Author: Ramadhan Saputro

On Saturday (25/11), the Faculty of Pharmacy, Bhakti Kencana University (FF UBK), organized an International Guest Lecture featuring Prof. Dr. Satheesh Babu Natarajan M.Pharm. as the speaker. He is the Head of Department of Pharmaceutics at Lincoln University College, Malaysia, specializing in Cancer nanomedicine, Drug delivery system for Cancer Nanomedicine, Drug Delivery system for Diabetic Foot Ulcer Therapy, Targeted drug delivery system design, Lipid based nanofabrication for lymphatic delivery, and Herbal Nanomedicine.

The topic of this International Guest Lecture was “Recent Advances in Herbal Medicine for Metabolic Syndrome and Infectious Diseases.” The guest lecture was conducted online via Zoom meeting and live-streamed on the FF UBK YouTube channel, attracting 500 participants including students and faculty members of UBK. The lecture was moderated by one of the faculty members of FF UBK, Dr. apt. Widhya Aligitha, M.Sc.

Dr. apt. R. Herni Kusriani, M.Sc., as the Coordinator of the International Guest Lecture, expressed that this event was conducted as a form of collaboration and implementation of the established partnership between Bhakti Kencana University, Indonesia, and Lincoln University College, Malaysia. Furthermore, Dr. apt. R. Herni Kusriani, M.Sc., explained that the purpose of this event is to enhance the understanding of students and faculty members in improving the competency of pharmaceutical personnel related to the utilization of natural resources used as herbal medicines in addressing metabolic syndrome and infectious diseases.

Dr. apt. Patonah, M.Sc., as the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy at Bhakti Kencana University, who opened this event, expressed in her welcoming speech her hope that every attending student could actively participate and engage in discussions with the speakers, given the compelling nature of the topic.

During this guest lecture, the speaker focused on the development of herbal medicine for diabetic foot ulcers (DFU), one of the most common complications in poorly controlled diabetes mellitus patients. Insights from the speaker highlighted that although plant extracts used in clinical studies show significant advantages, specific mechanisms at the biochemical and molecular levels are still under-researched. Similarly, research on isolated and purified chemicals from natural sources is relatively limited, leaving a gap for scientists to further investigate active phytoconstituents and develop new molecules for DFU treatment. While several polyherbal formulations have been documented in research, few marketed treatments are available as alternative medicines for treating DFU. Therefore, extensive clinical trials for DFU are necessary, considering the therapeutic properties of natural substances and their active compounds. Natural therapies can be further explored for efficient, cost-effective, and reproducible management of DFU.

The speaker also emphasized that further development requires concrete actions, such as establishing Diploma and Bachelor’s programs to produce scientifically informed experts, setting up alternative healthcare service centers, and improving standardization and quality control in production lines. Correctly implemented, these measures will assist the herbal medicine industry in Indonesia to produce better products beneficial to a wider population.

The International Guest Lecture event can be fully viewed on the YouTube channel of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Bhakti Kencana University (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbjD5GfOzag).

Lia Marliani

The International Pharmaceutical Research Center (IPRC) serves as a platform for students and pharmaceutical researchers worldwide, aiming to explore potentials and develop their research capabilities. IPRC 2023 adopted the theme “Recent Developments in Digital Technology in Pharmaceutical Science and Practice.” The event took place from November 30 to December 3, 2023. Student delegates from the Faculty of Pharmacy, Bhakti Kencana University, namely Rieztya Aliza Gunawan, a second-year student, and Muhammad Firmansyah, a fourth-year student, accompanied by the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Dr. Apt. Patonah, M.Sc., and Vice Rector I, Dr. Apt. Yani Mulyani, M.Sc., attended the 5th IPRC conference held in Malaysia.

On December 1, 2023, the Bhakti Kencana University delegates attended the IPRC Conference at Cyberjaya University, which featured research presentations from several pharmacy professors, including Professor Kenji Ohe from Fukuoka University, Japan. He presented his research titled “The Promises of Personalized Medicine in Cancer Therapy,” motivated by the high incidence of cancer in Japan. Following this, each student delegate presented their research findings in both poster and oral formats. Rieztya Aliza presented her poster on “Social Media Exposure as a Mediator in Increasing Public Awareness Regarding the Danger of Medicine Waste,” addressing the lack of public attention and knowledge in Indonesia regarding pharmaceutical waste management. Additionally, Dr. Apt. Patonah M. Sc., the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, also presented his research titled “Unlocking Nature’s Potential: Natural Compounds as Agents for Metabolic Syndrome, with a Focus on Arterial Stiffness as a Non-Invasive Biomarker of Cardiovascular Risk.”

The student delegates expressed their impressions of the event, stating, “The programs established by the Faculty of Pharmacy, Bhakti Kencana University, through international collaborations, provide the best support to facilitate students to explore potentials, innovate, and enhance competitiveness. As students of Bhakti Kencana University’s pharmacy program, we are proud and grateful to be in such a supportive educational environment, where we are given opportunities to fly to Malaysia and expand educational relations.”