Andre Rafael T. Santos, BS Biochemistry alumnus of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), bagged the 2nd place of the research presentation competition during the 4th Philippine Herbal Medicine Summit held last January 18 to 19, 2024.

Mentored by Professor Noel S. Quiming, Santos, who with the former are under the Department of Physical Sciences and Mathematics (DPSM) presented their research entitled “Quantitative Determination of Negundoside and 3,5-Dihydroxybenzoic Acid Concentration in Lagundi (Vitex negundo) Leaves and Preparations Through High-Performance Liquid Chromatography and Non-Densitometric High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography” during the annual event. The paper was adjudged among the top five best research abstracts submitted, and was presented during the second day of the two-day summit.

With the theme, “Securing the Health of the Filipino Family Through Philippine Herbal Medicines,” the conference focused on the innovations and success of incorporating herbal medicines as alternative choices in alleviating the needs of the people, especially in the rural areas where access to drugstore-bought medicine is dire. The summit also gave importance to the huge impact of the scientific and commercial success of herbal medicines especially the lagundi and sambong tablets and syrup.

The Conference also coincided with the celebration of the 50-year legacy of the National Integrated Research Program on Medicinal Plants (NIRPROMP), and the ceremonial signing of the Philippine Herbal Medicine Development Plan presented by UPM through the Community Health Development Program (CHDP).

Evalea Casaljay