The 2nd Herbal Research Webinar Series 2024 organised by the Herbal Research Group, Universiti Brunei Darussalam was held via the Zoom platform on the 21st August 2024. Dr. Maizatul Hasyima Omar from the Phytochemistry Unit, Herbal Medicine Research Centre at the Institute of Medical Research, National Institutes of Health, Malaysia was invited as the guest speaker for the event. She shared an insightful talk on her research work, titled “Plant Polyphenols and the Role of Gut Microbiota for Human Health”. A total of 58 participants were present including staff and students from PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Education and Faculty of Science of Universiti Brunei Darussalam as well as IBTE Agro-technology and Applied Science Campus, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Institute of Medical Research, Malaysia, and Department of Food Science Semarang University Indonesia.
Dr. Maizatul took the stage, expressing her gratitude for the invitation. She outlined the structure of her presentation, beginning with an introduction to plant polyphenols and their health benefits. Dr. Maizatul explained that plants possess the unique capability to synthesize their own food through primary and secondary metabolites. She highlighted the importance of secondary metabolites, such as polyphenols, which play a crucial role in plant defense and exhibit various beneficial properties for human health. Dr. Maizatul elaborated on the classification of polyphenols, including flavonoids and non-flavonoids, and their presence in common dietary sources such as fruits, vegetables, tea, and red wine.
Furthermore, Dr. Maizatul presented findings from her phytochemical analysis of the Ficus plant, emphasizing its high antioxidant content. She described the process of extracting the compounds and the subsequent identification of around 26 phenolic compounds using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Dr. Maizatul also discussed the antioxidant potential of these compounds and their pharmacological effects, which include anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties.
As the session progressed, Dr. Maizatul explained the methodologies used to study the absorption and metabolism of these compounds in humans. She detailed the use of radioisotope labeling to track the movement of caffeic acid through the gastrointestinal tract, highlighting the intricate processes involved in its transformation by gut microbiota. She noted the significance of understanding these metabolic pathways to assess the health benefits of dietary polyphenols.
The Q&A session allowed participants to engage directly with Dr. Maizatul. Questions arose regarding student internship opportunities at her centre, the feasibility of short-term attachments, and the specifics of her research methodologies, particularly involving radioisotope techniques. Dr. Maizatul detailed her centre’s collaborative environment and the importance of research in ensuring the quality and efficacy of herbal products.
In conclusion, Dr. Omar emphasized the vital role of plant polyphenols in promoting human health and the importance of ongoing research to understand their mechanisms of action. She expressed her enthusiasm for potential collaborations and further discussions, inviting interested participants to connect with her and her team.
As the webinar wrapped up, Dr. Nurolaini thanked Dr. Maizatul for her informative presentation and all participants for their engagement. The session ended with a group photo, capturing the collaborative spirit of the event, followed by discussions on possible future collaborations in herbal research.
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