Ton Duc Thang University (TDTU) is proud to introduce a new research result of TDTU entitled “Pharmacological benefits of neferine - A comprehensive review” to all lecturers, students, and people who are interested. This study has been published in the well-known journal – Life Sciences, belonging to the Elsevier publisher. Life Sciences is an ISI journal, with an Impact Factor (IF) of 2.936 according to Journal Citation Reports (Clarivate, USA) and an H-index of 138 according to SJR (Spain). According to TDTU’s ranking system for international publications, Life Sciences is ranked as “exceptional journal” in the subject area and category of “Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics (miscellaneous)” by SJR.

The main author of this work is Dr. Bharath Kumar Velmurugan, the lecturer of Faculty of Applied Sciences at TDTU. This publication is the result of a long-term and very elaborate research, due to high requirements of Life Sciences which accepts only pioneering research papers.

Neferine is a unique bis-benzylisoquinoline alkaloid that possesses a number of therapeutic effects such as anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-aging, anti-microbial, anti-thrombotic, anti-arrhythmic, anti-inflammatory and even anti-HIV. It also enhances the anti-cancer properties of other anti-cancer drugs like cisplatin, adriamycin, taxol, etc. There are several previous studies of neferine, whereas no review article has been published until now.

Motivated by that idea, Dr. Bharath Kumar Velmurugan and his colleagues carried out a study on pharmacological benefits of neferine. This article thus is the first ever attempt to review the therapeutic activities of neferine established in in vitro, in vivo models and compile all the fragmented data available on the omnipotent activities of neferine. 

Dr. Bharath Kumar Velmurugan obtained his PhD degree in Biotechnology at National Dong Hwa University (Taiwan). Up to now, Dr. Bharath Kumar Velmurugan has published 15 articles in prestigious ISI journals, and he is one of the full-time foreign experts working at Ton Duc Thang University.

TDTU is the first public university in Vietnam recruiting foreign experts around the world, and it is recruiting only prominent scientists. Being able to attract foreign experts is not only good for the University, but also helps Vietnam increase its international reputation.