UNAIR NEWS – As one of the best universities in Indonesia, never stops to pursue the advancement of science. It was proven in the inauguration of four professors on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, at the Garuda Mukti Hall.
Among the four inaugurated professors, Prof Dr Mulyadi Tanjung MS was one of them. The professor of biochemistry was inaugurated as the 542nd professor since UNAIR檚 establishment.
During the inauguration, Prof Tanjung presented his research result entitled Natural Chemical Ingredients as Medicinal Bioindustry for Health Improvement. In his presentation, he mentioned that natural chemical ingredients were the source of knowledge to develop Science and Technology, including health services.
淭his field (medicinal bioindustry, ed) has a promising prospect to be developed in Indonesia, stated the alumni of Institut Teknologi Bandung.
The first born son of ten siblings also explained that Indonesia檚 diversity mapping was essential to be developed in the medicinal bioindustry. According to him, the diversity of secondary metabolites compounds from endemic botanicals in Indonesia was a fascinating object for the downstream medicinal bioindustry. However, he also mentioned that this field has its challenges.
淚t is the main challenge for chemistry scientists to achieve a systematic methodology, said Professor Tanjung.
Supported by Campus Facility
In the last ten years, Prof Tanjung participated in the Natural Chemical Ingredients Research Group of FST and NMPRD ITD UNAIR. The man born in Padang Sidempuan actively developed a quick, cheap, and systematic isolation method using a conventional course. In doing the isolation, he needed the NMR Spectroscopy that supports HRESIMS, IR, and UV. 淭he facility is available in UNAIR environment, he revealed.
Learning from local plants
In his research, Prof Tanjung utilized natural ingredients that were distinctively Indonesian. Mahang and kisampang were the two plants he chose to be his research object. Prof Tanjung mentioned that humans truly could learn so much from nature.
淚ndonesian forest is the philosophy of 榥ature thrives to be the teacher. Plants have taught humans how to produce chemical ingredients for cancer cure and malaria. Plants also signalled chemical compounds to interact with plants or other creatures in their surroundings, he concluded. (*)
Author: Ghulam Phasa Pambayung Editor: Binti Q. Masruroh
