From 15 to 17 September 2026, Prague (Czech Republic) hosted the international scientific conference ISOPRENOIDS 2026, dedicated to the study of isoprenoids, one of the largest classes of natural biologically active compounds. The conference brought together scientists from various countries specialising in natural product chemistry, terpenoid chemistry, biosynthesis and the biological activity of natural substances. The conference was opened by Professor Pavel Drašar, General Secretary of ISOPRENOIDS 2026.
The K. Kulazhanov Kazakh University of Business and Information Technologies JSC was represented at the conference by Chief Researcher Professor Yerlan Suleimen and Senior Researcher Darkhan Nurkadirov. The Kazakhstani scientists presented their results in the report “Sesquiterpene Lactones of Achillea Species from the Flora of Kazakhstan”.
The study examined the chemical composition of the aerial parts of three yarrow species growing in Kazakhstan: Achillea micrantha, Achillea setacea and Achillea nobilis. Sesquiterpene lactones were isolated by silica gel column chromatography and identified. Of particular interest are two compounds isolated for the first time from the respective plant species: jana-arkain from Achillea micrantha and mynjapyrakin from Achillea setacea. In addition, high-performance liquid chromatography revealed canin, hanphyllin and estafiatin in the aerial parts of Achillea nobilis.
The results expand the knowledge of the chemical composition of Achillea species in the flora of Kazakhstan and open up opportunities for further study of the biological activity of the identified natural compounds. Such research is important for the discovery of new promising natural compounds and the subsequent development of plant-derived drug substances and medicines. The work was carried out under programme BR24992761 with financial support from the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The participation of KazUTB representatives in ISOPRENOIDS 2026 made it possible to present the results of Kazakhstani scientists to the international scientific community and to exchange professional experience with foreign specialists. Among the participants were well-known researchers in natural product chemistry, terpenes and biosynthesis, including Giovanni Appendino (Italy), Jeroen Dickschat (Germany), Ludger Wessjohann (Germany), Miroslav Strnad (Czech Republic) and Eva Kudová (Czech Republic), as well as Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan Sergazy Adekenov, a prominent Kazakhstani chemist who has made a significant contribution to the study of natural biologically active compounds and who discovered arglabin, a plant-derived anticancer drug.
Of particular importance were the meetings held with foreign scientists during the conference and the agreements reached on further scientific cooperation.
At a working meeting with colleagues from Hungary, an agreement was reached to jointly carry out mass spectrometric analysis of the natural compounds under study. This area of cooperation will provide additional data on the composition and structure of the substances and broaden the scope for comprehensive research.
In addition, a meeting was held with Ivan Kuzminich, a representative of Slovakia, at which an agreement was reached to jointly carry out X-ray crystallographic analysis of promising natural compounds. This analysis will provide additional information on the three-dimensional structure of the compounds and increase the reliability of the research findings.
The participation of KazUTB researchers in ISOPRENOIDS 2026 provided an important platform for presenting the results of Kazakhstani research, establishing professional scientific contacts and further developing international cooperation in natural product chemistry. One of its key outcomes was the conclusion of concrete agreements on further international cooperation, including mass spectrometric analysis with colleagues from Hungary and X-ray crystallographic analysis with a representative of Slovakia.
