Mariano Marcos
State University

Dr. Roxanne Anas tackles advanced chemical research product in second Balik Scientist lecture

By Criztalene Victorio

Following her first lecture in the Balik Scientist Series, Dr. Andrea Roxanne Anas delivered her second lecture, titled “From Crude Extracts to Bioactive Leads: Integrating LC-MS-Based Metabolomics in Natural Product Discovery,” on September 22.

Dr. Anas is a Balik Scientist fellow, researcher, and faculty member of the Faculty of Pharmacy at Meijo University in Nagoya, Japan. Her partnership aims to elevate technology transfer, upgrade local research capabilities, and strengthen international research linkages and institutions like MMSU.

During her discussion, she emphasized the importance of using modern chemical analysis in identifying medicinal or biologically active compounds from plants, or microorganisms that are useful for product development.

She explained that while traditional approaches to natural product research are helpful, advanced laboratory technologies can provide a more comprehensive analysis of complex extracts and help identify compounds that require further investigation.

The lecture was attended by MMSU BS Biology, BS Pharmacy, and BS Veterinary Medicine students, as well as researchers and faculty members.

The Balik Scientist Series will continue on October 20, when Dr. Anas will deliver her final lecture on “Applications of High-Resolution LC-MS in Detecting and Characterizing Bioactive Compounds in Complex Biological Matrices.”