Natural Product Research & Development in Uganda: The Opportunities &

Challenges

By Francis OmujalNatural Chemotherapeutics Research Lab (NCRL)

Sub-Regional Stakeholder Consultation for Eastern AfricaNairobi, Kenya, 18 – 20th May 2009

Outline of presentation

• Introduction

• Background of NCRL

• Natural product Research & development in Uganda

• Opportunities in Natural products Research

• Challenges in Natural Product Research

• Conclusion

Introduction• Natural Products (NP) are vital components of biodiversity

for PHC and livelihoods : medicinal plants, indigenous fruits, oil and fat etc

• Worldwide the demand for natural products for nutrition, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals are on increase.

• Demand for MP was about US $ 14 billion dollars and projected to US $ 5 Trillion by 2050 (WHO)

• With emerging diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS MP provide solutions.

Introduction• The WHO has estimated that up to 80% of the

population in Africa relies TM for health needs.

• MP are traded as leaves, bark, and roots in form of powders, extracts, tonics, pills, teas

• Promotion of R & D can enhance their commercialization

Background of NCRL

• NCRL is, dept at the MOH, created in 1964

• Original focus was to isolate ingredient for pharmaceutical companies.

• But currently, its involved R & D of natural products for health products.

• Comprises of botany, chemistry and pharmacology sections

Background of NCRL• The Vision is to be “A Center of Excellence

for Scientific Research and Development .”

• The Mission is to: “Research, develop and promote quality natural products and services for improved Health Care and Economic Development by applying Indigenous and Modern Technologies through Collaborative Efforts.”

Background of NCRL

Broad Priorities (Focus Areas)

• Natural Product Development

• Medicinal Bio-diversity Conservation

• Herbal Health Care Delivery Systems

• Integration of Herbal Medicine into National Health Care Systems

• Institutional Capacity Development

R&D of Natural products in Uganda• A number of standardized herbal products on the

market.

• Over 5000 MP species have been botanically documented

• 50 endangered MP conserved

• To improve the commercialization of herbal products, they are lab tested and forwarded to National Drug Authority (NDA) for notification (pre-registration)

R&D of Natural products in Uganda-KIPO herbal cream for skin

infections

-Avocine caffeine free beverage

-Product for sickle cell patients

-Product for surgical conditions/wounds/burns

Herbal products that have been developed in NCRL:

R&D of Natural products in Uganda• Medicinal Plants include among others Warbugia

salutaris, Prunus africana, Holunsdia opposite, bidens pilosa, Aloe vera, Ticlea nobilis, Azadirachta indica Vernonia amygdalina, Phylanthus sp. Carica papaya etc.

Vegetable oil: Moringa oleifera, Vitellaria paradoxa (Shea butter

Essential oils: Cymbopogon citrus (lemon grass), Ocimum suave, Eucalyptus, Citronella, Rose mary

R&D of Natural products in UgandaPriority Diseases:

Malaria, Cough/ flu/ colds, Sickle cell, Diabetic, Asthma, Hypertensive (High blood pressure), Fibroid cases, Skin infections (bacteria & fungal infections), Aphrodiatics, HIV/AIDS etc

R&D of Natural products in Uganda

Botany Research

• Ethnobotanical surveys, plant identification, herbarium specimens and finger printing

• Sample collection, processing, storage-QC

• Ensure sustainability through conservation and cultivation

R&D of Natural products in UgandaChemistry Research Lab: Phytochemistry

Isolated cpd and TLC finger printIsolated cpd and TLC finger print Isolated active Cpd and Uv sp finger printIsolated active Cpd and Uv sp finger print

Extraction of plant extract

R&D of Natural products in Uganda

Pharmacological Research

--Toxicity and side effects profilingToxicity and side effects profiling--Efficacy profileEfficacy profile--Bioavailability and Dose determinationBioavailability and Dose determination--Prototype developmentPrototype development--formulation studies, stability studies and quality formulation studies, stability studies and quality controlcontrol-- Levels of heavy metals, microbial level, pesticide levels,Levels of heavy metals, microbial level, pesticide levels,

R&D of Natural products in Uganda

Clinical trial: wound healing with herbal formula

Day one after bandage remove After two weeks of application of herbal formula

Complete wound healing after 3 wks of herbal formula application

One month of treatment with Herbal formulation

Herbalformula

Opportunities in NP Research

• Large market & source of income for the population Growing demand for authentic herbal

• Emerging diseases HIV/AIDs, diabetes, cancer, HPB etc, they provide alternative

• Vast indigenous knowledge in books, journals, communities to used in devt, of natural products

• In Uganda there is political support in the area of Natural products

- Inadequacies and side effects of synthetic drugs and products promotes natural products

Challalenges• un sustainable utilisation is creating excessive loses of

natural products

• Poor Product quality ( packaging, labelling, product attributes etc)

• There are inadequate resources for natural product R &D (Capital investment -skilled Human resource and finance)

• The existing national policies for R &D for natural product R &D and commercialisation are weak.

• Support by relevant government to promote Natural product development is limited.

Challenges• Limited information ( scientific, commercial etc)

• Intellectual property Right

• Incase of medicinal plants, there is bias mind of Biomedical health workers.

• Demand for natural product has brought quack practitioners in natural product sector

Conclusion

• Promotion of natural product research and development and commercialization can enhance livelihood of the people in Africa

THANK YOU