Editorial

This special collection of Natural Product Communications celebrates its 15th anniversary and recognizes Professor Gerald Blunden, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 2DT, UK on the occasion of his 81st birthday.

Gerry’s love of natural product chemistry, particularly betaines, steroidal sapogenins, mycotoxins, agrochemicals from seaweeds, and polyphenolics, comes through in his strong relationships with colleagues from the UK and around the world. He has authored more than 220 publications and 200 conference presentations. For his outstanding research, he has received numerous awards, including Distincion Bicentenaria of the University of Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela; Honorary Professor of the Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 650th Anniversary medal of Charles’ University, Prague, Czech Republic; Degree of Doctorum Pharmacologiae Honoris Causa by the University of Szeged, Hungary; and Gold Medal by the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Szeged, Hungary.

I had an opportunity to meet him during my visit to Portsmouth, UK, in 2012 and subsequently at the 63rd International Congress and Annual Meeting of the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research (GA) 2015 in Budapest Hungary (as shown below).

(Left to Right): Professor Imre Mathe (Editorial Advisor member from University of Szeged, Hungary), myself, Professor Gerald Blunden, and Mrs Sylvia Blunden (GA 2015 in Budapest Hungary).

(Left to Right): Mrs Thurston, Mrs Blunden, Professor Blunden, Professor David Thurston, Editor, University of London, UK (GA 2015 in Budapest Hungary).

It is worthwhile to mention that his primary work on steroidal sapogenins led us to characterize several steroidal saponins, as well as to write the first review article on carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of steroidal sapogenins and steroidal saponins (Phytochemistry, 24 , 2479–2496, 1985) and subsequently to dedicate for his 65th birthday, 2 manuscripts (Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry, 42 , 990–993, 2004; Steroids, 70 , 715–724, 2005) related to the application of NMR for the establishment of stereodiversity of furostane and spirostane-type steroidal saponins.

Gerry, a founding editor of Natural Product Communications, has made innumerable contributions to its progress and supported it with vigor from the outset. To recognize his love for natural products, the “Gerald Blunden Award” has been created for the best research paper and best review article published in Natural Product Communications each year.

It is very hard to believe that Gerry is now 81; he has such a youthful enthusiasm for Natural Product Communications, for the people with whom he interacts, and for life in general. Perhaps the only thing that gives away his age is his wisdom—a special kind that only those who know him can fully appreciate.

My thanks go to the authors and reviewers who have made this special collection of Natural Product Communications possible and to our production department for their enormous efforts. I would like to join all those who have known Gerry as an inspiration, a mentor, a colleague, and friend, or, for many, all of the above, to salute him on this happy occasion and wish him all the very best for his future and look forward to his continued support.