The 2024 Yangtze River Delta Natural Medicinal Chemistry Symposium was held in Hefei, Anhui Province from November 29th to December 1st. The symposium was jointly organized by Natural Medicinal Chemistry Committee of Shanghai Pharmaceutical Association, Chinese Medicine and Natural Medicine Committee of Zhejiang Pharmaceutical Association, Chinese Medicine and Natural Medicine Committee of Jiangsu Pharmaceutical Association, Chinese Medicine and Natural Medicine Committee of Anhui Pharmaceutical Association, and Anhui University of Chinese Medicine. Having attracted numerous researchers, faculty and students from universities, research institutes and enterprises in the Yangtze River Delta region, it received a total of 121 paper submissions and had over 300 attendees. The symposium exchanged the latest academic ideas and research achievements in the field of natural medicinal chemistry, aiming to strengthen the exchange and cooperation of Chinese medicine and natural medicine disciplines, and jointly promote the integrated high-quality development of Chinese medicine in Yangtze River Delta.

Professor Hu Jinfeng, Dean of the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at TU, was invited to attend the symposium and make an academic report titled “A Brief Discussion on Novel Chemical Components of Rare and Endangered Conifers Endemic in China and Their Bioactivities in Resisting Major Metabolic Diseases.” In the report, he comprehensively elaborated on the new chemical components in rare and endangered conifers endemic in China and their biological functions in resisting major metabolic diseases, which have attracted widespread attention and aroused heated discussions among attending experts and scholars.

Professor Hu makes an academic report

After expert review of paper submissions, a total of 4 first prizes, 6 second prizes, and 11 third prizes were selected. Among them, Zhao Zeyu, a joint doctoral student from the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of TU, and Chi Chunjinga, Jiang Zhelu and other master students from TU, received high praise for their paper “Research on Terpenoids Components of Rare and Endangered Cupressaceae Taiwania and Their Bioactivities,” which won the first prize for excellent paper submissions. The paper conducted in-depth research on the chemical composition of Taiwania and discovered various new skeleton compounds, which enriched the research results of the chemical composition of cypress plants and provided scientific basis for the rational protection, medicinal value development, and sustainable utilization of Taiwania. The research is part of the key project of National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21937002) currently led by Professor Hu Jinfeng, entitled “Research on Novel Chemical Components of Rare and Endangered Conifers Endemic in China and Their Bioactivities in Resisting Major Metabolic Diseases.”

Honorary credential

Group photo of first prize winners with award presenters

The Yangtze River Delta Natural Medicinal Chemistry Symposium, which originated from the East China Natural Medicinal Chemistry Academic Conference, has been successfully held for multiple sessions since 1981. The symposium has not only promoted academic exchanges and cooperation in the field of natural medicinal chemistry in the Yangtze River Delta region, but also provided valuable experience, inspiration, and platforms for researchers in related fields. TU’s School of Pharmaceutical Sciences will continue to devote itself to the research of natural medicines, and constantly explore and discover new medicinal resources, so as to promote the development of Chinese medicine and the cause of overall health, and make due contributions to human health.