TITLE (PROF/DR/): DR.

NAME: ORABUEZE, IFEOMA CELESTINA

POSITION: ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR                                       SPECIALISATION:

EDUCATION/TRAINING

Personal Statement

“IFEOMA CELESTINA ORABUEZE is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, Nigeria.

My specific areas of research interest are Ethnomedicine (formulation and the use of medicinal plants and natural products in the healthcare system) and Natural product Chemistry (new bioactive “lead” compound isolation and quality control analytical skills). 

My research work in ethnomedicine focuses on the formulation, efficacy, and safety uses of medicinal plants in the treatment and management of malaria, multidrug-resistant infections, oxidative stress, neuropharmacological diseases, hypertension, reproductive health, and nutritional Pharmacognosy.

My research experience in natural product chemistry includes the use of modern technology in new drug discovery via bioactive guided isolation, purification and characterization of Pharmaceutical “lead” compounds from plants in response to sustainable global health.

In summary, my research fills the knowledge gap between the Biology and the Chemistry of the bioactive components of plants/natural products that elicit the healing activities.

My long-term dream/goal is to establish a natural product research laboratory that can be accessible to researchers within the University of Lagos and beyond. Thus, increasing natural product research volume in search of new and medically active compounds and also serving as a hands-on training center for capacity building and mentoring towards achieving the production of quality herbal products for sustainable health for all.

I am also a member of the African Centre of Excellence for Drug Research, Herbal Medicine Development and   Regulatory   Science (ACEDHARS), a World Bank Centre of Excellence.”

Positions, Scientific Appointments, and Honours

• TWAS-UNESCO Associateship Scheme at Centers of Excellence in the South: visiting researcher on neuroprotective properties of 2 Nigerian medicinal plants, 2023 – 2026
• Postgraduate Studies Coordinator: Department of Pharmacognosy, 2019/2020 – 2024/2025
• Africa Oxford (AfOx) Travel Grant: Oxford University-Africa initiative award: Research fellowship on neuropharmacology, 2024
• The Society of Free Radical Research-Europe (SFRR Europe): Recognition award and outstanding scientific research in the field of natural antioxidant compounds recipient and travel grant, Italy, 2017
• Faculty of Pharmacy Award Winner, Best research team: University of Lagos 10^th annual research conference and fair, 2015
• Editorial Board Member of Drug Combination Therapy (2022 -2024) and Journal Reviewer of many journals

Selected Most Recent Publications /Contributions to Knowledge

• Orabueze, I.C., Olufunmi, H.O., Ota, D.A and Asare, G. (2022). Co-administration effects and toxicity profile of ethyl acetate fraction of Stemonocoleus micranthus Harms and Artesunate in murine malaria model. South African Journal of Botany, 146 (2022) 715 – 722
• Orabueze, I.C., Uzor, S.C., Ndiaye, B., Uba, D., Ota, A.D., and Agbedahusi, J. (2021). Antimalarial, Antioxidant activities and Chemoprofile of Sansevieria liberica Gerome and Labroy (Agavaceae) leaf extract. Hindawi Advances in Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences (2021). 9053262, 11 pages https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/9053262
• Orabueze, I.C., Babalola, R., Azuonwu, O., Okoko,I. and Asare, G. (2021): Evaluation of possible effects of Persea americana seeds on female reproductive hormonal and toxicity profile. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 273(2021)113870. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2021.113870
• Orabueze, I.C., Obi, E., Adesegun, S.A. and Coker, H.A. (2020): Potential antimalarial activity of Coccinia barteri leaf extract and solvent fractions against Plasmodium berghei infected mice. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 248(2020): 112334. doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2019.112334
• Orabueze, I.C., Ota, D.A. and Coker, H.A. (2020): Antimalarial potentials of Stemonocoleus micranthus Harms (leguminoseae) stem bark in Plasmodium berghei infected mice. Journal of Traditional and Complementary, 10 (1): 70 -78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcme.2019.03.001

Collaborators/ Networks

• Dr. Attah-Ur-Rahman, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Pakistan
• Nick Rees, NMR Unit, Chemistry Department, University of Oxford, UK

• Prof George Asare, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana

• Ejeatuluchukwu Obi, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University
• Matthew Achilonu, Technology Station in Chemicals, Mangosuthu Ubiversity of Technology, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa