On November 10, 2023, Professor Kewu Zeng from the School of Pharmacy, Peking University, was invited by Professor Duo Zheng to deliver a lecture titled "Discovery of Natural Drug Targets and Chemical Biology" at the Lihu Campus of Shenzhen University. This lecture marked the 89th talk of the Shenzhen University Medicine Forum, and attracted numerous researchers and students from the medical school.

Professor Zeng first introduced the discovery process of natural medicines such as artemisinin, aspirin, and paclitaxel. He pointed out that research into discovering drug targets and the mechanisms of active natural products is crucial if we are to develop innovative and effective drugs based on natural products. He next provided a detailed introduction to various drug target recognition technologies, including those based on molecular probes and non-labeling-based techniques. The audience were excited to learn how he identified the active ingredients of various natural drugs such as Sophora, Cistanche deserticola, Chrysanthemum indicum, and Chansu, which directly act on their respective targets, and the biological function and regulatory mechanisms of the active ingredients on the target. Professor Zeng then focused on chlorogenic acid and oleanolic acid to exemplify the functional analysis and chemical regulation of natural supramolecular targets, and from here, proposed the emerging discipline direction of "Chemical Biology of Traditional Chinese Medicine". After his lecture, Professor Zeng actively interacted with the students and teachers present in the audience, creating a lively atmosphere for discussion.

Brief introduction to the speaker

Professor Kewu Zeng’s research focuses on the discovery of targets and mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicines and natural products. As such, he has proposed the academic concept of "Chemical Biology of Traditional Chinese Medicine". Through his research activities, Professor Zeng has thoroughly elucidated the direct pharmacological targets of multiple medicinal ingredients such as Sumu, Cistanche deserticola, Leucaena, and Chrysanthemum indicum. He has published his findings in more than 130 international academic journals, including PNAS, Science Advances, and ACS Nano, to name just a few, and his works have been picked up by the National Science Foundation of China and Science Network, being selected as "Top Ten Medical Advancements in China in 2017" and "Top Ten Academic Advances in Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2022". Professor Zeng has also received awards from the Ministry of Education, the Chinese Pharmacological Society, and the Chinese Association of Integrative Medicine. He has undertaken 12 projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation and the Ministry of Science and Technology, and over his career has applied for 10 invention patents. Professor Zeng currently serves as a director, committee member, and young committee member in academic organizations such as the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies, the Chinese Association of Integrative Medicine, and the Chinese Pharmacological Society.