30 July 2025
Sunaryo S.Kom
USU Faculty of Pharmacy Public Relations — The Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), marked another academic achievement by holding a Doctoral Promotion Examination (Open Defense) for one of its PhD candidates, Vivi Asfianti, on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, from 08.00 to 10.00 WIB. The event took place in the 2nd Floor Auditorium of Building A, Faculty of Pharmacy USU, attended by faculty members, the examination committee, family members, and invited guests.
In her open defense, Vivi Asfianti presented the results of her research through her dissertation titled:
“Evaluation of the Cardioprotective Effect of Ethanol Extract of Poguntano Herb (Picria fel-terrae Lour.) on Doxorubicin-Induced Male Wistar Rats.”
The research aimed to evaluate the potential of Poguntano herb as a cardioprotective agent, particularly in addressing doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity—a well-known side effect of chemotherapy. Vivi used male Wistar rats as the animal model to assess the efficacy of ethanol extract from Poguntano, a medicinal plant traditionally believed to offer various health benefits.
This study contributes significantly to the advancement of safe and affordable herbal-based therapies, especially in managing the adverse effects of cancer treatment. The use of natural products as complementary or alternative therapy has gained global attention due to the growing need for treatments that are both effective and minimally harmful to vital organs such as the heart.
The defense proceeded in a highly academic atmosphere, with constructive scientific discussions. The examination panel praised the depth of the research, methodology, and the relevance of the topic to the development of safer, nature-based modern therapies. After the discussion and Q&A session, the defense was concluded, and the candidate was declared graduated with distinction.
This milestone was not only a personal achievement for Vivi Asfianti but also a significant accomplishment for the Faculty of Pharmacy USU in producing doctoral graduates ready to contribute to education, research, and community health services.
The Doctoral Defense also supports several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
The research advances knowledge in healthcare by providing safer and natural alternatives to manage chemotherapy side effects, thus improving patient quality of life.
SDG 4: Quality Education
This event reflects success in higher education by producing high-quality PhD graduates ready to contribute meaningfully in academia, research, and public service.
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
The research promotes innovation in utilizing Indonesia’s local plants as potential pharmaceutical ingredients, with the possibility of future industrial development.
With graduates like Vivi Asfianti, the USU Faculty of Pharmacy continues to demonstrate its commitment to shaping top-tier academics and researchers capable of addressing modern healthcare challenges while contributing to sustainable development.
Faculty of Pharmacy USU Supports National Campaign for the Prevention of Abuse of Certain Drugs (OOT)
NewsUSU Faculty of Pharmacy Witnesses the Destruction of Illegal Products as Part of the National Action for the Prevention of Certain Drugs Misuse
NewsUSU Faculty of Pharmacy Lecturer Receives International Research Grant from Kyung Hee University, South Korea
