VIGAN CITY, Feb. 26 (PIA) -- Health researchers, health workers, and medical students in Region 1 discussed in a series of fora the results of local health researches involving the therapeutic value of processed indigenous plants ready for utilization as effective medicines to human.

The forum dubbed as “2019 Health Research Dissemination Forum” was initiated by the Region 1 Health Research Development Consortium (R1HRDC) in partnership with the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center (ITRMC) anchored on the theme: “Research Outputs: Inputs to Evidenced-Based Nursing Practice.”

Dr. Jose B. Orosa III, chairperson of Research Management Committee of R1HRDC, said the series of health research dissemination fora in the Ilocos were held in La Union and in Ilocos Sur.

The first forum was conducted in the DBM Conference Hall, San Fernando City, La Union on Jan 26 wherein researches, doctors, practicing nurses and medical students from Pangasinan, La Union and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) participated.

The second forum was held in the University of the Northern Phillippines (UNP), Vigan City on Feb. 9.

The health researches presented during the two fora were: utilization of guava leaves in the formulation of anti-bacterial products; cancer chemopreventive  activity of the characterized bioactive alkaloid extract from sorghum bicolor; bactericidal property of ginger against coccus aureus, MRSA, e.coli, and extended spectrum beta lactamase e.coli; platelet augmenting nephroprotective and hepatoprotective activities of sweek potato leaf (kamote) extract.

Orosa said the conduct of these health researches were funded by the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) – R1HRDC.

“We conducted these health researches to produce economical but more effective medicines out from the indigenous plants involved in the studies,”Orosa said.

Dr. Mercita Queddeng, chairperson of the Research Utilization Committee (RUC) of the R1HRDC, said that based on the results of the researches, the processed guava leaves are proven to have anti-microbial and antiseptic properties; the sorghum extract had potential to prevent cancer; the ginger had bactericidal property; while the kamote leaves will increase platelet count of blood thus preventing complication to dengue hemorrhagic fever. (JNPD/FGL/PIA-1)