Natural products
derived from plant and animal sources if prudently used have the potential to
prevent and treat challenging health issues such as cancer, diabetes, liver
cirrhosis, heart related diseases and a number of ailments threatening the
wellbeing of people globally.
Professor
Muftau Oladunmoye (Professor of Pharmaceutical Microbiology) while delivering
the 96th Inaugural lecture of the Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA,
and spoke on the topic: Natural Products Derived Antimicrobials: The myth and
Reality, Professor Oladunmoye cited various examples of scientifically proven
efficacy of extracts from herbs and plants in the treatment of ailments.
He
said, amongst others, extracts from mistletoe growing on cocoa and Kolanut
trees have proven anti-cancer property. He however advocated for thorough
research into how to improve the quality and safety of natural products for
therapeutic purposes and for intellectual as well as material investment in its
development to ensure its survival.
Prof Oladunmoye, said while there are some
potential hazards associated with herbal medication such as allergies and
cellular respiration inhibitors, the greatest challenges facing the use of these
products is the prevalence of myths associated with its use.
The
Don reiterated that the reality is that the advantages of natural products
outweigh the disadvantages as traditional remedies are mostly compounded from
natural products and there is the likelihood of them being accepted by the body
than substances produced in the laboratory.
He
said in recent times, especially in the sub region, preference of traditional
health products over FUTA NEWS orthodox medicine has been on the rise due to
low incomes and weak financial strength of most people in rural areas and high
cost of imported chemically synthesized drugs some of which have undesirable
side effects. To this effect he said concerted effort should be geared towards
evaluating the potentials and medicinal value of natural products for
prophylactic and therapeutic applications to health.
He
said maintenance of good health should be holistic embracing orthodox and
traditional methods, and the lines of convergence between them must be promoted
not demarcated by health authorities as part of measures to guarantee improve
physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing of the populace.
The
Professor of Pharmaceutical Microbiology defined natural products as chemical
compounds or substances produced by living organisms or found in nature that
have pharmacological or biological activities. He stated that nature has been a
source of medicinal agents for thousands of years and an impressive number of
drugs have been isolated from natural sources, many based on their uses in
traditional medicine.
Professor Oladunmoye recommended that modern scientific
approaches in extraction and purification should be explored by pharmaceutical
industry while considering traditional medicine as a source of identification
of bioactive agent that can be used in the preparation of synthetic medicine.
He
stressed the need to have standardized, effective and ethical, quality control
practices on conserving and propagating natural products in whatever way they
can be used and the development of globally applicable guidelines to promote
the safety and quality of natural products through formulation of codes.
Oladunmoye said local health authorities should, where applicable, seek the
collaboration of traditional practitioners in promoting programs such
environmental sanitation, personal hygiene, family planning and immunization.
While
traditional health practitioners should be trained to improve their skill and
to ensure their cooperation in making use of referral system in dealing with high
risk patients. The Don urged the government and stakeholders in the health
sector to establish formalized National, state and local government boards on
traditional medicine to coordinate and regulate their activities and practices.
Prof Oladunmoye
called on universities to establish Centers for Natural Products Research in
order to standardize indigenous medicine and pharmacopeia through teaching and
scientific research. In his remarks, chairman of the occasion and Vice
Chancellor, Professor Joseph Fuwape commended the lecturer on the delivery of
the lecture describing it as timely and enlightening given the prevalent health
challenges facing people globally.
He
said Oladunmoye is a scholar par excellence who has contributed immensely to
the body of knowledge in his area of specialization and the development of the
institution. The lecture was graced by royal fathers, stakeholders in the
academic sector, staff and students of the university.
Source:
FUTA NEWS
Labels: Campus News
