Interest in obtaining biologically active compounds from natural sources has increased for a variety of reasons, including concerns that habitats worldwide—and their chemical-harboring unique flora and fauna—are being lost to development. These compounds also typically offer low toxicity, biodegradability, renewable availability and low cost.
Earlier this year, Jonel Saludes, assistant professor in organic and bioorganic chemistry, and fellow WSU faculty member Doralyn Dalisay, assistant research professor in the WSU Institute for Biological Chemistry, spoke at an international seminar organized by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), located in central Luzon, one of the major islands of the country.
“They too have outstanding ideas and research but lack the facilities and equipment to move things forward,” said Saludes. “I envision collaboration where WSU could help them identify and determine the structure of the compound(s) responsible for the desired bioactivity.”