Ready for Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry KBK Thesis 2024
The 2024 KBK Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry Thesis Ready Event will be held on March 17 2024 online via the Zoom platform. This event was attended by Prof. apt. Rr. Retno Widyowati, S.Sc., M.Pharm., Ph.D. as a speaker for this thesis preparation.
KBK Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry only has one research group, namely the Natural Product Drugs Discovery & Development Research Group (NPD3-RG). The vision of this KBK is to be part of the development of science or research, especially to produce medicines from natural ingredients in the form of phytopharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals or nutraceuticals that can develop on the national and international stage. With the main mission of fulfilling standards and/or quality requirements for medicines and medicinal substances, namely effective, safe and standardized
One of the results of this KBK research is Diabetkol, which is the result of research by Prof. Dr. apt. Sukadirman, MS.. In order to produce a product, of course there is a lot that needs to be done, including exploration, screening, searching for ingredient profiles, and ethnomedicine surveys. Materials that can be used are definitely materials that come from nature, including plants, marine biota, products that come from animals, etc. Next, in vivo testing, isolation and quality control can be carried out. Then formulation research, toxicity tests and stability tests can also be developed. When the phytopharmaceutical product is ready, the final stage is to carry out clinical trials and stability tests.
The themes of lecturers' ongoing research include Ethnomedicine Studies, Isolation and Structure Elucidation, Bioactivity and Toxicity (Preclinical Studies), Development of Analysis Methods and Metabolite Profiling, Development of Drug Formulations and Delivery Systems, and finally, regarding Clinical Trials. Apart from that, there are also several elective courses that can support research topics at KBK, namely Ethnomedicine, Aromatherapy, Phytotherapy, and Non-Clinical Testing.
Each lecturer has a focus on their own research so that students can choose the research topic they want to submit based on their respective lecturer's research topic. When selecting supervisors, previous research that has been carried out is also taken into account.
“Usually we will offer the lecturer research topics first. However, we, the lecturers, are also very open to ideas from younger students. For example, 'I have this idea, Prof.!', we will of course still consider it. "Now, for your own funding, if it is still within the research topic of the funded lecturer then the research will also be covered, whereas if it is outside of that then it will be up to the individual lecturer, but usually if the research has potential then it will be budgeted for or the budget can also be submitted in the following year," he said. Prof. Retno.
“Apart from that, there are no specific criteria. We don't look at GPA if only high GPA students are taken, but the others are not guided. What is important is commitment and sincerity. "If you can do research, enjoy it, not force it," continued Prof. Retno regarding the question of specific criteria for student selection.
After the presentation by the lecturer, there was also sharing of material by students who were doing their thesis at KBK Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, namely Putri Antika with a focus on formulation research and activity testing (In Vivo) and Dhita Dwi Rachmawati and Afifatuzzahroh with a focus on ethnomedicine research. According to them, the thesis at KBK Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry is very exciting and of course there are many friends who help each other in implementing the thesis, the most important thing is enthusiasm, intention, and don't be afraid to try.
Writer : Josephine Hoo (2022)
Editor : Amanda A. (2023) & FF UNAIR Public Relations Team
