TITLE: PROF

NAME: SUNDAY ADELEKE ADESEGUN

POSITION: HEAD OF DEPARTMENT/PROFESSOR                                             SPECIALISATION: Natural Products Drug Discovery and Pharmacognosy

EDUCATION/TRAINING

Personal Statement

“I am a passionate and dedicated academic whose career has been defined by a strong commitment to teaching, research, and innovation in pharmaceutical sciences. My primary research interest lies in natural products drug discovery, with a focus on the isolation, characterization, and development of bioactive compounds from medicinal plants. Through this work, I aim to contribute to the global search for novel therapeutic agents, particularly for diseases that remain major public health burdens—such as malaria, neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes, infectious diseases, and sickle cell disease. My research combines advanced structural elucidation techniques with deep knowledge of traditional medicine, bridging the gap between indigenous knowledge and modern drug development. This approach has allowed me to identify promising compounds with significant pharmacological potential, thereby enhancing the scientific understanding and practical application of natural medicines. Beyond the laboratory, I am committed to nurturing future generations of pharmaceutical scientists through mentorship and collaborative research. I believe strongly in the power of interdisciplinary partnerships to accelerate discovery and translation of research into impactful health solutions. As I continue to explore the therapeutic promise of nature, I remain driven by a vision of science that is innovative, collaborative, and ultimately transformative for global health.”

Positions, Scientific Appointments, and Honours

• Head of Department 2022-Date
• Program Coordinator, African Center of Excellence for Drugs research, Herbal Medicine Development and Regulatory Science (ACEDHARS) 2021-Date
• University of Lagos Best Researcher of the year 2015 (Pharmacy).
• Fulbright Visiting Research Scholar (2001)
• Japanese Government Monbusho Fellowship 2004
• Representative of University of Mississippi at U.S. Consulate EAC College and Career fair in Lagos, Nigeria. 2003, 2004, 2005.
• Reviewer, BMC Complementary Alternative Medicine

Selected Most Recent Publications /Contributions to Knowledge

• Adegun AA, Srivedavyasasri R, Zhao J, Zulfiqar F, Adesegun S A, Odukoya OA, Khan AI and Zulfiqar A. (2024). A novel normegastigmane from the leaves of Rhaphiostylis beninensis. Natural product research, 1-7.
• Adegun AA, Adesegun SA, Usman AR and Odukoya OA. (2023. Thin Layer Chromatography Bio-autography guided identification of Antibacterial constituents of leaf extract of Stereospermum kunthianum (Bignoniaceae). Nigerian Journal of Pharmacy, 1-10.

• Orabueze IC, Obi E, Adesegun SA. and Coker HA. (2020). Potential antimalarial activity of Coccinia barteri leaf extract and solvent fractions against Plasmodium berghei infected mice. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 248: 112334

• Alaribe CS, Esposito T, Sansone F, Adesegun S A, Pagano I. Piccinell, AL, Celano R, Rubio OC, Coker HA, Nabavi SM, Rastrelli L and Patrizia PP (2019.: Nigerian propolis: chemical composition, antioxidant activity and α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition. Journal of Natural Product Research, 8; 1-5.

• Adesegun SA, Nnaemeka I, Orabueze CI, Ota D and Coker HAB. (2019). Antiplasmodial activity of leaf extract and fractions of Rutidea smithii Hiern (Rubiaceae). West African Journal of Pharmacy, 30(1): 88-95

Collaborators/ Networks (International inclusive) 

• Mark T. Hamann, Medical University of South Carolina, USA

• Dulcie Mulholand, University of Surrey, United Kingdom

• Peng Jiangnan, Morgan State University, USA

• John Bowling, St. Jude Children”s Research Hospital, USA