Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) has secured a patent from the Government of India's Patent Office for a novel biotechnological method to isolate and quantify cadambine, a bioactive medicinal compound from the Kadamba tree (Neolamarckia cadamba), improving recovery yields while reducing waste and solvent use, according to the university.
The patented extraction process
The patented invention, titled "A Method for Isolating and Quantifying Cadambine with High Recovery Yield from Neolamarckia cadamba," was developed by a TNAU research team comprising Gopal MR, N Senthil, S Vellaikumar, and A Balasubramanian. According to the university, the newly patented process addresses key challenges in the extraction of cadambine by significantly reducing solvent consumption, waste generation, and processing time.
The protocol begins with freeze-drying fresh bark tissues to prevent thermal degradation, followed by a selective solid-phase extraction process that removes impurities using a combination of octadecylsilane, primary secondary amine, and graphitized carbon black sorbents. The final quantification of cadambine was carried out using an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) facility at TNAU's Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology (COXBIT).
Yield and scalability
The university said the optimised protocol delivers a cadambine recovery yield of 93–94 per cent, offering a scalable and sustainable solution for quality control and commercial production in the phytopharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. While traditional extraction methods often involve high solvent volumes and longer processing times, the new method achieves high purity with minimal environmental footprint.
| Parameter | Traditional Methods (typical) | TNAU Patented Method |
|---|---|---|
| Recovery yield | Variable | 93–94% |
| Solvent consumption | High | Significantly reduced |
| Waste generation | High | Reduced |
| Processing time | Long | Shortened |
| Key steps | — | Freeze-drying + solid-phase extraction + UHPLC-MS/MS |
Note: Comparative data for traditional methods are based on industry benchmarks as per the source context.
Implications for pharmaceutical manufacturing
For manufacturing executives and procurement professionals in the phytopharmaceutical and nutraceutical sectors, this patent represents a potential pathway to more sustainable and cost-effective production of cadambine. The high recovery yield (93–94%) means that less raw bark is needed per unit of active compound, which could lower material costs and reduce pressure on Kadamba tree populations. The reduced solvent use and waste generation align with growing regulatory and consumer demands for greener manufacturing processes.
According to TNAU, the Kadamba tree has long been used in traditional medicine: its bark is used to treat fever and skin ailments, the leaves for ulcers and diarrhoea, while the fruit is valued for its antioxidant and pain-relieving properties. The patented method could enable reliable, scalable production of cadambine for quality control and commercial applications.
Production timeline
As of the publication date of July 9, 2026, the patent has been granted. TNAU may seek licensing partners for commercial deployment. No specific production start date has been announced, but the method is described as scalable and suitable for industrial adoption.
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