Lynzee Luisa C.

Reyes SN #37
3D-Pharmacy

Dr. Magdalena C. Cantoria

Dr. Magdalena C. Cantoria is one of the countrys best and most accomplished botanists.
She was born on October 25, 1924 and passed away at 84, last December 25, 2008.
For her numerous outstanding researches, she received recognition here and in foreign
countries. She finished her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy cum laude (1947) and Master of
Science in Botany (1951) at the University of the Philippines. But she wanted to be one of the
best. So Dr. Cantoria went to the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy for her Master in Science
in Pharmacology, major in plant physiology (1955), and finally a Doctor of Philosophy in
Botany (1961) at the University of Chicago. She also took a summer course in Radiation Biology
at Argonne national Laboratory in 1961, and another UNESCO training course in Plant
Physiology at the University of Delhi in 1965. This extensive academic training made Dr.
Cantoria a leading international authority in botany. Aside from her international commitments
and positions held, she once worked as scientific research assistant at the prestigious National
Research Council of the Philippines. Dr. Cantoria was also a long-time faculty member of the
UP College of Pharmacy.
Dr. Cantoria's researches focuses on health; particularly on the morphology, physiology
and biochemistry of drug-producing plants. She has also done basic study on the pharmacognosy
of agar, raulfia, datura, mint, and Piperspecies. Among her significant publications include:
Pharmacognosy in Action (1977), Workbooks in Pharmacognosy I and II (1987), Physiological
and Chemical Studies for the Identification of Philippine Mint (1970), Aromatic and Medicinal
Herbs of the Philippines (1976), Physiology and Biochemistry of the Volatile Oils of Mentha
Species (1980), and The Identification of Zingeber purpureum (1986), Selected Topics in
Pharmacognosy (1994), and Pharmacognosy in Action and in Practice (2003). Her most recent
published science articles include Biodiversity and Public Health and Bioprospecting and Drug
Discovery (The Manila Bulletin: March/May 2007).
Dr. Cantoria received the Edwin Leigh Newcomb Award in pharmacognosy given by the
American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education in 1954, largely due to her paper on the
morphology and anatomy of Rauvofia vomitoria Afz. In 1962, she received the Eward S. Mika
Award for her work on Datura stramonium L., a highly toxic weed belonging to
the Solanaceae (nightshade) family, extracts from which are used as hallucinogens. Dr. Cantoria
is also a recipient of Phi Sigma awards for marked distinction in biology in 1951 and Most
Outstanding Phi Sigman, 1977 and was recognized in 1989 for her Noteworthy Leadership and
Distinctive Dedication as Dean of the UP College of Pharmacy. The National Academy of
Science and Technology DOST in 1980, elected Dr. Cantoria as Academician. Likewise, in
1992 she was appointed as permanent Professor Emeritus, University of the Philippines Diliman.
She was also one of the 1993 Twelve Basic Research Achievement Awardees of the National
Research Council of the Philippines, as well as one of featured women in A Century of Women
in Health Sciences (1900 2000 AD: 2004).

References:
http://asianscience.blogspot.com/2010/05/magdalena-c-cantoria-phd.html
http://personalmemoir.wordpress.com/2010/02/13/dr-magdalena-c-cantoria-botanist/
http://nrcp.dost.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=86:cantoria-
84&catid=105:general-membership&Itemid=12