20 May 2026
Threesna Sharfina
HUMAS FARMASI USU – The Faculty of Pharmacy at Universitas Sumatera Utara has once again demonstrated its contribution to the advancement of national research through the involvement of one of its lecturers, Prof. Yuandani, S.Farm., M.Si., Ph.D., Apt., in the Indonesian Collaborative Research Program (RKI). In this program, Prof. Yuandani serves as a member of the research team in a study focusing on the development of natural product-based therapies for obesity and metabolic disorders.
The research project is entitled “Modulation of Inflammatory Signaling Pathways in the Adipose–Liver Axis by Purple Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) Extract in an Obese Rat Model: A Dose-Response Study Based on In Vivo, In Vitro, and In Silico Approaches.” The study aims to investigate how purple sweet potato extract can influence inflammatory signaling pathways occurring in adipose tissue and the liver under obesity conditions.
Prof. Yuandani’s involvement in this collaborative research forms part of broader efforts to strengthen multidisciplinary research collaborations among universities in Indonesia. The Indonesian Collaborative Research Program (RKI) is specifically designed to bring together researchers from various institutions to produce outstanding research with strategic value and tangible impacts on scientific advancement and public health problem-solving.
This research utilizes modern scientific approaches through in vivo, in vitro, and in silico methods. Through these approaches, researchers are able to comprehensively analyze the biological activity of purple sweet potato extract, ranging from direct observation in animal models and laboratory testing to computational simulations aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms involved.
The use of purple sweet potato as the research object is based on its bioactive compounds, including anthocyanins and natural antioxidants, which have the potential to help suppress inflammatory processes caused by obesity. Chronic inflammation associated with obesity is known to trigger various metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, liver disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, this research is expected to contribute scientifically to the development of safer and more effective alternative therapies based on natural ingredients.
In addition to generating scientific data, this research is also expected to open opportunities for the development of health and pharmaceutical products derived from Indonesia’s local natural resources. The research approach, which combines modern technology with the potential of natural materials, represents a strategic step toward creating sustainable and high-value health innovations.
The success of lecturers from the USU Faculty of Pharmacy in obtaining grants through the Indonesian Collaborative Research Program reflects the increasingly strong culture of research and innovation within the faculty’s academic environment. This achievement also demonstrates the quality of human resources that are competitive and actively contribute to the advancement of pharmaceutical sciences at the national level.
The Faculty of Pharmacy USU extends its appreciation and congratulations to Prof. Yuandani for this achievement. It is hoped that this accomplishment will motivate other lecturers and researchers to continue producing innovative research, expanding collaborative networks, and increasing the contribution of higher education institutions in supporting public health development through science and technology.
This achievement also supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being through the development of obesity and metabolic health research; Goal 4: Quality Education through strengthening the culture of research and innovation in higher education; Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure through the development of research-based innovations; and Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals through strengthening research collaboration among universities in Indonesia.
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