and the development of a range of chronic non-communicable diseases. These processes result from complex interactions between disturbances in energy balance, lipid metabolism, insulin signalling, oxidative stress and the inflammatory response.
In their search for new approaches to maintaining metabolic health, scientists from IMicB-BAS and CPSBB are focusing their attention on natural bioactive compounds capable of influencing key molecular mechanisms associated with metabolic regulation. The combination of maackiain, betulinic acid and piperine has been developed to achieve a synergistic effect on these processes.
“Modern science demonstrates that complex health conditions such as metabolic disorders require a multidisciplinary approach. Our aim is not to talk about miracle cures but to develop scientifically sound approaches that go through all the necessary stages – from the laboratory to real-world application. For Bulgaria, such transfers of research developments to the market are an important step towards building an ecosystem for scientific innovation with real societal significance,” says Prof. Milen Georgiev.
The research team’s next objective is the practical application of this research through the creation of a food supplement based on the newly identified combination of biologically active compounds. In the longer term, the scientists also see potential for the development of a medicinal product.
The product is to be developed in partnership with a Bulgarian company, a well-established manufacturer of food supplements with an international presence. The project is an example of effective collaboration between scientific organisations and industry and demonstrates the potential for successfully translating the results of scientific research into products with potential public and economic benefits.
