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

1. to meet the increasing demands for specialists needed for research and development of natural products;
2. to provide an intensive training for students in phytomedicines research and
3. 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

1. 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.
   
2. Duration
   The course shall last for two semesters full time.
3. 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.

 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.