Study with Greenwich  | Student Information  | About Us  | Research  | Contact Us

School of Science

Search

Search the university website

Intranet Login



Pharmacognosy and Herbal Standardisation Research

Key Personnel: Dr Solomon Habtemariam

Pharmacognosy Research

Dr Solomon Habtemariam is a leading expert on drug discovery researches from natural sources. By using ethno-botanical information and bioassay-guided-isolation studies, Dr Habtemariam’s research group has identified several classes of bioactive compounds. His in-house bioassay screens and expertise areas include the following:

  • Targeting inflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules by natural products.
  • Search for anti-microbial agents: antileishmanial, antibacterial and antifungal agents.
  • Identification of potential anti-cancer and immunomodulatory compounds.
  • Search for anticachexic agents from natural sources.
  • Modulation of reactive oxygen species in health and disease. Of particular interest are neurodegenerative diseases: principally Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
  • Identification of antidiabetic agents from plant sources.
  • Search of potential natural products that promote weight loss.

    • Herbal Drugs and Essential Oils Standardization

    In addition to the above-mentioned pharmacological assays, Dr Habtemariam uses chromatographic and spectroscopic analysis methods for standardizing herbal products, i.e. he provides the scientific bases of traditional medicines through both chemical and pharmacological assays.

    Publications

    Habtemariam, S. (2000) Natural inhibitors of tumour necrosis facto – production, secretion and function. Review article. Planta Med., 66, pp. 303–313.

    Habtemariam, S. (2001) Anti-inflammatory activity of the antirheumatic herbal drug, gravel root (Eupatorium purpureum): further biological activities and constituents. Phytotherapy Res., 15, pp. 687–690.

    Habtemariam, S. (2002) Hamamelitannin from Hamamelis virginiana inhibits the tumour necrosis factor-a (TNF)-induced endothelial cell death in vitro. Toxicon, 40, pp. 83–88.

    Habtemariam, S. (2003) Cytotoxic and cytostatic activity of erlangerins from Commiphora erlangeriana. Toxicon, 41, pp. 723–727.

    Habtemariam, S. (2003) In vitro antileishmanial effects of antibacterial diterpenes from two Ethiopian Premna species: P.schimperi and P. oligotricha. BMC Pharmacology, 3: 6.

    For further information please Contact Dr Solomon Habtemariam (Tel: 0208 331 8302, e-mail: S.habtemariam@gre.ac.uk) or visit our dedicated website.