Pharmaceuticals Webinar | Natural Pharmacons – Biologically Active Plant Based Pharmaceuticals
the chairs
Natural products and medicinal plants continue to play a central role in modern pharmaceutical research, offering a rich source of biologically active compounds with significant therapeutic potential. Advances in phytochemistry, pharmacology, biotechnology, and molecular sciences have greatly expanded our understanding of plant-derived metabolites and their possible applications in medicine and healthcare.
The webinar “Natural Pharmacons – Biologically Active Plant-Based Pharmaceuticals” is dedicated to highlighting recent scientific achievements and emerging perspectives in the field of natural product research. The event will bring together researchers and experts working on medicinal plants, phytopharmaceuticals, bioactive natural compounds, ethnopharmacology, pharmaceutical biotechnology, and related disciplines.
Through invited lectures and scientific discussions, participants will have the opportunity to explore current trends in the discovery, characterization, biological evaluation, and pharmaceutical application of plant-based compounds. The webinar also aims to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration and strengthen connections between traditional knowledge and evidence-based scientific research.
We warmly welcome all participants and thank our distinguished speakers and contributors for being part of this scientific event.
Date: 18 June 2026
Time: 1:00 pm CEST | 7:00 pm CST Asia | 7:00 am EDT
Webinar ID: 883 7616 8625
Webinar Secretariat: journal.webinar@mdpi.com
Meet the Event Chairs
Important Dates
- Registration end dateJun 18, 2026
Meet Our Speakers
Dr. Eman Zahran
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Deraya University, Egypt;
Dr. Eman Zahran is a specialist in Natural Products and the Executive Director of the Pharma-SCB Center. Her research expertise lies in phytochemistry and the green synthesis of nanoparticles for sustainable pharmaceutical innovation. Dr. Zahran is a dedicated advocate for community health and inclusive development; she currently serves as a member of a specialized United Nations stakeholder group focused on demographic advocacy for people of African descent. Her diverse portfolio includes mentoring with the Egypt Scholars Community and participating in the Anna Lindh Foundation's Euromed trainers program, and undergoing the CIPhER Summer Institute on evidence-based teaching and course design, in collaboration with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. By integrating laboratory research with global health policy and social justice, Dr. Zahran works to create impactful, nature-based solutions for contemporary global challenges.
Prof. Dr. Gökhan Zengin
Department of Biology, Science Faculty, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey;
Gökhan Zengin is a Professor at the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Selçuk University. His research is focused on natural products, phytochemistry, medicinal plants, and the biological evaluation of plant-derived compounds, particularly their antioxidant, antimicrobial, enzyme inhibitory, and pharmacological properties.
He is internationally recognized for his extensive contributions to natural product and ethnopharmacological research, with numerous highly cited publications in the fields of phytochemistry and bioactivity of medicinal plants. His work integrates advanced analytical techniques with biological assays to explore the therapeutic potential of natural compounds for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.
Dr. Iván Benito-Vázquez
Pharmactive Biotech Products SLU, Madrid, Spain;
Biochemist and R&D Project Leader with a strong background in biotechnology, nutraceutical innovation, and scientific research. Currently leading R&D projects at Pharmactive Biotech Products while pursuing an industrial PhD focused on the development and validation of plant-based bioactive ingredients with health applications. Experienced in product development, scientific communication, analytical techniques, and translational research, with multiple peer-reviewed publications in food science and nutraceuticals. Passionate about bridging science and industry through evidence-based innovation, functional ingredients, and strategic scientific support.
Prof. Dr. İpek Süntar
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, Yenimahalle, Ankara, Türkiye;
Prof. Dr. İpek SÜNTAR has been serving as a Professor in the Department of Pharmacognosy at Gazi University. Her research focuses on the investigation of plant-derived drug candidates through bioactivity and phytochemical studies on medicinal plants. Within this scope, her work includes the preclinical evaluation of the biological activities of plants growing in the Turkish flora, the identification, isolation, and structural elucidation of active compounds, as well as the exploration of their mechanisms of action. Her ongoing projects involve the elucidation of the activity pathways and gene-level effects of plant-derived secondary metabolites. Prof. SÜNTAR has participated in a total of 35 research projects, including 11 as the principal investigator and the remainder as a researcher or consultant. These include projects supported by TÜBİTAK, TÜSEB, TÜBA, and universities. She received the Turkish Pharmacists’ Association Incentive Award in 2014, the TÜBA-GEBİP (Outstanding Young Scientist Award) in 2021 and TÜBİTAK Encouragement Award in Health Sciences in 2024. As a result of her research in the field of Pharmacognosy, she has published 110 research and review articles in SCI-indexed journals, 12 papers in national peer-reviewed journals, and 2 papers in other internationally indexed journals. Her scholarly contributions also include 2 international book editorships, 1 national book authorship, 5 chapters in national books, and 18 chapters in international books, as well as one international patent obtained in collaboration with the University of Milan. As of May 2026, her publications have received 4,767 citations in the Web of Science database, with an h-index of 39.
Dr. Filipa Mandim
CIMO, LA SusTEC, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, Bragança, Portugal;
Filipa Mandim holds a PhD in Pharmacy and Health from the University of Salamanca and is currently a researcher at the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança. Her research focuses on the valorization of natural resources, with a particular emphasis on cell-based assays to explore and elucidate the bioactive potential of natural compounds. She has published several articles in international journals and actively contributes to the scientific community as editor and reviewer.
| Speaker | Presentation | Time (CEST) | Time (CST Asia) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Marina Soković | Chair Introduction | 1:00–1:10 pm | 7:00–7:10 pm |
| Dr. Eman Zahran | Green Synthesis of MnO₂/MgO Nanoparticles via Sword Fern Extract for Pharmaceutical Applications | 1:10–1:25 pm | 7:10–7:25 pm |
| Prof. Dr. Gokhan Zengin | Recent Advancements on Enzyme Inhibitors | 1:25–1:40 pm | 7:25–7:40 pm |
| Dr. Iván Benito-Vázquez | Flavonoid Composition and Molecular Basis of the Potential Sexual-Enhancing Properties of a Turnera diffusa Extract (Liboost®) | 1:40–1:55 pm | 7:40–7:55 pm |
| Prof. Dr. İpek Süntar | Unlocking Nature’s Pharmacy: Preclinical and Ethnopharmacological Studies on Medicinal Plants | 1:55–2:10 pm | 7:55–8:10 pm |
| Dr. Filipa Mandim | Cell-Based Assays as Tools for Evaluating the Bioactive Potential of Plant-Derived Compounds | 2:10–2:25 pm | 8:10–8:25 pm |
| Q&A | 2:25–2:55 pm | 8:25–8:55 pm | |
| Dr. Dejan Stojković | Closing Remarks | 2:55–3:00 pm | 8:55–9:00 pm |
"Natural Pharmacons: Biologically Active Plant-Based Pharmaceuticals—4th Edition"
Special Issue Editors: Dr. Dejan Stojković and Dr. Marina Soković
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 October 2026
To honor Professor Tu Youyou's remarkable contributions to human health and build upon her achievements, MDPI established the Tu Youyou Award in 2016. This award aims to acknowledge exceptional scholars committed to the research fields of natural product chemistry and medicinal chemistry.
Prize:
- CHF 100,000 (to be divided equally should multiple recipients be awarded).
- An award medal and a certificate.
Nomination Deadline: 31 October 2026
For further information, please visit the Tu Youyou Award website (https://tuyouyouprize.org/).
For any inquiries, please contact the Tu Youyou Award Team at tuyouyouaward@mdpi.com.