KARACHI: Experts at the third day of a symposium in progress at Karachi University (KU) highlighted the importance of natural products which, they said, had been used extensively for treatment of various health disorders since ancient times.

Theywerespeakingatthe 15th International Symposium on Natural Product Chemistry organised by KU`s International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS).

Scholars from more than 20 countries are participating in the conference.

Natural products, experts pointed out, were considered as the most significant sources of therapeutically important chemical constituents with immense structural diversity. Several plant-derived medicines had been developed as novel anti-cancer, antiinflammatory, and antihypertensive agents.

`The role of nutrients in immune modulation is well known. Ginger is commonly used as a spice worldwide and has been shown to possess numerous health benefits, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, antidiabetic, and anticancer activities,` said Dr Rafat A.

Siddiqui, a US-based scientist, while speaking online.

The current scientific evidence suggested that ginger could be an effective herbal natural product to reduce inflammation, cytokine storm, and viral replication in Covid-19, he added.

He informed the audience that the Virginia State University had an active programme on ginger cultivation, production, and investigating its effects on human health.

Dr Mustafa Guzel, a leading Turkish scholar, expressed serious concern over high cancer mortalities worldwide, and said cancer now surpassed heart disease as the leading cause of death in many countries.

He also shared details of new drugs being developed to fight cancer.

Canada-based expert Dr Masood Parvez highlighted the function of hydrogen bonding in natural products and said that hydrogen bonding played a unique role in natural products chemistry.

Swedish scientist Dr Ute Romling presented her work in understanding how bacteria caused an infection and drug resistance against antibiotics developed.

Earlier, on day 2, there was discussion on the benefits of bitter gourd (Karela) and it was shared that the vegetable could help reduce hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar).

`Eating bitter gourd may not only offer a safe, costeffective approach to manage diabetes-induced hyperglycaemia, but may also provide long-term protection against chronic complications such as diabetic wound-healing,` said UK-based scholar Dr Nessar Ahmed, while emphasising the need for more studies to understand its therapeutic potential.