Unesa Researcher Develops Anticancer Drug Candidate from Tropical Flora

Researcher Dr. Ratih Dewi Saputri from Surabaya State University (Unesa) is developing anticancer drug candidates based on bioactive compounds from Indonesian tropical plants through phytochemical research that harnesses the archipelago’s rich biodiversity. “This research not only aims to discover new compounds, but also opens up opportunities for the emergence of herbal drug candidates based on Indonesian tropical plants that are safer, more selective, and have the potential to become alternative cancer therapies in the future,” said Dr. Ratih Dewi Saputri in Surabaya on Tuesday. The research, which began in 2018, started with the exploration of various endemic plants from Sumatra, Bangka Belitung, Java, Kalimantan, and eastern Indonesia, regions known for their high biodiversity but which still lack scientific study. Through a modern phytochemical approach, the research team successfully isolated various bioactive compounds, including flavonoids and xanthones from the Garcinia and Flemingia genera, which demonstrated antioxidant and anticancer activity. “The next research focus is directed towards developing therapeutic candidates for cervical cancer using HeLa cells and breast cancer using 4T1 cells, which are two types of cancer with high incidence rates in women,” she said. Various Garcinia species studied, such as Garcinia celebica, Garcinia rigida, Garcinia parvifolia, Garcinia nigrolineata, Garcinia hombroniana, and Garcinia xanthochymus, produced xanthone compounds with promising cytotoxic and antioxidant activities. To strengthen the drug candidate discovery process, the team also applied an in silico molecular docking approach to evaluate the interaction of natural compounds against molecular targets in breast cancer and cervical cancer. “In the future, the research will be developed through a Network Pharmacology approach to accelerate the development of drug candidates based on Indonesia’s biodiversity,” she said. The research is also part of the implementation of the Tridarma of Higher Education, supporting the Merdeka Belajar-Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) programme, and contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).