Department of Medicinal Plant Research & Traditional Medicine

Overview

The Department of Medicinal Plant Research and Traditional Medicine (MPR&TM) focuses on research, standardization, and development of medicinal plant resources and traditional medicine practices. The department is structured into five specialized units, each with distinct but complementary functions:

1. Phytochemistry Unit
2. Pharmacognosy Unit
3. Pilot Plant Unit
4. Herbarium & Ethnobotany Unit
5. Medicinal Plant Nursery, Garden, and Plantation Unit

Mission

To characterize and standardize indigenous biodiversity, especially medicinal plants, for research and drug development, and to strengthen traditional medicine governance (TMG) and promote the safety, efficacy, and quality of traditional medicine towards integration into national healthcare delivery through research, development, mentoring, and capacity building.

Human Resources and Expertise

The department has 19 multidisciplinary staff members, including:

• 10 Research Fellows
• 1 Chemical Engineer
• 2 Technologists
• 3 Forestry Officers
• 1 Secretary
• 2 work officers

Their collective expertise spans Phytochemistry, Pharmacognosy, Organic and Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Synthetic Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Plant Taxonomy, and Forestry Management.
The department upholds principles of equal opportunity, inclusion, and diversity.

Core Functions

• Perform phytochemical and pharmacognostic analyses of medicinal and aromatic plants for research, and product authentication, verification, validation, and development.
• Develop and optimize methods for extraction, isolation, purification, and drying (including freeze and spray drying) of bioactive substances.
• Carry out bulk and pilot-scale production of bioactive compounds from medicinal and aromatic plants.
• Advance R&D on Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and vaccines to support local manufacturing and medicine security through the API R&D Training and Demonstration Facility.
• Develop and commercialize phytomedicines and herbal products.
• Foster multidisciplinary collaboration and capacity building for scientists, traditional medicine practitioners (TMPs), and healthcare professionals on phytomedicine R&D, herbal medicine standardization, TMG, and Good Practices (GxPs).
• Conduct ethnobotanical, ethnomedicinal, and ethnopharmacological surveys, documentation, and preservation of indigenous knowledge and biodiversity resources.
• Collect, identify (morphological and genetic), and curate plant specimens for herbarium and gene bank preservation.
• Develop propagation, cultivation, and conservation programs for prioritized and endangered medicinal plant species.
• Establish standardized nurseries, gardens, and plantations for the sustainable production of standardized medicinal plant raw materials.
• Maintain and fabricate essential laboratory glassware and apparatus to ensure research continuity.

Current Projects and Research Focus

• Phytodrug and Product Development: Formulation and commercialization of phytodrugs (antidiabetic, anti-obesity, antisickling, immunomodulatory, cardio- and neuro-stimulatory, and anti-infective agents) and herbal products (essential oils, resins, creams, ointments, etc.).
• Phytochemical and Pharmacognostic Standardization: Development of monographs and pharmacopoeial standards for plant species and herbal products to enhance biosecurity and global health alignment.
• API Development: Harnessing medicinal plant-based resources for API development to promote local production of essential medicines and enhance national and regional medicine security.
• Computational Drug Design: Application of machine learning, in silico modeling, molecular docking, and co-crystallization techniques in drug discovery.
• Process Optimization: Refinement of extraction, isolation, and derivatization processes for bioactive compounds.
• Digital Herbarium and Knowledge Base: Digitization and documentation of medicinal plant resources, ethnomedicinal knowledge, and traditional medicine practices for improved accessibility and governance.
• Biodiversity Conservation: Agro-domestication and propagation of endangered medicinal species to promote sustainable use and socioeconomic empowerment.

Training and Capacity Building: Professional development of scientists, TMPs, and healthcare workers in Good Practice Standards (GxPs) and Traditional Medicine Governance for improved healthcare integration.