Three postgraduate students in the Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences (ICMS), University of Macau (UM) recently received a Best Oral Presentation Award in the PhD student category, a Best Oral Presentation Award in the master’s student category, and a Best Poster Award, respectively, at the Fourth International Symposium on Phytochemicals in Medicine and Food.

The event attracted over 700 experts from 67 counties and regions in the field of food science and natural products research. The four recipients of the Best Oral Presentation Award in the PhD category were selected from students from Malaysia, India, New Zealand, Spain, Finland, Chile, Italy, mainland China, and Macao; the eight awardees of the Best Oral Presentation Award in the master’s student category were selected from 24 students; and the eight best posters were selected from the 110 posters exhibited at the symposium.

Linghu Kegang, a PhD student in Assistant Professor Yu Hua’s research group, gave a presentation titled ‘Sigesbeckia Orientalis L Extract Alleviated the Collagen Type II-induced Arthritis through Inhibiting Multi-Targets-Mediated Synovial Hyperplasia and Inflammation’. By combining a multidisciplinary research strategy that integrates phytochemistry, analytical chemistry, cellular pharmacodynamics, network pharmacology, molecular biology, and biochemistry, Linghu’s study systemically compared and investigated the three plant species of the anti-rheumatic herb Siegesbeckiae Herba, which will provide a research basis and scientific evidence to further improve the quality standards of multi-origin Chinese herbal medicines and guide their rational clinical use. Linghu received a Best Oral Presentation Award at the forum for PhD students.

Xiong Shihang, a master’s student in Prof Yu Hua’s research group, gave a presentation titled ‘Interaction of Combined Glycyrrhizic Acid on the Pharmacokinetics and Liver Toxicity of Methotrexate’. His study provided research data for the clinical combination of Chinese herbal component glycyrrhizic acid to improve the hepatotoxicity reduced by methotrexate (a first-line anti-rheumatic drug). Xiong received a Best Oral Presentation Award at the forum for master’s students.

Miao Lingchao, a PhD student, presented a systemic investigation on the biological activities and mechanisms of six flavonoids (Apigenin, Luteolin, Baicalein, Baicalin, Vitexin and Isoorientin) and how they can improve the high-glucose and dexamethasone induced insulin-resistance in HepG-2 cells. Simultaneously, she investigated the metabolisms of the six flavonoids by the insulin-resistant HepG-2 cells in order to find the appropriate methods to improve their bioavailability as well as the biological activities. Mio received a Best Poster Award

The Fourth International Symposium on Phytochemicals in Medicine and Food was organised by the International Association of Dietetic Nutrition and Safety, the Phytochemical Society of Europe, and the Phytochemical Society of Asia (PSA), and was hosted by Northwest University, Shaanxi Normal University, Dalian Polytechnic University, the University of Hong Kong, and the University of Vigo. It was held through a combination of online and offline formats, with conference presentations, keynote presentations, invited presentations, oral presentations, and poster sessions to promote peer-to-peer academic exchange in multiple fields. This year’s conference allowed participants to exchange ideas on and learn more about the latest research progress in phytochemistry, natural products, functional foods, and related research fields.

Source: Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences

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