The 16th International Symposium on Natural Product Chemistry (ISNPC-16) concluded on Thursday at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi (UoK), with a strong emphasis on protecting medicinal plants and developing new herbal drugs to combat major diseases.
The four-day global science gathering, organized by the HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry at ICCBS, brought together 60 scholars from 29 countries, including Germany, the USA, the UK, China, Sweden, Iran, Turkey, and Sri Lanka, among others. Additionally, 400 scholars from across Pakistan participated in the symposium, which featured plenary lectures, invited presentations, and interactive sessions on natural product chemistry. Young researchers also contributed to the event by presenting around 130 research posters.
The concluding session, chaired by Prof. Dr. Farzana Shaheen, Director of ICCBS, underscored the urgent need for preserving medicinal plants from overexploitation. She highlighted the role of natural product research in the healthcare sector, emphasizing that plant-based drugs could play a crucial role in preventing life-threatening diseases.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Syed Ghulam Musharraf, ISNPC Organizing Secretary, extended his gratitude to participants and acknowledged the collaborative efforts of faculty, staff, and students in ensuring the symposium’s success. He noted that the symposium facilitated scientific exchange and international partnerships, with several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed between ICCBS and leading institutions worldwide.
International attendees commended Pakistan for hosting such a significant scientific event and praised the warm hospitality extended to them. They stressed that global collaboration in natural product chemistry could lead to groundbreaking discoveries in medicine and pharmaceuticals.
The symposium concluded with Prof. Dr. Farzana Shaheen distributing certificates to participants and awarding prizes to winners of the research poster competition, marking the successful conclusion of this globally significant scientific forum.