Yogyakarta, October 21, 2025 – Lecturer and Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration, and Alumni Affairs at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Prof. Dr.rer.nat. apt. Nanang Fakhrudin, M.Si., was officially inaugurated as a Professor in Phytotherapy on Tuesday, October 10, 2025, at the UGM Central Building Senate Hall.
In his inaugural address titled “The Potential of Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis (Park.) Fosberg) Leaves as a Natural Cardioprotective Agent,” Prof. Nanang presented his research on the bioactive compounds found in breadfruit leaves, which show promise as natural therapeutic agents for protecting the cardiovascular system. His study was motivated by the fact that cardiovascular diseases remain one of the leading causes of death worldwide—including in Indonesia—with a significantly increasing trend in recent years.
Cardiovascular diseases, which encompass heart and blood vessel disorders such as coronary heart disease and peripheral artery disease, are typically caused by plaque buildup or blockages in the arteries. While modern pharmacological treatments such as antiplatelet and antithrombotic drugs are widely used, their side effects, particularly bleeding risk, remain a major concern. Prof. Nanang’s research highlights the potential of natural products as safer, more effective therapeutic alternatives aligned with Indonesia’s rich biodiversity and traditional knowledge.
In his speech, Prof. Nanang emphasized the importance of developing evidence-based herbal medicine, not only to support traditional healing practices but also to promote national self-reliance in natural drug innovation. By integrating multidisciplinary approaches, including pharmacology, biotechnology, and natural product chemistry, his research aims to produce promising herbal drug candidates for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
This inauguration marks a significant milestone for the UGM Faculty of Pharmacy, strengthening its academic and research leadership in the field of natural product-based medicine and phytotherapy. It also demonstrates the university’s continued contribution to advancing health sciences and technology rooted in Indonesia’s natural resources.
Furthermore, this achievement aligns with UGM Faculty of Pharmacy’s commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) through research that enhances public health, SDG 4 (Quality Education) through academic and evidence-based research excellence, and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by fostering innovation in globally competitive natural product drug development.
