Phytotherapy Research Group (PREG – UNN)

Phytotherapy Research Group (PREG – UNN)

 

Main Research Focus and other areas of research interest of the RG: Drug development including standardized herbal products from medicinal plants for infectious and non-infectious diseases, isolation and characterization of new bioactive molecules from natural sources that modulate enzymes that are targets for therapy, create an enriched repository of chemical marker compounds by isolating a large number of molecules to be used directly as drugs or form templates for drug discovery and for chemo profiling of medicinal plants as well as their preparations.

 

Title of most recent research project:

Screening of Nigerian medicinal plants for antidiabetic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and antimicrobial activities as well as their toxicological profiles.

Isolation and characterization of bioactive compounds from indigenous medicinal plants. Formulation and standardization of herbal drugs from indigenous medicinal plants

and its application in the treatment of infectious and non-infectious diseases. Exploring the antiviral activity of nanoformulated astonine and akiluvir (GB-1) as

potent inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2/2019-nCoV infection, and determination of the mechanism of action.

 Other current or completed research projects

  • Isolation and characterisation of stigmasterol and β -sitosterol from Starchytarpheta jamaicensis (L) Vahl (Verbennaceae) leaves of Tropical Forest of Eastern Nigeri
  • Antidiabetic and and antiinflammatry potentials of apigenin (4, 5, 7 – trihydroxy flavone) from leaves of starchytarpheta jamaicensis (l) vahl (verbennaceae
  • Effect of Ursolic acid (3 – beta-3hyrdoxy-urs-12-ene -8-oic-acid) isolated from Starchytarpheta jamaicensis (L) Vahl (Verbennaceae) leaves on inflammation and blood sugar level of diabetic rat model.
  • Formulation and standardization of a herbal tea and its application in the treatment of  onchocerciasis (subcutaneous filariasis) : A blend of Piper umbellatum, Annona senegalensis, Morinda lucida and Detarium microcarpum for onchocerciasis therapy
  • GC-MS analysis of phytoconstituents and anti-inflammatory activity of methanol leaf extract of Cassia sieberiana DC (Caesalpiniaceae)
  • Pharmacognostic profile and anti-diabetic activity of Jatropha tanjorensis Linn (Euphorbiaceae) leaf on alloxan-induced diabetic rats
  • Evaluation of the ant diabetic properties of methanol leaf extract and lipid profile of Fadogia cienkowskii Schweinf (Rubiaceae).

 

Name of the Coordinator: Prof (Mrs.) Uchenna Estella Odoh

UNN email address of the RG:

UNN email address of the Coordinator: uchenna.odoh@unn.edu.ng,

Current webpage of the RG:

Phone number of the RG:

Phone number of the Coordinator: 08063831237

Base Faculty/Institute/Center of the RG:

Department of the Coordinator: Department of Pharmacognosy and Environmental Medicine.

 

Headshot of the Coordinator

List of members and brief intro

  • PROFESSOR (MRS) UCHENNA ESTELLA ODOH   FTWAS, FAAN, MCSN, MNSP, MRSC, CCHEM, MASP:

Google Scholar Profile Link: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en

Researchgate Profile Link: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Uchenna_Odoh

  • Mrs. Uchenna Estella Odoh holds B. Sc degree in Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Master’s Degree in Pharmacognosy and Environmental Medicine, Master’s Degree in Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry and Ph.D in Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry all from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She has been a professor of Pharmacognosy and Environmental Medicine since 2014 with area of specialization in Natural Products Chemistry, Phytochemistry, Drug evaluation and Quality Control.  She has foreign research experience from her numerous research visits to many international Laboratories/institutes and have won several Awards/grants including CSIR-TWAS Post Doc. Fellowship Award, TETFund Research grants, South African Council for Scientific Research (SACSIR) Award and South African Department of Science and Technology (DST) Award.
  • PROFESSOR (MRS) STELLA INYA-AGHA: holds B. Pharm, M. Pharm and PhD degree all from University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She has been a professor of Pharmacognosy for over 15 years and area of specialization in Natural Products, Phytochemistry and impact of pollution of air, land and water on crude medicinal plants. She is the Zonal Coordinator (South-East) Herbal Committee of the Expert Committee on National Pharmacopoeia (2002 till date), Member, Advisory Board of National Association of Good Clinical Practice Relevant in Herbal Medicine Pharmacovigilance and Member of so many professional bodies.
  • CHRISTOPHER OBODIKE EZUGWU: holds B. Pharm, M. Pharm and Ph.D all from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He has been a Professor since 2010 with area of specialization in Phytochemistry, Standardization, Phytoevaluation and Ethnobotanical evaluation. He has over hundred (100) publications in both international and National (high impact) journals, and seven (7) textbooks to his credit.
  • UGWOKE CHRISTOPHER EMEKA CHUKWUNONYE: holds B.Sc, M.Sc and Ph.D in Botany, from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He is a Senior Lecturer in the Department  of Pharmacognosy and Environmental Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. His areas of specialization are Ethnobotany  and Ethnomedicine, Phytochemistry and Crude Drug Evaluation. He has authored books (5) and has to his profile nearly 60 journal articles and many conference abstracts.
  • PHILIP F. UZOR: is an Associate Professor with the Department of Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He holds B. Pharm, M. Pharm and Ph.D from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He is a dynamic and an adept researcher with over 60 publications in both national and international journals. He is an author to many books. He is also a reviewer and an editorial board member to many national and international journals.
  • KENNE MICHEL TCHIMENE: Google Scholar Profile Link:

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=TaNlBrQAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=sra

Research Gate Profile link: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Michel_Tchimene

  • Dr Michel Tchimene Kenne, has Masters and PhD degrees in phytochemistry/ Natural Products from University of Dschang and University of Yaounde, Cameroon respectively in the Laboratory of Professor Johnson Ayafor.  Dr Michel received from national Institute of Health/ICBG, Fellowship for infectious diseases (specially Neglected Tropical disease) drug discovery and development research at International Centre for Ethnomedicine and Drug Development (InterCEDD) for 3years Under Prof MM Iwu. He later became the Director of InterCEDD till date.
  • DR FLORENCE NWAKAEGO MBAOJIL: Google Scholar Profile Link: https://scholar.google.com/scholar?as_sdt=2007&q=Mbaoji+Florence+Nwakaego&hl=en

Research gate citation  link: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Florence-Mbaoji/research

Pharmacist Dr. Florence Nwakaego Mbaoji is a female lecturer and a researcher in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She joined the services of the University in 2009 as Graduate Assistant and currently rose to the rank of Senior Lecturer in 2019. She had two Degree Certificates in Biochemistry (B.Sc. (BCH) in 1998 and Pharmacy (B. Pharm.) in 2006; Master Degree Certificate in Pharmacology and Toxicology in 2011 and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in 2019.She specializes in Natural Products Pharmacology.

  • JOHN ONOJA: Dr. John Onoja is an early career scientist, a seasoned lecturer and researcher with more than five years of experience in the University with excellent teaching and track record of achieving exceptional results in academic publications and grant writing. His research work is focused on assessing natural products (medicinal plants, fungi, marine organism, bacteria) for specific biological activity and identifying active compounds in these natural products which may be used directly as drugs or form templates for drug discovery.

Google Scholar link: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&view_op=search_authors&mauthors=joel+ojogbane+onoja&btnG=Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Joel_Onoja

  • MICHAEL ONYEGBULAM CHUKWUMA

Google  Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=PSag8S0AAAAJ&hl=en

ReseachGate:https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Chukwuma-Onyegbulam

Michael Onyegbulam Chukwuma obtained his B. Pharm, M. Pharm, and Ph.D (Phytochemistry and Phytomedicine) from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. He is currently a Senior Lecturer/Researcher in the Department of Pharmacognosy and Environmental Medicine of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He has published a number of research works in reputable journal and chapters in a number of edited books.

  • CHUKWUBE VINCENT OBISIKE

Google Scholar Link: vincent.chukwube@unn.edu.ng. https://orcid.org/0000-001-7637-1092.

Research Gate Link:  vincent.chukwube@unn.edu.ng; https://orcid.org/0000-001-76371092.

Chukwube Vincent Obisike Latin Diploma Certificate from Urban University Rome 1983 and Bachelor’s Degree in pharmacy in 1996 from the Faculty of pharmaceutical sciences, university of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu state. Having been in community pharmacy practice for more than a decade, I enrolled in the University of Nigeria Nsukka for further studies where I obtained my master degree in the department of Pharmacognosy and Environmental Medicine specializing in Phytochemistry and Natural products. At present, I have some published papers to my credit and at the terminal stage of a Ph.D. Program in Phytochemistry

  • UGWU PATIENCE NGOZI

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&view_op=list_works&gmla

Research gate Link https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ugwu-ngozi

Pharm Patience is a pharmacist, A lecturer in Defrom University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She is a Lectuerer in the Department of Pharmacognosy and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She haas research interest in formulation dosage forms using medicinal plants and Natural products, Environmental Pharmacognosy and Phythochemistry.

  • ONYEKERE PECULIAR FEENNA.

Google Scholar:https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=DT2LslAAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

Research gate:https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Felix_Nwafor2

Peculiar Feena Onyekere holds B. Pharm, M. Pharm from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He is a Lecturer 11 with the Department of Pharmacognosy and Environmental Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Pharm. He is a DAAD Fellow and currently running a PhD programme with the University of Illinois, Chicago, USA. He has authored books (1), book chapters (9) and collaboratively worked and published several articles (12), conference abstracts (7) in the area of natural products in reputable journals (national and international). This has earned her a Researchgate webometric score of 12.00.

  • NWAFOR FELIX IFEANYI

Google Scholar:https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=DT2LslAAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

Research gate:https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Felix_Nwafor2

Felix IfeanyNwafor is an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology with parallel/joint appointment in the Department of Pharmacognosy and Environmental Medicine, UNN. He holds B.Sc. (Botany) and M.Sc. (Taxonomy and Biosystematics) from the University of Nigeria. He was trained in Herbal medicine and Field Taxonomy and is conversant with West African Flora with special skills in Plant Identification. He is a young scholar whose research interests are on Plant Taxonomy (including Chemotaxonomy and Molecular Systematics), Bioprospecting, Ethnomedicine, Herbal Remedies, Indigenous Knowledge and Pharmacognosy. He currently has over 40 publications in these areas.