PSU Researcher Earns Gold Medal at International Competition for Kratom-Based Herbal Health Product
Prince of Songkla University (PSU) congratulates its researcher on receiving international recognition for the research innovation “Efficiency and Safety of Kratom Herbal Products for Health.” The innovation, developed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Worrawit Wanitsuwan, Director of the Medical Research and Innovation Institute, Research and Development Office, Prince of Songkla University, received a Gold Medal at The America Innovation Invention Exhibition (AIIE) 2026.
The exhibition was held from August 14–16, 2026, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in California, United States. AIIE serves as an international platform for showcasing and recognizing inventions, innovations, and research from inventors and researchers around the world. The event was organized by the International Federation of Inventors’ Associations (IFIA) in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Thailand’s delegation of inventors and researchers was led by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), which brought Thai innovations to be exhibited and presented at the international event.
The award-winning project, “Efficiency and Safety of Kratom Herbal Products for Health,” focuses on advancing and applying knowledge of kratom, an important medicinal plant in Thailand. The research places particular emphasis on developing herbal products with consideration for both efficacy and safety, supporting the appropriate application of herbal knowledge in health-related contexts. Receiving the Gold Medal at AIIE 2026 marks another international achievement for Prince of Songkla University and reflects the University’s continued efforts to advance research and innovation with potential for practical application.
The project also demonstrates how knowledge in science, medicine, and herbal research can be integrated to develop innovations with potential health applications, while contributing to the value creation of Thailand’s medicinal plant resources. The achievement further supports the translation of research from the laboratory into potential applications in health and society, in line with PSU’s commitment to developing knowledge and innovation that contribute to the well-being of society and the country.