XXVIth International Conference on Polyphenols (ICP), Florence, Italy
Background
XXVIth International conference on polyphenols (ICP) was held in Florence, Italy, jointly
organised by the University of Florence and polyphenol group society which is an
international association founded in France in 1972 in the view of promoting research on
polyphenols. The aim of the conference was to disseminate the information on polyphenols
from their most basic and fundamental biophysico-chemical properties to their most diverse
applications in food and agricultural, pharmaceutical and cosmetic sciences and technologies.
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany which lies on the River Arno
and is known for its history and its importance in the Middle Ages and in the Renaissance,
especially for its art and architecture. A centre of medieval European trade and finance and
one of the wealthiest cities of the time, Florence is considered the birthplace of the
Renaissance.
Town centre of Florence, Italy
Conference Days
The conference was held from 22 July to 26 July 2012 in which the first day was the
welcome evening and registration. More than 300 posters, 40 oral presentations and 12
plenary lectures were organised in the conference encompassed into 5 main topics namely
topic 1-Chemistry and physico chemistry; 2-Biosynthesis, genetics and metabolic
engineering; 3-Roles and plants and ecosystems; 4-Health and Nutrition; 5-Polyphenols and
drug discovery. The topic 1, 4 and 5 were related perfectly to my current and future research,
whereas the other ones were not exactly my area. Even though, it was a good chance to
broaden my knowledge and learn the polyphenols from different point of view.
My role in the conference was in the form of poster presentation with the title “The
Influence of Anthocyanidin structure, pH and Temperature on Binding to Human Serum
Albumin”, which is a part of my first study on the anthocyanin bioavailability. The
conference was so interesting that I attended all sessions of the conference. The talk
presented by the outstanding academics such as the one on the chemistry and applications of
flavylium compounds was really important to support basic knowledge relating to my
research. Besides the presentation from other researchers gave me better ideas on which my
future study should be based.
Poster presented in the conference
Other activities organised in the conference were social events including welcome
speech from Florence’s Mayor in his palace, Social program in town centre as well as Gala
dinner.
Had it not been for the funding award of Arthur Hosier/Meyer Sassoon, attendance at the
conference would have been impossible. I am grateful for the selection committee for the
award which enables me to establish important contacts with renowned scientists and
researchers around the world.
Yana Cahyana
PhD student
Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences
University of Reading, UK