In Africa drug development originated from natural products particularly plants Cinchona species (Quinine) Artemisia annua Artemisinin and its derivatives, in the treatment of malaria; animals such as Civet cat (Civetone) tranquilizer,   fungi, microorganisms and mineral salts such as Sulphur and Kaoline.

This is quite unlike in the developed world where drugs and pharmaceuticals are derived from synthetic products and petrochemicals. 

Pharmacognosy and phytomedicine are important subjects in drug development. The usual procedure is through ethno botanical survey of plants used in the management of specific diseases. Based on the ethno pharmacological survey, literature search on the bioactive plants with high frequency of use will be carried out.

 Such plants will be collected in high quantity, processed and subjected to extraction, phytochemical screening, bioactivity guided fraction until the putative compounds are isolated and characterized using various spectroscopic techniques. The isolated compounds obtained will be bio-assayed using animal models and subjected to toxicological analyses using appropriate techniques. The LD 50 and LD 90 determined. The toxicity for both acute and chronic administration will be determined.

The extract, active purified fraction or isolated compound are subjected to drug formulation techniques. 

The formulated product is subjected to clinical trials. 

Pharmacodynamic study is carried out to determine drug / drug interaction to determine additive, synergistic or antagonistic effect of the product on similar drugs or food. Also pharmacokinetic study carried out on the effect of the drug on kidney, liver and other vital organs.

Prof. Agbedahunsi is a Pharmacognosy and Phytomedicine expert specializing in drug discovery from medicinal plants for diseases like malaria, sickle cell disorder, and Alzheimer’s. He holds a B.Sc. in Biochemistry and a Ph.D. in Pharmacognosy, with over 50 published research articles.

He has received multiple awards, including the Royal Society UK study visit and NUC First Prize in Industrial Research. Prof. Agbedahunsi is the National Coordinator of WANNPRES, Editor-in-Chief of the Nigerian Journal of Natural Products and Medicine, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.