IUB Researcher Leads International Team in Promising Study on Cholesterol Regulation
Dr. Waqas Mahmood, Assistant Professor, Researcher & Scientist at The Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB), has led an international research team investigating the lipid-modulating potential of Orthosiphon stamineus, commonly known as Java Tea or Misai Kucing. The study, published in the Tropical Journal of Natural Products Research, evaluated the effects of an aqueous leaf extract in laboratory rats fed a cholesterol-rich diet. The findings demonstrated substantial reductions in total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL cholesterol, while HDL cholesterol remained relatively stable, indicating promising lipid-modulating activity in this preliminary animal model.
The research brought together scholars from The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Universiti Putra Malaysia, INTI International University Malaysia, and Universitas Negeri Malang, Indonesia, reflecting IUB’s growing contribution to international and multidisciplinary research. The study received research facilities and technical support from Universiti Putra Malaysia, including support from its Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit. The researchers emphasize that the findings are preliminary and that further research is required to investigate the extract’s safety, mechanisms of action and potential relevance to human health.
The Islamia University of Bahawalpur was established in the year 1975 by upgrading historical institute of the Jamia Abbasia.
