As part of its regular monthly academic activities, the Faculty of Pharmacy – Ton Duc Thang University held its April 2025 seminar with active participation from lecturers and researchers. The session featured a presentation by Dr. Nguyễn Minh Hiền, who reported on the topic: “Study on the Inhibitory Activity of Ochna integerrima Extracts on α-amylase and α-glucosidase Enzymes for the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus.”

The presentation focused on the pharmacological potential of Ochna integerrima, a familiar plant in Vietnam known for its ornamental value during the Lunar New Year. Beyond its cultural symbolism, the plant contains several biologically active compounds. Preliminary findings indicate that flower extracts from Ochna integerrima exhibit inhibitory effects on α-amylase and α-glucosidase—two key enzymes involved in blood sugar regulation—suggesting possible application in diabetes treatment.

Several academic discussions were raised during the seminar:

• Dr. Phạm Đức Toàn inquired about the research foundation and background literature. Dr. Hiền responded that based on a SciFinder database search, there are currently no studies, either in Vietnam or internationally, investigating the inhibitory effects of this plant on these enzymes.

• Dr. Trần Gia Bửu asked about potential future directions. Dr. Hiền shared that in vivo studies on mice are ongoing to further explore the plant’s anti-diabetic effects. Additionally, plans are in place to investigate its skin-lightening properties using zebrafish models.

• Dr. Đỗ Bích Hằng questioned which part of the plant exhibits the most significant bioactivity. Findings indicate that the flowers are most effective in antioxidant and anti-diabetic activity; leaves show anti-inflammatory effects; seeds have strong antioxidant properties but also exhibit cytotoxicity; and the stem has weaker activity compared to the flowers and seeds.

In closing remarks, Dr. Trần Gia Bửu, Head of the Faculty, emphasized the study's high practical relevance, particularly in the context of utilizing local medicinal resources. Further research into Ochna integerrima could contribute to the development of natural therapeutic products for diabetes management.

The seminar concluded at 2:07 PM, providing promising directions for future investigations into this culturally significant yet underexplored plant species in the field of pharmaceutical sciences.

Let me know if you'd like this formatted for web publication (HTML, markdown, etc.) or need additional visual or graphic elements.