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INTRODUCTION
The Drug Research and Production Unit, Faculty of Pharmacy, focuses on Medicinal Plant Research and has nearly three decades of research and teaching experience. The Unit encourages and initiates research into natural products. The Unit also provides facilities for developing natural products, especially medicinal plants into different dosage forms. In addition, there is the mandate to develop appropriate pharmacopoeia.
There is an increasing awareness in the exploitation of natural products as food and as medicines. This, no doubt, calls for a sound scientific understanding and specialized training which rest on applied chemical, biological and pharmaceutical principles. Hence the Drug Research and Production Unit in collaboration with the Department of Pharmacology has introduced these postgraduate programmes in Phytomedicines.
OBJECTIVES:
The Postgraduate programmes of the Drug Research and Production Unit are designed
- to meet the increasing demands for specialists needed for research and development of natural products;
- to provide an intensive training for students in phytomedicines research and
- to contribute to the production of high level man-power for public organisations, such as the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Research Institutes etc., Non-governmental organisations such as UNESCO, Pharmaceutical manufacturing industries, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), The Scientific, Technical and Research Commission of the Organisation for African Unity (OAU/STRC), and private firms involved in or associated with natural products utilization and exploitation
POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA AND DEGREES OFFERED:
(i) Diploma in Phytomedicines (PGD. Phytomedicines)
(ii) Master of Science in Phytomedicines (M.Sc. Phytomedicines)
(iii) Doctor of Philosophy in Phytomedicines (Ph.D. Phytomedicines)
POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN PHYTOMEDICINES
- Admission Requirements
Applicants for the Diploma Programme are required to hold a science, agricultural science or biomedical science degree from a recognised University. Graduates of the Obafemi Awolowo University or any other approved University with a minimum of a third class degree in relevant subjects may also be admitted into the programme.
- Duration
The course shall last for two semesters full time.
- Requirements for the Award of Postgraduate Diploma in Phytomedicines
To qualify for the award of the postgraduate diploma in Phytomedicines, the candidate shall be required to take and pass all the courses offered and present a project report on an approved topic. In addition, candidates will be required to take at least one elective course. The total workload shall be 22 Units. Further assessment of the candidate will be as stipulated in the University Graduate Studies Handbook.
STRUCTURE OF THE COURSE:
Core courses offered
Harmattan Semester
Course Code
Course
Title
Units
DRP 601: Introduction to the scientific basis of herbal therapy
1
DRP 603: Common diseases and their causes
3
DRP 605: Basic Phytochemistry
3
DRP 607: Introductory human biology
2
DRP 610
Project
2
Elective courses
*DRP
609: Conservation of Medicinal Plants
2
*DRP
611: Plants as source of Food and Medicines
2
TOTAL
15 Units
Rain Semester
Core courses
offered
Course code Course
Title
Units
DRP 602: Techniques in crude drug standardization and preparation
2
DRP 604: Introduction to the Pharmacology of crude drugs
3
DRP 606: Seminar
1
DRP 608: Principles of Chemotherapy
1
DRP 610: Project
2
Elective courses
offered
DRP 612: Introduction to the toxicology of natural products
2
TOTAL
11
Total work-load shall be 22 Units
COURSE DESCRIPTION
(a) DRP 601: Introduction to the scientific basis of herbal therapy
1 Unit
Types of traditional healing methods. Herbal medicine as
practiced in Nigeria. Socio-cultural aspects of herbal medicine. African
concept of diseases and their treatments. Advantages and disadvantages of
herbal medicine.
(b) DRP 602: Techniques in crude drug standardization and preparation
2 Units
Plant collection, identification and authentication. Studies of
some aspects of Ethnobotany. Plants as raw material for phytopharmaceuticals.
Techniques for the preparation of plant products, cultivation, harvesting,
pharmacognostic evaluations, preparation and packaging of plant products.
Introduction to African Pharmacopoeia.
(c) DRP 603: Common diseases and their causes
3 Units
A study of common bacterial, viral, fungal, helmintic and
degenerative, neoplastic disease of man. Principles of diagnosis and
identification of aetiologic agents of these diseases.
(d) DRP 604: Introduction to the Pharmacology of crude drugs
3 Units
Classification of active phytochemicals and crude drugs into
their potential therapeutic applications. Such drugs will include those acting
on gastro-intestinal tract, central nervous system, ear, nose and throat, skin
(as topical applications), etc. Basic principles of drug action.
(e) DRP 605: Basic phytochemistry
3 Units
General introduction to the chemistry of secondary plant
metabolites, their isolation and identification. The course is specifically
designed to introduce students to secondary plant metabolites, and
macro-molecules that occur naturally. This will include introduction to
aromatic compounds and other natural products. Topics will include: Proteins,
Carbohydrates, Lipids, Fatty acids, etc nomenclature, classification, functions
and importance in living organisms. Chromatographic and spectroscopic methods
of investigation. Qualitative and quantitative analysis.
(f) DRP 606: Seminar
1 Unit
(g) DRP 607: Introductory human biology
2 Units
This is an introductory course on the structure of the
human body. Included also is the study of the functions and integration of the
various systems of the human body. The actions of drugs on such functions will
also be highlighted.
(h) DRP 608: Principles of Chemotherapy
1 Unit
This course will expose students to the probable mechanism
of herbal products. It will involve monitoring for side effects, drug-drug
interaction, drug-food interaction and the principle of dosing.
(i)
DRP 609: Conservation of Medicinal Plants
2 Units
Proplems of plant identification and taxonomy. The need for
conservation and preservation of medicinal Plants. Causes and consequences of
Medicinal Plants loss. The reproductive threats to propagation. Methods used in
plant conservation, in-situ and ex-situ through seed banks, tissue culture, etc.
The values of botanical gardens, medicinal gardens and forest reserves in plant
conservation. Studies on the application of geographical information on healing
processes.
(j). DRP 610: Project
4 Units
(k). DRP 611: Plants as Source of Food and Medicines
2 Units
This course is designed to acquaint the student of diverse
dimensions of plant utilization in indigenous diets. Classification of food from
plant sources – protein, carbohydrates, fats and oils, mineral salts and
vitamins. Dietary habits and diseases. Common dietary plants as source of
disease management. Pharmacological analysis of plant medicines – tannins and
astringents, bitter and pungent principles, gums, resins and mucillages, fixed
oils, volatile oils.
(l) * DRP 612: Introduction to the toxicology of natural products:
2 Units
Definition of terminologies - carcinogenicity, mutagenicity,
teratogenicity, etc. Toxicity by routes, target organ and tissue toxicity.
Study of natural toxic compounds of plants and animals. Mode of action of toxic
substances of plants and animals. Toxicology of pesticides.
(b). MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN PHYTOMEDICINES (M.Sc. Phytomedicines)
i. Admission
Requirements
The M.Sc (Phytomedicines) Degree is essentially a research degree. It
is designed for candidates who intend to take up teaching and/or research work
in phytomedicines in the Universities or allied institutions.
The degree will provide training for candidates that are interested in the
development of nutraceuticals in manner congruent to the development of
pharmaceutical with a view to developing their entrepreneurship skills.
It is intended, therefore, that candidates for the degree will be thoroughly
prepared for academic work, drug production and entrepreneurship. To be
qualified for admission, the candidate should possess
at least a Second Class (Lower Division) in an appropriate Honours Degree
Programme of Obafemi Awolowo University or its equivalent in any other
recognised University or a graduate with postgraduate diploma in Phytomedicines
with an average of at least 60 B+ in the PGD course work examination. Such
candidate will be qualified for admission into the M.Sc. (Phytomedicines)
Degree.
ii. Duration
The M.Sc Programme shall last for four semesters according to
University regulations.
iii. Requirements
for the award of the Master of Science Degree in Phytomedicines
To qualify for an M.Sc. Degree in Phytomedicines, the candidate
shall be required to take a minimum of 24 Credit Units from all the courses
listed, apart from DRP 640 (Research Thesis with 6 Units). Candidates will be
required to take one elective course. The total work load shall be 32 Units.
STRUCTURE OF THE
COURSE
Harmattan semester
Core courses
offered
Course Code.
Course Title
Units
DRP 621:
Advances in Herbal Therapy 2
DRP 623: Advanced Human Biology
3
DRP 625: Chemistry of Natural Products
4
DRP 627: Physiological basis of Phytomedicines
2
DRP 629: Toxicology of Natural Products
2
DRP 631: Advanced Chemotherapy
1
Elective courses
*DRP
609: Conservation of Medicinal Plants
2
*DRP
611: Plants as source of Food and Medicines
2
TOTAL
18
Rain Semester
Course code Course
Title Units
DRP 622: Standardization, Preparation and
Formulation of Crude Drugs 3
DRP 624: Basic Human Pathology
4
DRP 626: Research Methods in Phytomedicines
2
DRP 628: Seminars on current topics in
Phytomedicines Research 1
DRP 630: Principles of Drug
Evaluation 2
DRP 640:
Thesis
6
Elective courses
*DRP
632: Enzyme Biotechnology
2
TOTAL
22
5. COURSE DESCRIPTION:
(a) DRP 621: Advances in Herbal Therapy
2 Units
Definitions and terminologies. Historical review,
methods and techniques in herbal therapy. Types of traditional healing
methods. Herbal medicine as practised in other lands. Socio-cultural aspects
of herbal medicine. African concept of diseases and their treatments.
Advantages and disadvantages of herbal medicine. The relevance of phytomedicines
in therapy.
(b) DRP 622: Standardization, Preparation and
Formulation of Crude Drugs
3 Units
Sources of variation in plant products as raw
material for phytopharmaceuticals. Techniques for preparation of plant products,
cultivation, harvesting, processing, pharmacognostic evaluations.
Generation of pre-formulation data for herbs and plant extracts – bulk
properties of powdered drugs, melting point of extracts, solubility, intrinsic
dissolution rate, pH, partition coefficient, boiling point of liquid
extractives, hygroscopicity and moisture sorption behaviour of herb powder and
powdered extracts. Compatibilty with additives, stability profiles and
accelerated stability tests. Effect of packaging on stability of herbal raw
materials and extracts.
(c) DRP 623: Advanced Human Biology
3 Units
This integrated course will involve a detailed
study of the structure and function of the human body with the appreciation of
the organ systems of the body. It will also involve an integrated practical
course.
(d) DRP 624: Basic Human Pathology
4 Units
A detailed study of diseases that affect man and
those transmitted to man through animals and other vectors. Emphasis on the
pathophysiological mechanisms of these diseases will be emphasized. The course
includes diagnostic methods and identification of aetiologic agents of these
diseases and covers medically important arthropods which are vectors of
pathogenic agents or which cause diseases directly.
(e) DRP 625: Chemistry of Natural Products
4 Units
This course covers the chemistry, biosynthesis and
applications of selected examples of secondary metabolites obtained from plant
or animals sources - alkaloids, carbohydrate moieties, coumarins, flavonoid
compounds, amino-acids, terpenes, lipids, steroid series etc. The isolation of
these metabolites, their structural determinations by physical and chemical
methods and synthesis will be demonstrated.
(f) DRP 626: Research Methods in Phytomedicines
2 Units
The course is designed to provide understanding
and familiarity with a variety of modern methods used to solve problems in
bioactive guided isolation and evaluation of chemical components from natural
sources. Treatment of physicochemical tools in structural elucidation (ir, uv,
nmr, ms), separation techniques and determination of purity. Advanced methods in
biological and chemical aspects of plant drug analysis. Introductory
biostatistics. Techniques of interpreting research findings and the statistical
procedures useful in the interpretation of data.
(g) DRP 627: Physiological basis of Phytomedicines
2 Units
Survey of pharmacologically -active phytochemicals,
their classification (into sympatomimetics, parasympatomimetics,
cardiotonic,cardiovascular, etc.) and their mechanisms of action and the
potential therapeutic applications of the phytochemicals. The emphasis is on
systemic pharmacology of phytochemicals.
(h) DRP 628: Seminars on current topics in Phytomedicines Research
1 Unit
The course requires a candidate to present at
least a seminar and contribute a written paper on a selected research topic in
Phytomedicines Research.
(i)
DRP 629: Toxicology of Natural Products
2 Units
Survey of natural toxins, drugs, chemicals, toxic
plants and insecticides. Mode of action of toxins, structure activity
relationship. Analysis of cell damage and cell death, carcinogenesis,
environmental and industrial toxicology.
(j) DRP 630: Principles of Drug Evaluation
2 Units
Drug screening, scope and different types of
screening concept of dose-response relationship (LD50, IC50
) and therapeutic Index; Collection and analysis of data, tests of hypothesis,
risk analysis, experimental design, variance, correlation and probity analysis
and confidence limits.
(k) DRP 631: Advanced Chemotherapy
1 Unit
Mechanism of action of drugs used in the treatment
of common tropical diseases such as schistosomiasis, trypanosomiasis, malaria,
filariasis, helminthiasis, etc.
*(l) DRP 632: Enzyme Biotechnology
2 Units
Isolation, production and immobilisation of
enzymes. Enzyme reactors; direct use of isolated enzymes from microbial, plant
and other sources as well as enzymes in intact organisms in food, detergents,
pharmaceuticals, agriculture, environment, energy, medicine and chemical
industries. Microbial transformation of natural products.
(m) DRP 640 Thesis
6 Units
*Elective courses
(c) DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (Ph.D. Phytomedicines)
i. Admission Requirements
The Ph.D. degree proramme is open to candidates
holding an M.Sc. (Phytomedicines) degree (with a minimum of 60B+
weighted average) or M.Phil. degree in Phytomedicines from a recognised
institution. An M.Sc or M. Phil. Degree holder in a related discipline may be
required to take and pass all the prescribed courses listed for the M. Sc. (Phytomedicines)
Programme.
ii. Areas of specialization
The Programme of study consists of five sets of
specialties from which a candidate may choose one based on his/her special area
of interest.
These areas are:
(a) Drug Analysis
(b) Phytochemistry
(c) Toxicology
(d) Experimental Chemotherapy
(e) Dosage form design
iii. Examination
The Ph.D degree will be subject to general and
special regulations laid down by the University and the Faculty. All candidates
for the Ph.D degree shall be required to pass a qualifying examination. In
addition, for the successful award of the Ph.D degree, the completion of a Ph.D
thesis which will be expected to show clarity and independence of thought
representing an original contribution to knowledge will be required.
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