Drug discovery and biodiversity conservation in Samburu, Kenya
Mark O. Nanyingi1* , James M. Mbaria 1, Adamson L.Lanyasunya 2, Cyrus G. Wagate1, Kipsengeret B. Koros. 1, 4, William O. Ogara 1, Jacob O.Midiwo3
1Department of Public Health Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Nairobi, P.O BOX 29053-00625 Nairobi, Kenya
2Samburu Integrated Resource Aid Network (SIRAN) P.O BOX 26 Maralal, Kenya
3Department of Chemistry, University of Nairobi, P.O BOX 30197 Nairobi, Kenya
4 Center for Public Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, P.O. Box 54840, 00200 Nairobi, Kenya
High-throughput screening (HTS) of large compound and combinatorial libraries offers the best chances for discovery of novel lead compounds. Considerable research on pharmacognosy, phytochemistry, pharmacology and clinical therapeutics has been carried out on Samburu medicinal plants as potential sources of new pharmaceuticals. We attempt to outline developments in Traditional Medicine (TM) and legislation concerning conservation and biodiversity in Samburu district. Based on field trips, interviews, site visits and literature we explored the history, current status, re-establishment and development of TM and intellectual property rights (IPR). A collaborative research as part of the economic justification for biodiversity conservation was conducted to develop a model program for drug discovery in Kenya and progress on this project is reported, including a database of 72 plants with antimalarial, ectoparasiticidal, larvicidal and antihelmintic properties. Plants were collected and screened for bioactivity at our laboratories and those with antibacterial, antiplasmodial and larvicidal potency were studied. We are conducting invitro and invivo cytotoxicity studies and isolation of active compounds in collaboration with other laboratories. The conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in bioprospecting and biotechnology as it relates to rights of indigenous knowledge holders is discussed. Any royalties from the resulting drugs will be shared with these communities as an economic incentive to maintain their habitat. We must foster the development of multidisciplinary, international, collaborative research programs which will support local and global scientists in futuristic pharmaceutical developments from natural resources.
Keywords: Drug discovery; Biodiversity; Intellectual property rights; Kenya
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
5TH African Association of Physiologists Conference, August 2008
Pharmacoepidemiology and bioprospecting of herbal medicines in three Districts in Kenya.
Nanyingi O Mark1*, Wagate G Cyrus1, Gakuya W Daniel2, Kipsengeret B. Koros1, 3, James M Mbaria1
1Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nairobi P.O Box 29053-00625 Nairobi Kenya
2 Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nairobi P.O Box 29053-00625 Nairobi Kenya
3 Center for Public Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, P.O. Box 54840, 00200 Nairobi, Kenya
A comparative ethnomedicinal study was conducted to document the indigenous medicinal plant knowledge, use and extinction threats in Samburu, Machakos and Kitui Districts of Kenya from December 2006 to May 2007. Data were collected from 300 randomly selected respondents using semi-structured interviews and observations in order to examine the present use of medicinal plants and their reputed therapeutic effects. Sixty-four ethnomedicinal plant species used by traditional healers to manage sixty two different veterinary and medical conditions were identified and documented. Healers' and respondents indigenous knowledge was positively correlated with their reported age but not with their educational level. High degree of consensus was observed among traditional healers in harvesting, preparation and administration of the herbal remedies. Those most frequently reported had therapeutic value for treating gastrointestinal and respiratory syndromes as analgesic/anti-inflammatory and antitusive agents. The frequently managed conditions included malaria and tick-borne diseases. The use of more than one species was significantly cited for remedy preparations. The reported abundance of the ethnomedicinal plant species varied significantly with respect to the presence of multiple uses of the reported species. Our results showed that the local population had high ethnobotanical knowledge and that the ethnomedicinal plant species are under serious threat prompting the need for urgent attention towards their conservation and sustainable utilization. Ethnobotany and pharmacoepidemiology adds value to herbal medicines and it is fundamental in pharmacognosy, bioprospecting and high throughput screening (HTS) of novel drug molecules.
Nanyingi O Mark1*, Wagate G Cyrus1, Gakuya W Daniel2, Kipsengeret B. Koros1, 3, James M Mbaria1
1Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nairobi P.O Box 29053-00625 Nairobi Kenya
2 Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nairobi P.O Box 29053-00625 Nairobi Kenya
3 Center for Public Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, P.O. Box 54840, 00200 Nairobi, Kenya
A comparative ethnomedicinal study was conducted to document the indigenous medicinal plant knowledge, use and extinction threats in Samburu, Machakos and Kitui Districts of Kenya from December 2006 to May 2007. Data were collected from 300 randomly selected respondents using semi-structured interviews and observations in order to examine the present use of medicinal plants and their reputed therapeutic effects. Sixty-four ethnomedicinal plant species used by traditional healers to manage sixty two different veterinary and medical conditions were identified and documented. Healers' and respondents indigenous knowledge was positively correlated with their reported age but not with their educational level. High degree of consensus was observed among traditional healers in harvesting, preparation and administration of the herbal remedies. Those most frequently reported had therapeutic value for treating gastrointestinal and respiratory syndromes as analgesic/anti-inflammatory and antitusive agents. The frequently managed conditions included malaria and tick-borne diseases. The use of more than one species was significantly cited for remedy preparations. The reported abundance of the ethnomedicinal plant species varied significantly with respect to the presence of multiple uses of the reported species. Our results showed that the local population had high ethnobotanical knowledge and that the ethnomedicinal plant species are under serious threat prompting the need for urgent attention towards their conservation and sustainable utilization. Ethnobotany and pharmacoepidemiology adds value to herbal medicines and it is fundamental in pharmacognosy, bioprospecting and high throughput screening (HTS) of novel drug molecules.
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