History of the International Symposium on Chromatography of Natural Products (ISCNP)

The International Symposium on Chromatography of Natural Products (ISCNP) is a well-established international conference dedicated to chromatographic and related techniques in natural products research. The origins of the Symposium date back to 1992, when the first national conference Application of Chromatographic Methods in Phytochemical and Biomedical Research was organized in Lublin on the initiative of Professor Kazimierz Głowniak.

Initially held as annual national meetings with a growing participation of foreign guests, the conference rapidly gained international recognition. In 1998, during its seventh edition, it was officially transformed into the 1st International Symposium on Chromatography of Natural Products (ISCNP). Since then, the Symposium has been organized biennially, maintaining a consistently high scientific standard and a strong international profile.

Over the years, ISCNP has evolved into a renowned forum for the presentation and discussion of modern chromatographic, hyphenated and complementary analytical techniques applied to the study of biologically active compounds from plants, food, and other natural sources. The Symposium has hosted many distinguished scientists from around the world and has played an important role in fostering international collaboration, supporting young researchers, and promoting Lublin as a recognized center of natural products research.

Organizers

The International Symposium on Chromatography of Natural Products (ISCNP) is jointly organized by two closely collaborating units of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin: the Department of Pharmacognosy with the Medicinal Plant Garden and the Department of Natural Products Chemistry.

The Department of Pharmacognosy with the Medicinal Plant Garden, founded in 1945, is one of the oldest academic centers of pharmacognostic research in Poland. Its scientific activity focuses on medicinal plants and other natural sources of bioactive compounds, including phytochemical profiling, isolation and characterization of secondary metabolites, evaluation of biological activity, and application‑oriented research in pharmacy and cosmetology. An integral part of the Department is the Medicinal Plant Garden, established in 1948, which supports research, education and outreach through living plant collections and field‑based training.

The Department of Natural Products Chemistry complements these activities through advanced research in the chemistry of natural compounds. Its work includes the development and application of modern chromatographic and spectrometric techniques, structural elucidation of metabolites from plants and fungi, and studies on their pharmacological and analytical relevance. The Department plays an important role in integrating chemical, analytical and biological approaches in contemporary natural products research.

Together, both Departments form a strong interdisciplinary research environment and have been deeply involved in the creation, organization and continued development of ISCNP since its early beginnings. Their combined expertise ensures a high scientific level of the Symposium and reflects the long‑standing tradition of natural products chromatography and phytochemical research in Lublin.