Tibig (scientific name Ficus nota), a kind of fig fruit that grows in the Philippines, has long been believed to be poisonous by many Filipinos.
But to a Pharmacy student from Biñan City, Laguna, tibig can hold the key to solving a growing problem: of increasing resistance to antibiotics.
John Benedict “Ben” Orcino, a 4th-year student from the University of Perpetual Help System Laguna – Dr. Jose G. Tamayo Medical University, is part of a research team that recently bagged the 3rd Best Paper Award at the International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research for Sustainable Development Goals.
Their award-winning study centered on how tibig can play a role in reducing antibiotic resistance to pneumonia, the fourth leading cause of death in the Philippines.
Ben came up with the idea of researching for the medicinal benefits of tibig in the midst of their thesis.
After meeting his cousin, Dr. Bryant Virtucio, and after many discussions with their adviser, Dr. Virma Espejo, his team discovered documentation attesting to the antibacterial activity from other plants of the same genus.
They also noted that birds were also able to consume the fruits freely without ill effect, despite long-held beliefs that the fruits were toxic to humans.
After a series of tests, the team was surprised to discover that the extracts from tibig showed solid antibacterial activity against pneumonia.
More importantly, their samples worked better in combination with erythromycin, a macrolide antibiotic commonly used for treating respiratory infections.
It was then that Ben began to wonder if tibig can achieve even greater potential if subjected to more advanced research and refined processes. They decided to enter their research study at the International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research, which was hosted by UPHSL last July.
When they arrived at the international conference to present their work, Ben did not expect to win. In fact, he had feelings of anxiety on stage and forgot parts of his speech. It was a big surprise for them when their paper was awarded the third best during the conference.
As Ben prepares to complete his degree and pharmacy board exam, his hopes and wishes remain high that he can complete more research on plants from the Philippines.
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