Page 46 - UNAM Virtual Graduation 2020 e-Book

FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES
SCHOOL OF PHARMACY

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMISTRY

CANDIDATE: ISHOLA Anthony

CURRICULUM VITAE
After completion of his BSc (Hons) in Applied Chemistry, Anthony lectured for two
years before proceeding with a Master’s programme in Analytical Chemistry at
the Federal university of technology Minna, Nigeria. Shortly afterwards, Anthony
was seconded to Namibia in 1993 as a member of the Technical Aid Corps (TAC)
sponsored by the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
On arrival in Namibia, he was attached to the Ministry of Education in the Kavango region where he served at different
schools as a science teacher between 1993 and 1994. From 1996 to 2008, he served as a science teacher in the
Keetmanshoop and Windhoek education regions. While in the services of the Ministry of Education, Anthony obtained
the Post graduate diploma in Education from the University of Namibia in 2002.

In 2011, Anthony registered for a Masters of Philosophy degree at the University of Stellenbosch. Upon completion of
his studies at Stellenbosch, he joined Catholic Aid Action as National Program manager. Anthony joined the Faculty of
Health Sciences at UNAM as a Chemistry lecturer in the department of Pharmacy Policy and Practice. He now occupies
the position of senior lecturer and is the Head of department of the newly created department of Pharmaceutical
Chemistry and Phytochemistry at UNAM.

CANDIDATE’S DISSERTATION

CHARACTERIZATION, BIOACTIVITY AND QSAR STUDIES OF NATURAL PRODUCTS FROM SELECTED NAMIBIAN RED MARINE
ALGAE
The doctoral study was undertaken and completed under the supervision of Professor Michael George Knott of the
University of Namibia as Main-Supervisor and Professor Edet Archibong and Dr. Jane Misihairabgwi of the University of
Namibia as Co-Supervisors.

This research was undertaken in search of drug leads from Namibian marine algae. Plocamium species were collected
along the coastline of Namibia. The extracts were screened and their phytochemical contents were quantified. Both
the antioxidant activity and the antimicrobial activity of the crude extracts were determined, as well as the dose-
response relationship for Plocamium extracts in BALB/c mice. This was done by using acute and sub-acute toxicity
parameters. In addition, the structural elucidation of the major metabolite found in the crude extract was determined
and the Quantitative Structure Activity Relationships (QSARs) of the compound were determined.

Both Plocamium species (P. rigidum & P. cornutum) are very rich in phytochemicals. Ethanoic extracts of P. rigidum
showed activity against Listeria monocytogenes while the standard ampicillin had no activity. The LD was of P. rigidum
50
was determined for the first time and a therapeutic dose of 355 mg/kg in BALB/c mice reduced E. coli load to pre-
evaluation levels on the fifth day.
The major compound responsible for activity was identified as 1E,3R,4S,5E,7Z-1-bromo-3,4,8-trichloro-7-(dichloromethyl)-
3-methylocta-1,5,7-triene. Quantitative Structure Activity Relationships (QSAR) revealed that, CPKOvality and H-L
gap are physicochemical parameters that best optimised the structure to predict improved biological activity of
Plocamium metabolites.
Five articles in reputable journals have been published from this research topic.

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