"Beware Of Expired Yoghurts, Fake Wines And Siprits Currently In The Market" - NAFDAC

National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the agency in charge of food and drug regulation in Nigeria, yesterday alerted the public about the circulation of revalidated expired yoghurt, unregistered wines and spirits in the market.

 

Director-General of the agency, Paul Orhii, made the disclosure at a news briefing in Lagos.

According to Mr Orhii, "the agency has launched an investigation into the alteration of the expiry date of the yoghurt known as Dunone Ultra Mel Yoghurt".

 

According to NAFDAC, a firm tampered with the expiry date of March 2015 of the yoghurt by carefully altering the last number in the date to read March 2016. Announcing that the suspects had been arrested by the agency, Orhii said NAFDAC was working to get the source of the product and bring the perpetrators to book.

He said: “The public is, hereby, informed that the validity of yoghurt is six months. Buyers and consumers should be watchful of processed foods and always collect receipts upon purchase of any item.” 

Meanwhile, the agency has intercepted a truckload of various suspected counterfeit and unregistered wines and spirits belonging to a businessman (names withheld) along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway. Orhii said the most worrisome thing was that the importer used official government number plate, OGFZA (Regd.No.RV885FZE) assigned to Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority, to deceive security operatives, adding that the interception was made possible by vigilant officers of the agency.

On examination, he said, the truck was found to contain counterfeit and unregistered wines and spirits (J&P Wine, Red Label, Villiera Fired Earth Wine and Jelzin Assorted Flavours). 

Others are JP Chernet Wine, Cask and Cream, E and J Brey, among others.

Orhii further revealed that the agency had concluded plans to re-present its proposed Anti-Counterfeit Bill to the eighth Assembly with a view to getting stiffer punishments for counterfeiters of registered products.
The new bill is proposing a lifetime jail sentence for convicted counterfeiters, and also recommending the confiscation of their assets and the use of some of the confiscated assets to compensate victims.

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Ogogoro Killings In Nigeria: The Disastrous Effects Of Methanol In The Local Gin

Ogogoro or local gin is a common alcoholic beverage locally consumed in most rural areas and city suburbs in Nigeria, especially in the riverine communities of the Niger Delta region. Ogogoro is usually made from palm wine, in natural drink made from oil palm trees. However, when the news recently broke out that ogogoro was killing people in some states in Nigeria, eye-brows were raised. It has now been confirmed by health authorities that the killer ogogoro is made not from palm wine but from methanol.

You can't see, smell or taste methanol, but drink a small amount and it could make you very ill or even kill you. Methanol has recently been linked to a number of deaths in Australia and overseas.
But what exactly is methanol, how is it produced, and, more importantly, how would you know if you have drunk it?

Methanol is the simplest form of alcohol. It is closely related to ethanol, the type of alcohol normally found in beer, wine and spirits – but much more toxic. The potential for its presence in drinks made from home-distilled spirits is a serious health risk.
Methanol is formed in very small amounts during fermentation, the process by which alcohol is made from plant products like grape juice or cereal grains. There are small amounts in wine and beer, but not enough to cause problems when these products are made at home, says Leigh Schmidtke, a senior lecturer in wine microbiology and production at Charles Sturt University. But home distillation to make spirits like gin or rum concentrates the levels of both ethanol and methanol.
Commercially-made spirits are very safe because manufacturers use technologies specifically designed to ensure methanol is separated from the ethanol. But home brew systems are typically not so technically advanced, which makes separation more difficult.
"There are no really safe ways of differentiating methanol from ethanol at home," says Schmidtke.

Methanol is converted in the body into formic acid, the same toxin that is found in the venom of ants. It's the buildup of this in the blood that causes the devastating problems, says Professor Paul Haber, the head of Drug and Alcohol Services at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney.
These include:

• kidney failure
• problems with your heart and circulation,
• liver damage
• visual disturbances such as blurred vision, tunnel vision, changes in colour perception, and temporary or permanent blindness.
• nerve and brain damage

"As time progresses, you lose your vision, you're losing integrity of your thinking processes, maybe other organs are affected. It is a very, very unpleasant process," says toxicologist Professor Chris Winder.

The earliest signs of methanol poisoning can be hard to distinguish from the normal effects of alcohol. You can develop mild symptoms similar to alcohol intoxication within an hour, along with nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
After 12 to 24 hours, the more significant symptoms can develop, such as headache, dizziness, vertigo and blurred vision.
"The bad thing is that it takes 12 to 24 hours, and often people have been solidly drunk and sleeping," says Gordian Fulde.
Ignorance of the issue can also lead to misdiagnosis or critical delays in diagnosis.
If eye symptoms such as blurred vision or difficulty looking a bright light develop, then "they really are in trouble," says Fulde. "That's when they really need to do something."

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Nigerian Scientists Make Breakthrough In The Cure Of Cancer With Herbal Medicine

Isa Marte Hussaini, Leader Of The Team

The Nigerian natural health sector as again gained an international recognition. Undeterred by the insecurity in their immediate community due to Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State, a team of seven Nigerian scientists from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Maiduguri, has made progress in a groundbreaking research into the use of local herbs for cancer therapy. The team, led by Professor of Pharmacology at the university, Isa Marte Hussaini, is currently exploring different Nigerian plants for the cancer therapy research.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) has called on the Presidency to create the office of Chief Adviser to Government as a proactive way of promoting research and enhance science funding in the country. President of the Academy, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, who made this assertion in an interview with The Guardian noted: “The National Conference came up with some very interesting recommendations. It is not everything that was done there that is sensible. But I was really very impressed with what they came up with in the area of science. We are all asking the government to take a look at that. This government shouldn’t throw the whole report away. Take a look at the report to see if there is anything useful in it and make use of such.” Already, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRID) have applauded the research, promising to work with the scientists to conduct pre-clinical trials. Prof. Hussaini, who presented the study to the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS), told The Guardian yesterday that eight out of the 54 plants so far identified showed more promise than the current drugs used in the treatment of cancer. He highlighted how three of the plants showed impressive anti-cancer activities against both breast cancer and brain tumour. He said: “We are working to develop effective cancer therapy using Nigerian medicinal plants. We have characterised and identified some plants. We have tested them and they are very effective. Eight out of the 54 that we have are better than even the current drugs that are used in the treatment of cancer. We are trying to identify some of those active compounds that are responsible for this anti-cancer activity. Afterwards, in partnership with NAFDAC or NIPRID, we will do animal and even pre-clinical studies. The team is made up of medical doctors, surgeons, pharmaceutical chemists and pharmacognosists, and then medicinal herbalist – a consultant. I am a pharmacologist. We have several papers that we have published. We have some papers ready for publication.”
He tasked government to provide adequate support to Nigerian scientists to enable them compete favourably. “Science should be number one in terms of funding, and we need lots of money, billions really. For this project, N100 million–N200 million would complete it. To go to pre-clinical and clinical trial requires money,” he noted. Hussaini added that his team received institutionalised funding through Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and was trying to secure more funding, especially from the National Institute for Health in the United States. “If we want Nigeria to move forward, this is the kind of cutting edge research that the present government should fund and it should be a priority,” he noted.

Undeterred by the insecurity in their immediate community due to Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State, a team of seven Nigerian scientists from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Maiduguri, has made progress in a groundbreaking research into the use of local herbs for cancer therapy. The team, led by Professor of Pharmacology at the university, Isa Marte Hussaini, is currently exploring different Nigerian plants for the cancer therapy research. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) has called on the Presidency to create the office of Chief Adviser to Government as a proactive way of promoting research and enhance science funding in the country. President of the Academy, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, who made this assertion in an interview with The Guardian noted: “The National Conference came up with some very interesting recommendations. It is not everything that was done there that is sensible. But I was really very impressed with what they came up with in the area of science. We are all asking the government to take a look at that. This government shouldn’t throw the whole report away. Take a look at the report to see if there is anything useful in it and make use of such.” Already, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRID) have applauded the research, promising to work with the scientists to conduct pre-clinical trials. Prof. Hussaini, who presented the study to the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS), told The Guardian yesterday that eight out of the 54 plants so far identified showed more promise than the current drugs used in the treatment of cancer. He highlighted how three of the plants showed impressive anti-cancer activities against both breast cancer and brain tumour. He said: “We are working to develop effective cancer therapy using Nigerian medicinal plants. We have characterised and identified some plants. We have tested them and they are very effective. Eight out of the 54 that we have are better than even the current drugs that are used in the treatment of cancer. We are trying to identify some of those active compounds that are responsible for this anti-cancer activity. Afterwards, in partnership with NAFDAC or NIPRID, we will do animal and even pre-clinical studies. “The team is made up of medical doctors, surgeons, pharmaceutical chemists and pharmacognosists, and then medicinal herbalist – a consultant. I am a pharmacologist. We have several papers that we have published. We have some papers ready for publication.” He tasked government to provide adequate support to Nigerian scientists to enable them compete favourably. “Science should be number one in terms of funding, and we need lots of money, billions really. For this project, N100 million–N200 million would complete it. To go to pre-clinical and clinical trial requires money,” he noted. Hussaini added that his team received institutionalised funding through Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and was trying to secure more funding, especially from the National Institute for Health in the United States. “If we want Nigeria to move forward, this is the kind of cutting edge research that the present government should fund and it should be a priority,” he noted. He spoke further: “The first task is to establish a robust database of all possible plants used in the former North Eastern State of Nigeria. We have increased our database to approximately 200 plants. The second phase is to screen these plants for their anticancer properties, using established cancer cell lines, patient cancer specimens, cancer stem cells and animal models of cancers, which will be followed by identification of active principles in the plants using Guardian Share on FacebookTweet about this on TwitterShare on Google+Share on LinkedInPin on PinterestEmail this to someoneShare on TumblrShare on StumbleUponShare on VK Currency Converter Amount: From To 0.005 Rates 17 June 2015 Opinion & Analysis Rachel-DolezalActing Black, But White, By Uche Onyebadi … Saraki-tambuwalYou Tambuwaled Me, I Sarakied You, By Zacheaus Adebayo … AAEAAQAAAAAAAAK-AAAAJGU3N2YxMjZkLWVlMjQtNGJjMS04YmZjLTEzZGYxMzUwY2Q2NAPerspectives On Afrinationalism, Afripreneurs And Africapitalism, By Magnus Onyibe … babooBuhari, Beware Of The West! By Ochereome Nnanna … Buhari-inauguration1President Buhari, You Own The Sheets Now, By Muyiwa Adetiba … Commentaries, Opinion and Analysis. Read more Opinion & Analysis Recent Posts BPE Justifies N929.6m Fee For PHCN Sale June 17, 2015 Interest Rate, Naira Devaluation Will Affect Debt Servicing, OBG Warns June 17, 2015 Nigerian, Taylor, Named CTO Scribe June 17, 2015 Alleged Corruption In NNPC Due To Lack Of Budget—Saraki June 17, 2015 Glo Gains 68% Of Total New Nigerian Internet Subscribers In April – NCC June 17, 2015 Find Us on Facebook Archives Social Profiles TwitterFacebookGoogle PlusLinkedInRSS FeedEmail BusinessTV Oil fall hits Nigeria’s banks Top 100 Business in Nigeria Doing Business in Frontier Markets. Entrepeneurship experiences in Nigeria African Business Weekly: Nigerian power sector Nigeria Forward - Engaging the World in business Featuring Top 5/8 of BusinessTV Watch Videos here SMEforum The executive director, Public Sector, Uruem Kalu EkeFirst Bank partners Osun in economic drive on agric, mining, SME’s PRIVATE school proprietors in Kaduna StateKaduna private school operators decry multiple taxation Nigerian Gold miners seek the right to mine nigerian_stock_exchangeFinancing SME’s through capital market cutFruitExperts fault French firms’ position on palm oil industry Featuring Top 5/264 of SMEforum Read more What People are Saying TAO on As You Leave Us In Darkness, We Still Thank You, By Dele Sobowale Dez on Buhari Fires Accountant General Over N2.5bn Security Fund Mandillas on As You Leave Us In Darkness, We Still Thank You, By Dele Sobowale Aminat on As You Leave Us In Darkness, We Still Thank You, By Dele Sobowale Annabel on As You Leave Us In Darkness, We Still Thank You, By Dele Sobowale Emeka Uwadiah on As You Leave Us In Darkness, We Still Thank You, By Dele Sobowale Emeka Uwadiah on As You Leave Us In Darkness, We Still Thank You, By Dele Sobowale lexy on As You Leave Us In Darkness, We Still Thank You, By Dele Sobowale Subscribe to our mailing list * indicates required First Name Last Name Email Address *

Continue reading at: http://thebusinessdispatch.com/nigerian-scientists-make-progress-in-herbal-therapy-for-cancer/

Undeterred by the insecurity in their immediate community due to Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State, a team of seven Nigerian scientists from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Maiduguri, has made progress in a groundbreaking research into the use of local herbs for cancer therapy. The team, led by Professor of Pharmacology at the university, Isa Marte Hussaini, is currently exploring different Nigerian plants for the cancer therapy research. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) has called on the Presidency to create the office of Chief Adviser to Government as a proactive way of promoting research and enhance science funding in the country. President of the Academy, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, who made this assertion in an interview with The Guardian noted: “The National Conference came up with some very interesting recommendations. It is not everything that was done there that is sensible. But I was really very impressed with what they came up with in the area of science. We are all asking the government to take a look at that. This government shouldn’t throw the whole report away. Take a look at the report to see if there is anything useful in it and make use of such.” Already, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRID) have applauded the research, promising to work with the scientists to conduct pre-clinical trials. Prof. Hussaini, who presented the study to the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS), told The Guardian yesterday that eight out of the 54 plants so far identified showed more promise than the current drugs used in the treatment of cancer. He highlighted how three of the plants showed impressive anti-cancer activities against both breast cancer and brain tumour. He said: “We are working to develop effective cancer therapy using Nigerian medicinal plants. We have characterised and identified some plants. We have tested them and they are very effective. Eight out of the 54 that we have are better than even the current drugs that are used in the treatment of cancer. We are trying to identify some of those active compounds that are responsible for this anti-cancer activity. Afterwards, in partnership with NAFDAC or NIPRID, we will do animal and even pre-clinical studies. “The team is made up of medical doctors, surgeons, pharmaceutical chemists and pharmacognosists, and then medicinal herbalist – a consultant. I am a pharmacologist. We have several papers that we have published. We have some papers ready for publication.” He tasked government to provide adequate support to Nigerian scientists to enable them compete favourably. “Science should be number one in terms of funding, and we need lots of money, billions really. For this project, N100 million–N200 million would complete it. To go to pre-clinical and clinical trial requires money,” he noted. Hussaini added that his team received institutionalised funding through Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and was trying to secure more funding, especially from the National Institute for Health in the United States. “If we want Nigeria to move forward, this is the kind of cutting edge research that the present government should fund and it should be a priority,” he noted. He spoke further: “The first task is to establish a robust database of all possible plants used in the former North Eastern State of Nigeria. We have increased our database to approximately 200 plants. The second phase is to screen these plants for their anticancer properties, using established cancer cell lines, patient cancer specimens, cancer stem cells and animal models of cancers, which will be followed by identification of active principles in the plants using Guardian Share on FacebookTweet about this on TwitterShare on Google+Share on LinkedInPin on PinterestEmail this to someoneShare on TumblrShare on StumbleUponShare on VK Currency Converter Amount: From To 0.005 Rates 17 June 2015 Opinion & Analysis Rachel-DolezalActing Black, But White, By Uche Onyebadi … Saraki-tambuwalYou Tambuwaled Me, I Sarakied You, By Zacheaus Adebayo … AAEAAQAAAAAAAAK-AAAAJGU3N2YxMjZkLWVlMjQtNGJjMS04YmZjLTEzZGYxMzUwY2Q2NAPerspectives On Afrinationalism, Afripreneurs And Africapitalism, By Magnus Onyibe … babooBuhari, Beware Of The West! By Ochereome Nnanna … Buhari-inauguration1President Buhari, You Own The Sheets Now, By Muyiwa Adetiba … Commentaries, Opinion and Analysis. Read more Opinion & Analysis Recent Posts BPE Justifies N929.6m Fee For PHCN Sale June 17, 2015 Interest Rate, Naira Devaluation Will Affect Debt Servicing, OBG Warns June 17, 2015 Nigerian, Taylor, Named CTO Scribe June 17, 2015 Alleged Corruption In NNPC Due To Lack Of Budget—Saraki June 17, 2015 Glo Gains 68% Of Total New Nigerian Internet Subscribers In April – NCC June 17, 2015 Find Us on Facebook Archives Social Profiles TwitterFacebookGoogle PlusLinkedInRSS FeedEmail BusinessTV Oil fall hits Nigeria’s banks Top 100 Business in Nigeria Doing Business in Frontier Markets. Entrepeneurship experiences in Nigeria African Business Weekly: Nigerian power sector Nigeria Forward - Engaging the World in business Featuring Top 5/8 of BusinessTV Watch Videos here SMEforum The executive director, Public Sector, Uruem Kalu EkeFirst Bank partners Osun in economic drive on agric, mining, SME’s PRIVATE school proprietors in Kaduna StateKaduna private school operators decry multiple taxation Nigerian Gold miners seek the right to mine nigerian_stock_exchangeFinancing SME’s through capital market cutFruitExperts fault French firms’ position on palm oil industry Featuring Top 5/264 of SMEforum Read more What People are Saying TAO on As You Leave Us In Darkness, We Still Thank You, By Dele Sobowale Dez on Buhari Fires Accountant General Over N2.5bn Security Fund Mandillas on As You Leave Us In Darkness, We Still Thank You, By Dele Sobowale Aminat on As You Leave Us In Darkness, We Still Thank You, By Dele Sobowale Annabel on As You Leave Us In Darkness, We Still Thank You, By Dele Sobowale Emeka Uwadiah on As You Leave Us In Darkness, We Still Thank You, By Dele Sobowale Emeka Uwadiah on As You Leave Us In Darkness, We Still Thank You, By Dele Sobowale lexy on As You Leave Us In Darkness, We Still Thank You, By Dele Sobowale Subscribe to our mailing list * indicates required First Name Last Name Email Address *

Continue reading at: http://thebusinessdispatch.com/nigerian-scientists-make-progress-in-herbal-therapy-for-cancer/

Undeterred by the insecurity in their immediate community due to Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State, a team of seven Nigerian scientists from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Maiduguri, has made progress in a groundbreaking research into the use of local herbs for cancer therapy. The team, led by Professor of Pharmacology at the university, Isa Marte Hussaini, is currently exploring different Nigerian plants for the cancer therapy research. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) has called on the Presidency to create the office of Chief Adviser to Government as a proactive way of promoting research and enhance science funding in the country. President of the Academy, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, who made this assertion in an interview with The Guardian noted: “The National Conference came up with some very interesting recommendations. It is not everything that was done there that is sensible. But I was really very impressed with what they came up with in the area of science. We are all asking the government to take a look at that. This government shouldn’t throw the whole report away. Take a look at the report to see if there is anything useful in it and make use of such.” Already, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRID) have applauded the research, promising to work with the scientists to conduct pre-clinical trials. Prof. Hussaini, who presented the study to the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS), told The Guardian yesterday that eight out of the 54 plants so far identified showed more promise than the current drugs used in the treatment of cancer. He highlighted how three of the plants showed impressive anti-cancer activities against both breast cancer and brain tumour. He said: “We are working to develop effective cancer therapy using Nigerian medicinal plants. We have characterised and identified some plants. We have tested them and they are very effective. Eight out of the 54 that we have are better than even the current drugs that are used in the treatment of cancer. We are trying to identify some of those active compounds that are responsible for this anti-cancer activity. Afterwards, in partnership with NAFDAC or NIPRID, we will do animal and even pre-clinical studies. “The team is made up of medical doctors, surgeons, pharmaceutical chemists and pharmacognosists, and then medicinal herbalist – a consultant. I am a pharmacologist. We have several papers that we have published. We have some papers ready for publication.” He tasked government to provide adequate support to Nigerian scientists to enable them compete favourably. “Science should be number one in terms of funding, and we need lots of money, billions really. For this project, N100 million–N200 million would complete it. To go to pre-clinical and clinical trial requires money,” he noted. Hussaini added that his team received institutionalised funding through Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and was trying to secure more funding, especially from the National Institute for Health in the United States. “If we want Nigeria to move forward, this is the kind of cutting edge research that the present government should fund and it should be a priority,” he noted. He spoke further: “The first task is to establish a robust database of all possible plants used in the former North Eastern State of Nigeria. We have increased our database to approximately 200 plants. The second phase is to screen these plants for their anticancer properties, using established cancer cell lines, patient cancer specimens, cancer stem cells and animal models of cancers, which will be followed by identification of active principles in the plants using Guardian

Continue reading at: http://thebusinessdispatch.com/nigerian-scientists-make-progress-in-herbal-therapy-for-cancer/

Undeterred by the insecurity in their immediate community due to Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State, a team of seven Nigerian scientists from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Maiduguri, has made progress in a groundbreaking research into the use of local herbs for cancer therapy. The team, led by Professor of Pharmacology at the university, Isa Marte Hussaini, is currently exploring different Nigerian plants for the cancer therapy research. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) has called on the Presidency to create the office of Chief Adviser to Government as a proactive way of promoting research and enhance science funding in the country. President of the Academy, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, who made this assertion in an interview with The Guardian noted: “The National Conference came up with some very interesting recommendations. It is not everything that was done there that is sensible. But I was really very impressed with what they came up with in the area of science. We are all asking the government to take a look at that. This government shouldn’t throw the whole report away. Take a look at the report to see if there is anything useful in it and make use of such.” Already, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRID) have applauded the research, promising to work with the scientists to conduct pre-clinical trials. Prof. Hussaini, who presented the study to the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS), told The Guardian yesterday that eight out of the 54 plants so far identified showed more promise than the current drugs used in the treatment of cancer. He highlighted how three of the plants showed impressive anti-cancer activities against both breast cancer and brain tumour. He said: “We are working to develop effective cancer therapy using Nigerian medicinal plants. We have characterised and identified some plants. We have tested them and they are very effective. Eight out of the 54 that we have are better than even the current drugs that are used in the treatment of cancer. We are trying to identify some of those active compounds that are responsible for this anti-cancer activity. Afterwards, in partnership with NAFDAC or NIPRID, we will do animal and even pre-clinical studies. “The team is made up of medical doctors, surgeons, pharmaceutical chemists and pharmacognosists, and then medicinal herbalist – a consultant. I am a pharmacologist. We have several papers that we have published. We have some papers ready for publication.” He tasked government to provide adequate support to Nigerian scientists to enable them compete favourably. “Science should be number one in terms of funding, and we need lots of money, billions really. For this project, N100 million–N200 million would complete it. To go to pre-clinical and clinical trial requires money,” he noted. Hussaini added that his team received institutionalised funding through Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and was trying to secure more funding, especially from the National Institute for Health in the United States. “If we want Nigeria to move forward, this is the kind of cutting edge research that the present government should fund and it should be a priority,” he noted. He spoke further: “The first task is to establish a robust database of all possible plants used in the former North Eastern State of Nigeria. We have increased our database to approximately 200 plants. The second phase is to screen these plants for their anticancer properties, using established cancer cell lines, patient cancer specimens, cancer stem cells and animal models of cancers, which will be followed by identification of active principles in the plants using Guardian

Continue reading at: http://thebusinessdispatch.com/nigerian-scientists-make-progress-in-herbal-therapy-for-cancer/

Undeterred by the insecurity in their immediate community due to Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State, a team of seven Nigerian scientists from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Maiduguri, has made progress in a groundbreaking research into the use of local herbs for cancer therapy. The team, led by Professor of Pharmacology at the university, Isa Marte Hussaini, is currently exploring different Nigerian plants for the cancer therapy research. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) has called on the Presidency to create the office of Chief Adviser to Government as a proactive way of promoting research and enhance science funding in the country. President of the Academy, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, who made this assertion in an interview with The Guardian noted: “The National Conference came up with some very interesting recommendations. It is not everything that was done there that is sensible. But I was really very impressed with what they came up with in the area of science. We are all asking the government to take a look at that. This government shouldn’t throw the whole report away. Take a look at the report to see if there is anything useful in it and make use of such.” Already, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRID) have applauded the research, promising to work with the scientists to conduct pre-clinical trials. Prof. Hussaini, who presented the study to the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS), told The Guardian yesterday that eight out of the 54 plants so far identified showed more promise than the current drugs used in the treatment of cancer. He highlighted how three of the plants showed impressive anti-cancer activities against both breast cancer and brain tumour. He said: “We are working to develop effective cancer therapy using Nigerian medicinal plants. We have characterised and identified some plants. We have tested them and they are very effective. Eight out of the 54 that we have are better than even the current drugs that are used in the treatment of cancer. We are trying to identify some of those active compounds that are responsible for this anti-cancer activity. Afterwards, in partnership with NAFDAC or NIPRID, we will do animal and even pre-clinical studies. “The team is made up of medical doctors, surgeons, pharmaceutical chemists and pharmacognosists, and then medicinal herbalist – a consultant. I am a pharmacologist. We have several papers that we have published. We have some papers ready for publication.” He tasked government to provide adequate support to Nigerian scientists to enable them compete favourably. “Science should be number one in terms of funding, and we need lots of money, billions really. For this project, N100 million–N200 million would complete it. To go to pre-clinical and clinical trial requires money,” he noted. Hussaini added that his team received institutionalised funding through Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and was trying to secure more funding, especially from the National Institute for Health in the United States. “If we want Nigeria to move forward, this is the kind of cutting edge research that the present government should fund and it should be a priority,” he noted. He spoke further: “The first task is to establish a robust database of all possible plants used in the former North Eastern State of Nigeria. We have increased our database to approximately 200 plants. The second phase is to screen these plants for their anticancer properties, using established cancer cell lines, patient cancer specimens, cancer stem cells and animal models of cancers, which will be followed by identification of active principles in the plants using Guardian

Continue reading at: http://thebusinessdispatch.com/nigerian-scientists-make-progress-in-herbal-therapy-for-cancer/

Undeterred by the insecurity in their immediate community due to Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State, a team of seven Nigerian scientists from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Maiduguri, has made progress in a groundbreaking research into the use of local herbs for cancer therapy. The team, led by Professor of Pharmacology at the university, Isa Marte Hussaini, is currently exploring different Nigerian plants for the cancer therapy research. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) has called on the Presidency to create the office of Chief Adviser to Government as a proactive way of promoting research and enhance science funding in the country. President of the Academy, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, who made this assertion in an interview with The Guardian noted: “The National Conference came up with some very interesting recommendations. It is not everything that was done there that is sensible. But I was really very impressed with what they came up with in the area of science. We are all asking the government to take a look at that. This government shouldn’t throw the whole report away. Take a look at the report to see if there is anything useful in it and make use of such.” Already, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRID) have applauded the research, promising to work with the scientists to conduct pre-clinical trials. Prof. Hussaini, who presented the study to the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS), told The Guardian yesterday that eight out of the 54 plants so far identified showed more promise than the current drugs used in the treatment of cancer. He highlighted how three of the plants showed impressive anti-cancer activities against both breast cancer and brain tumour. He said: “We are working to develop effective cancer therapy using Nigerian medicinal plants. We have characterised and identified some plants. We have tested them and they are very effective. Eight out of the 54 that we have are better than even the current drugs that are used in the treatment of cancer. We are trying to identify some of those active compounds that are responsible for this anti-cancer activity. Afterwards, in partnership with NAFDAC or NIPRID, we will do animal and even pre-clinical studies. “The team is made up of medical doctors, surgeons, pharmaceutical chemists and pharmacognosists, and then medicinal herbalist – a consultant. I am a pharmacologist. We have several papers that we have published. We have some papers ready for publication.” He tasked government to provide adequate support to Nigerian scientists to enable them compete favourably. “Science should be number one in terms of funding, and we need lots of money, billions really. For this project, N100 million–N200 million would complete it. To go to pre-clinical and clinical trial requires money,” he noted. Hussaini added that his team received institutionalised funding through Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and was trying to secure more funding, especially from the National Institute for Health in the United States. “If we want Nigeria to move forward, this is the kind of cutting edge research that the present government should fund and it should be a priority,” he noted. He spoke further: “The first task is to establish a robust database of all possible plants used in the former North Eastern State of Nigeria. We have increased our database to approximately 200 plants. The second phase is to screen these plants for their anticancer properties, using established cancer cell lines, patient cancer specimens, cancer stem cells and animal models of cancers, which will be followed by identification of active principles in the plants using Guardian

Continue reading at: http://thebusinessdispatch.com/nigerian-scientists-make-progress-in-herbal-therapy-for-cancer/

Undeterred by the insecurity in their immediate community due to Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State, a team of seven Nigerian scientists from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Maiduguri, has made progress in a groundbreaking research into the use of local herbs for cancer therapy. The team, led by Professor of Pharmacology at the university, Isa Marte Hussaini, is currently exploring different Nigerian plants for the cancer therapy research. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) has called on the Presidency to create the office of Chief Adviser to Government as a proactive way of promoting research and enhance science funding in the country. President of the Academy, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, who made this assertion in an interview with The Guardian noted: “The National Conference came up with some very interesting recommendations. It is not everything that was done there that is sensible. But I was really very impressed with what they came up with in the area of science. We are all asking the government to take a look at that. This government shouldn’t throw the whole report away. Take a look at the report to see if there is anything useful in it and make use of such.” Already, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRID) have applauded the research, promising to work with the scientists to conduct pre-clinical trials. Prof. Hussaini, who presented the study to the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS), told The Guardian yesterday that eight out of the 54 plants so far identified showed more promise than the current drugs used in the treatment of cancer. He highlighted how three of the plants showed impressive anti-cancer activities against both breast cancer and brain tumour. He said: “We are working to develop effective cancer therapy using Nigerian medicinal plants. We have characterised and identified some plants. We have tested them and they are very effective. Eight out of the 54 that we have are better than even the current drugs that are used in the treatment of cancer. We are trying to identify some of those active compounds that are responsible for this anti-cancer activity. Afterwards, in partnership with NAFDAC or NIPRID, we will do animal and even pre-clinical studies. “The team is made up of medical doctors, surgeons, pharmaceutical chemists and pharmacognosists, and then medicinal herbalist – a consultant. I am a pharmacologist. We have several papers that we have published. We have some papers ready for publication.” He tasked government to provide adequate support to Nigerian scientists to enable them compete favourably. “Science should be number one in terms of funding, and we need lots of money, billions really. For this project, N100 million–N200 million would complete it. To go to pre-clinical and clinical trial requires money,” he noted. Hussaini added that his team received institutionalised funding through Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and was trying to secure more funding, especially from the National Institute for Health in the United States. “If we want Nigeria to move forward, this is the kind of cutting edge research that the present government should fund and it should be a priority,” he noted. He spoke further: “The first task is to establish a robust database of all possible plants used in the former North Eastern State of Nigeria. We have increased our database to approximately 200 plants. The second phase is to screen these plants for their anticancer properties, using established cancer cell lines, patient cancer specimens, cancer stem cells and animal models of cancers, which will be followed by identification of active principles in the plants using Guardian

Continue reading at: http://thebusinessdispatch.com/nigerian-scientists-make-progress-in-herbal-therapy-for-cancer/

Undeterred by the insecurity in their immediate community due to Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State, a team of seven Nigerian scientists from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Maiduguri, has made progress in a groundbreaking research into the use of local herbs for cancer therapy. The team, led by Professor of Pharmacology at the university, Isa Marte Hussaini, is currently exploring different Nigerian plants for the cancer therapy research. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) has called on the Presidency to create the office of Chief Adviser to Government as a proactive way of promoting research and enhance science funding in the country. President of the Academy, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, who made this assertion in an interview with The Guardian noted: “The National Conference came up with some very interesting recommendations. It is not everything that was done there that is sensible. But I was really very impressed with what they came up with in the area of science. We are all asking the government to take a look at that. This government shouldn’t throw the whole report away. Take a look at the report to see if there is anything useful in it and make use of such.” Already, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRID) have applauded the research, promising to work with the scientists to conduct pre-clinical trials. Prof. Hussaini, who presented the study to the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS), told The Guardian yesterday that eight out of the 54 plants so far identified showed more promise than the current drugs used in the treatment of cancer. He highlighted how three of the plants showed impressive anti-cancer activities against both breast cancer and brain tumour. He said: “We are working to develop effective cancer therapy using Nigerian medicinal plants. We have characterised and identified some plants. We have tested them and they are very effective. Eight out of the 54 that we have are better than even the current drugs that are used in the treatment of cancer. We are trying to identify some of those active compounds that are responsible for this anti-cancer activity. Afterwards, in partnership with NAFDAC or NIPRID, we will do animal and even pre-clinical studies. “The team is made up of medical doctors, surgeons, pharmaceutical chemists and pharmacognosists, and then medicinal herbalist – a consultant. I am a pharmacologist. We have several papers that we have published. We have some papers ready for publication.” He tasked government to provide adequate support to Nigerian scientists to enable them compete favourably. “Science should be number one in terms of funding, and we need lots of money, billions really. For this project, N100 million–N200 million would complete it. To go to pre-clinical and clinical trial requires money,” he noted. Hussaini added that his team received institutionalised funding through Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and was trying to secure more funding, especially from the National Institute for Health in the United States. “If we want Nigeria to move forward, this is the kind of cutting edge research that the present government should fund and it should be a priority,” he noted. He spoke further: “The first task is to establish a robust database of all possible plants used in the former North Eastern State of Nigeria. We have increased our database to approximately 200 plants. The second phase is to screen these plants for their anticancer properties, using established cancer cell lines, patient cancer specimens, cancer stem cells and animal models of cancers, which will be followed by identification of active principles in the plants using Guardian

Continue reading at: http://thebusinessdispatch.com/nigerian-scientists-make-progress-in-herbal-therapy-for-cancer/

Undeterred by the insecurity in their immediate community due to Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State, a team of seven Nigerian scientists from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Maiduguri, has made progress in a groundbreaking research into the use of local herbs for cancer therapy. The team, led by Professor of Pharmacology at the university, Isa Marte Hussaini, is currently exploring different Nigerian plants for the cancer therapy research. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) has called on the Presidency to create the office of Chief Adviser to Government as a proactive way of promoting research and enhance science funding in the country. President of the Academy, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, who made this assertion in an interview with The Guardian noted: “The National Conference came up with some very interesting recommendations. It is not everything that was done there that is sensible. But I was really very impressed with what they came up with in the area of science. We are all asking the government to take a look at that. This government shouldn’t throw the whole report away. Take a look at the report to see if there is anything useful in it and make use of such.” Already, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRID) have applauded the research, promising to work with the scientists to conduct pre-clinical trials. Prof. Hussaini, who presented the study to the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS), told The Guardian yesterday that eight out of the 54 plants so far identified showed more promise than the current drugs used in the treatment of cancer. He highlighted how three of the plants showed impressive anti-cancer activities against both breast cancer and brain tumour. He said: “We are working to develop effective cancer therapy using Nigerian medicinal plants. We have characterised and identified some plants. We have tested them and they are very effective. Eight out of the 54 that we have are better than even the current drugs that are used in the treatment of cancer. We are trying to identify some of those active compounds that are responsible for this anti-cancer activity. Afterwards, in partnership with NAFDAC or NIPRID, we will do animal and even pre-clinical studies. “The team is made up of medical doctors, surgeons, pharmaceutical chemists and pharmacognosists, and then medicinal herbalist – a consultant. I am a pharmacologist. We have several papers that we have published. We have some papers ready for publication.” He tasked government to provide adequate support to Nigerian scientists to enable them compete favourably. “Science should be number one in terms of funding, and we need lots of money, billions really. For this project, N100 million–N200 million would complete it. To go to pre-clinical and clinical trial requires money,” he noted. Hussaini added that his team received institutionalised funding through Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and was trying to secure more funding, especially from the National Institute for Health in the United States. “If we want Nigeria to move forward, this is the kind of cutting edge research that the present government should fund and it should be a priority,” he noted. He spoke further: “The first task is to establish a robust database of all possible plants used in the former North Eastern State of Nigeria. We have increased our database to approximately 200 plants. The second phase is to screen these plants for their anticancer properties, using established cancer cell lines, patient cancer specimens, cancer stem cells and animal models of cancers, which will be followed by identification of active principles in the plants using Guardian

Continue reading at: http://thebusinessdispatch.com/nigerian-scientists-make-progress-in-herbal-therapy-for-cancer/

Undeterred by the insecurity in their immediate community due to Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State, a team of seven Nigerian scientists from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Maiduguri, has made progress in a groundbreaking research into the use of local herbs for cancer therapy. The team, led by Professor of Pharmacology at the university, Isa Marte Hussaini, is currently exploring different Nigerian plants for the cancer therapy research. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) has called on the Presidency to create the office of Chief Adviser to Government as a proactive way of promoting research and enhance science funding in the country. President of the Academy, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, who made this assertion in an interview with The Guardian noted: “The National Conference came up with some very interesting recommendations. It is not everything that was done there that is sensible. But I was really very impressed with what they came up with in the area of science. We are all asking the government to take a look at that. This government shouldn’t throw the whole report away. Take a look at the report to see if there is anything useful in it and make use of such.” Already, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRID) have applauded the research, promising to work with the scientists to conduct pre-clinical trials. Prof. Hussaini, who presented the study to the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS), told The Guardian yesterday that eight out of the 54 plants so far identified showed more promise than the current drugs used in the treatment of cancer. He highlighted how three of the plants showed impressive anti-cancer activities against both breast cancer and brain tumour. He said: “We are working to develop effective cancer therapy using Nigerian medicinal plants. We have characterised and identified some plants. We have tested them and they are very effective. Eight out of the 54 that we have are better than even the current drugs that are used in the treatment of cancer. We are trying to identify some of those active compounds that are responsible for this anti-cancer activity. Afterwards, in partnership with NAFDAC or NIPRID, we will do animal and even pre-clinical studies. “The team is made up of medical doctors, surgeons, pharmaceutical chemists and pharmacognosists, and then medicinal herbalist – a consultant. I am a pharmacologist. We have several papers that we have published. We have some papers ready for publication.” He tasked government to provide adequate support to Nigerian scientists to enable them compete favourably. “Science should be number one in terms of funding, and we need lots of money, billions really. For this project, N100 million–N200 million would complete it. To go to pre-clinical and clinical trial requires money,” he noted. Hussaini added that his team received institutionalised funding through Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and was trying to secure more funding, especially from the National Institute for Health in the United States. “If we want Nigeria to move forward, this is the kind of cutting edge research that the present government should fund and it should be a priority,” he noted. He spoke further: “The first task is to establish a robust database of all possible plants used in the former North Eastern State of Nigeria. We have increased our database to approximately 200 plants. The second phase is to screen these plants for their anticancer properties, using established cancer cell lines, patient cancer specimens, cancer stem cells and animal models of cancers, which will be followed by identification of active principles in the plants using Guardian

Continue reading at: http://thebusinessdispatch.com/nigerian-scientists-make-progress-in-herbal-therapy-for-cancer/

Undeterred by the insecurity in their immediate community due to Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State, a team of seven Nigerian scientists from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Maiduguri, has made progress in a groundbreaking research into the use of local herbs for cancer therapy. The team, led by Professor of Pharmacology at the university, Isa Marte Hussaini, is currently exploring different Nigerian plants for the cancer therapy research. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) has called on the Presidency to create the office of Chief Adviser to Government as a proactive way of promoting research and enhance science funding in the country. President of the Academy, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, who made this assertion in an interview with The Guardian noted: “The National Conference came up with some very interesting recommendations. It is not everything that was done there that is sensible. But I was really very impressed with what they came up with in the area of science. We are all asking the government to take a look at that. This government shouldn’t throw the whole report away. Take a look at the report to see if there is anything useful in it and make use of such.” Already, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRID) have applauded the research, promising to work with the scientists to conduct pre-clinical trials. Prof. Hussaini, who presented the study to the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS), told The Guardian yesterday that eight out of the 54 plants so far identified showed more promise than the current drugs used in the treatment of cancer. He highlighted how three of the plants showed impressive anti-cancer activities against both breast cancer and brain tumour. He said: “We are working to develop effective cancer therapy using Nigerian medicinal plants. We have characterised and identified some plants. We have tested them and they are very effective. Eight out of the 54 that we have are better than even the current drugs that are used in the treatment of cancer. We are trying to identify some of those active compounds that are responsible for this anti-cancer activity. Afterwards, in partnership with NAFDAC or NIPRID, we will do animal and even pre-clinical studies. “The team is made up of medical doctors, surgeons, pharmaceutical chemists and pharmacognosists, and then medicinal herbalist – a consultant. I am a pharmacologist. We have several papers that we have published. We have some papers ready for publication.” He tasked government to provide adequate support to Nigerian scientists to enable them compete favourably. “Science should be number one in terms of funding, and we need lots of money, billions really. For this project, N100 million–N200 million would complete it. To go to pre-clinical and clinical trial requires money,” he noted. Hussaini added that his team received institutionalised funding through Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and was trying to secure more funding, especially from the National Institute for Health in the United States. “If we want Nigeria to move forward, this is the kind of cutting edge research that the present government should fund and it should be a priority,” he noted. He spoke further: “The first task is to establish a robust database of all possible plants used in the former North Eastern State of Nigeria. We have increased our database to approximately 200 plants. The second phase is to screen these plants for their anticancer properties, using established cancer cell lines, patient cancer specimens, cancer stem cells and animal models of cancers, which will be followed by identification of active principles in the plants using Guardian

Continue reading at: http://thebusinessdispatch.com/nigerian-scientists-make-progress-in-herbal-therapy-for-cancer/

Undeterred by the insecurity in their immediate community due to Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State, a team of seven Nigerian scientists from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Maiduguri, has made progress in a groundbreaking research into the use of local herbs for cancer therapy. The team, led by Professor of Pharmacology at the university, Isa Marte Hussaini, is currently exploring different Nigerian plants for the cancer therapy research. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) has called on the Presidency to create the office of Chief Adviser to Government as a proactive way of promoting research and enhance science funding in the country. President of the Academy, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, who made this assertion in an interview with The Guardian noted: “The National Conference came up with some very interesting recommendations. It is not everything that was done there that is sensible. But I was really very impressed with what they came up with in the area of science. We are all asking the government to take a look at that. This government shouldn’t throw the whole report away. Take a look at the report to see if there is anything useful in it and make use of such.” Already, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRID) have applauded the research, promising to work with the scientists to conduct pre-clinical trials. Prof. Hussaini, who presented the study to the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS), told The Guardian yesterday that eight out of the 54 plants so far identified showed more promise than the current drugs used in the treatment of cancer. He highlighted how three of the plants showed impressive anti-cancer activities against both breast cancer and brain tumour. He said: “We are working to develop effective cancer therapy using Nigerian medicinal plants. We have characterised and identified some plants. We have tested them and they are very effective. Eight out of the 54 that we have are better than even the current drugs that are used in the treatment of cancer. We are trying to identify some of those active compounds that are responsible for this anti-cancer activity. Afterwards, in partnership with NAFDAC or NIPRID, we will do animal and even pre-clinical studies. “The team is made up of medical doctors, surgeons, pharmaceutical chemists and pharmacognosists, and then medicinal herbalist – a consultant. I am a pharmacologist. We have several papers that we have published. We have some papers ready for publication.” He tasked government to provide adequate support to Nigerian scientists to enable them compete favourably. “Science should be number one in terms of funding, and we need lots of money, billions really. For this project, N100 million–N200 million would complete it. To go to pre-clinical and clinical trial requires money,” he noted. Hussaini added that his team received institutionalised funding through Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and was trying to secure more funding, especially from the National Institute for Health in the United States. “If we want Nigeria to move forward, this is the kind of cutting edge research that the present government should fund and it should be a priority,” he noted. He spoke further: “The first task is to establish a robust database of all possible plants used in the former North Eastern State of Nigeria. We have increased our database to approximately 200 plants. The second phase is to screen these plants for their anticancer properties, using established cancer cell lines, patient cancer specimens, cancer stem cells and animal models of cancers, which will be followed by identification of active principles in the plants using Guardian

Continue reading at: http://thebusinessdispatch.com/nigerian-scientists-make-progress-in-herbal-therapy-for-cancer/

Undeterred by the insecurity in their immediate community due to Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State, a team of seven Nigerian scientists from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Maiduguri, has made progress in a groundbreaking research into the use of local herbs for cancer therapy. The team, led by Professor of Pharmacology at the university, Isa Marte Hussaini, is currently exploring different Nigerian plants for the cancer therapy research. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) has called on the Presidency to create the office of Chief Adviser to Government as a proactive way of promoting research and enhance science funding in the country. President of the Academy, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, who made this assertion in an interview with The Guardian noted: “The National Conference came up with some very interesting recommendations. It is not everything that was done there that is sensible. But I was really very impressed with what they came up with in the area of science. We are all asking the government to take a look at that. This government shouldn’t throw the whole report away. Take a look at the report to see if there is anything useful in it and make use of such.” Already, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRID) have applauded the research, promising to work with the scientists to conduct pre-clinical trials. Prof. Hussaini, who presented the study to the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS), told The Guardian yesterday that eight out of the 54 plants so far identified showed more promise than the current drugs used in the treatment of cancer. He highlighted how three of the plants showed impressive anti-cancer activities against both breast cancer and brain tumour. He said: “We are working to develop effective cancer therapy using Nigerian medicinal plants. We have characterised and identified some plants. We have tested them and they are very effective. Eight out of the 54 that we have are better than even the current drugs that are used in the treatment of cancer. We are trying to identify some of those active compounds that are responsible for this anti-cancer activity. Afterwards, in partnership with NAFDAC or NIPRID, we will do animal and even pre-clinical studies. “The team is made up of medical doctors, surgeons, pharmaceutical chemists and pharmacognosists, and then medicinal herbalist – a consultant. I am a pharmacologist. We have several papers that we have published. We have some papers ready for publication.” He tasked government to provide adequate support to Nigerian scientists to enable them compete favourably. “Science should be number one in terms of funding, and we need lots of money, billions really. For this project, N100 million–N200 million would complete it. To go to pre-clinical and clinical trial requires money,” he noted. Hussaini added that his team received institutionalised funding through Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and was trying to secure more funding, especially from the National Institute for Health in the United States. “If we want Nigeria to move forward, this is the kind of cutting edge research that the present government should fund and it should be a priority,” he noted. He spoke further: “The first task is to establish a robust database of all possible plants used in the former North Eastern State of Nigeria. We have increased our database to approximately 200 plants. The second phase is to screen these plants for their anticancer properties, using established cancer cell lines, patient cancer specimens, cancer stem cells and animal models of cancers, which will be followed by identification of active principles in the plants using Guardian

Continue reading at: http://thebusinessdispatch.com/nigerian-scientists-make-progress-in-herbal-therapy-for-cancer/

Undeterred by the insecurity in their immediate community due to Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State, a team of seven Nigerian scientists from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Maiduguri, has made progress in a groundbreaking research into the use of local herbs for cancer therapy. The team, led by Professor of Pharmacology at the university, Isa Marte Hussaini, is currently exploring different Nigerian plants for the cancer therapy research. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) has called on the Presidency to create the office of Chief Adviser to Government as a proactive way of promoting research and enhance science funding in the country. President of the Academy, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, who made this assertion in an interview with The Guardian noted: “The National Conference came up with some very interesting recommendations. It is not everything that was done there that is sensible. But I was really very impressed with what they came up with in the area of science. We are all asking the government to take a look at that. This government shouldn’t throw the whole report away. Take a look at the report to see if there is anything useful in it and make use of such.” Already, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRID) have applauded the research, promising to work with the scientists to conduct pre-clinical trials. Prof. Hussaini, who presented the study to the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS), told The Guardian yesterday that eight out of the 54 plants so far identified showed more promise than the current drugs used in the treatment of cancer. He highlighted how three of the plants showed impressive anti-cancer activities against both breast cancer and brain tumour. He said: “We are working to develop effective cancer therapy using Nigerian medicinal plants. We have characterised and identified some plants. We have tested them and they are very effective. Eight out of the 54 that we have are better than even the current drugs that are used in the treatment of cancer. We are trying to identify some of those active compounds that are responsible for this anti-cancer activity. Afterwards, in partnership with NAFDAC or NIPRID, we will do animal and even pre-clinical studies. “The team is made up of medical doctors, surgeons, pharmaceutical chemists and pharmacognosists, and then medicinal herbalist – a consultant. I am a pharmacologist. We have several papers that we have published. We have some papers ready for publication.” He tasked government to provide adequate support to Nigerian scientists to enable them compete favourably. “Science should be number one in terms of funding, and we need lots of money, billions really. For this project, N100 million–N200 million would complete it. To go to pre-clinical and clinical trial requires money,” he noted. Hussaini added that his team received institutionalised funding through Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and was trying to secure more funding, especially from the National Institute for Health in the United States. “If we want Nigeria to move forward, this is the kind of cutting edge research that the present government should fund and it should be a priority,” he noted. He spoke further: “The first task is to establish a robust database of all possible plants used in the former North Eastern State of Nigeria. We have increased our database to approximately 200 plants. The second phase is to screen these plants for their anticancer properties, using established cancer cell lines, patient cancer specimens, cancer stem cells and animal models of cancers, which will be followed by identification of active principles in the plants using Guardian

Continue reading at: http://thebusinessdispatch.com/nigerian-scientists-make-progress-in-herbal-therapy-for-cancer/

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Why Fruits And Vegetables Can Cure Impotence

The penis is basically a hydraulic system. Blood needs to reach it so it can enlarge. The vast majority of cases in which it can't aren't due to stress or other mental issues; it's a simple problem that any engineer would be familiar with.

The cause of impotence is the build up of fat in and the degradation of the arterial system that supplies the penis with blood. When the arteries are too clogged to carry blood, you won't get a solid erection. So if you're having problems getting it up, you can bet that it's becuase you've been hitting up the meat, dairy, and eggs, the primary causes of fatty deposits in our arteries.

During a man's reproductive years, regular meat eating will lower sperm count, shorten sperm life, decrease ejaculate volume, and cause infertility. All of these problems are largely absent in those who abstain from meat, dairy and eggs.

The same arterial system that's too clogged to send blood to the penis is also slowly but surely becoming too clogged to send blood to the brain and heart.

According to a JAMA study, 45 percent of those who have erectile dysfunction end up having a stroke or heart attack.

Why is this happening? Erectile dysfunction is usually seen in men with high cholesterol levels and high levels of LDL “bad” cholesterol. Both of those conditions are brought on by regular meat consumption. You eat the fatty stuff, it layers your arteries, and blood flow is decreased. Simple as that.

 It should also be mentioned that the humble banana as well as all other fruits and vegetables have no cholesterol.

You can take all the pills you like, but they're not addressing the underlying cause that's also slowly killing you.

The key to a cure for impotence and removing years of accumulated arterial fat, or plaque, is to switch to an extremely healthy low fat diet with no animal protein or cooked foods. The diet should be based around fruit and vegetables, with very limited overt fat intake.

Adopting a low fat vegan diet allows the body to  start reversing atherosclerosis very quickly. In 1997, Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn published a 12-year study of his ART (Arrest and Reversal Treatment) program in the American Journal of Cardiology. His patients were all essentially on a low fat vegan diet.

He found that following the program, his patients averaged a seven percent reduction in arterial plaque over the first five years. This may not sound like much, but remember that the volume of blood delivered is 30 percent greater when the diameter is increased by 7 percent.

That 30 percent increase is enough to prevent a heart attack or stroke, Esselstyn found, and while no studies have been done on bringing back sexual function, when the arteries are clear again, blood will be able to flow freely to any extremity. Full sexual function will return in time.

Fruit lowers triglyceride levels, when you get rid of triglyceride and other blood fats, it helps to stop and reverse the build up of arterial fat. Fruit should definitely be a mainstay of your diet.

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How Fish, Water And Alcohol Affect Your Mental Health

Still on the effects of food on mental health. Include fish, especially oily fish, in your diet.
A few studies suggest that omega 3 oil supplements may reduce symptoms in people with depression on antidepressant medications. These studies are small but we know that a proper balance of omega 3 and omega 6 oils in the diet is important.
To get a good balance of mega 3 and 6 oils:

• include more omega 3-rich oily fish from sustainable fish stocks – try to include 2–4 portions a week (but no more than 2 portions if you are pregnant or breastfeeding). If buying tinned fish, choose varieties in water, brine or tomato sauce rather than in sunflower oil (this is high in omega 6)

• if you fry food (eg. stir fries) use an oil high in monounsaturates eg. olive or rapeseed oil

• choose a monounsaturated margarine or butter for spreading. Avoid margarines or low fat spreads containing omega 6 polyunsaturated or hydrogenated trans fats (trans fats are damaging to your brain and arteries)

• avoid processed foods such as pies, sausage rolls, crisps and cakes – these are high in saturated and trans fats.

If you don’t like fish you could try an omega 3 supplement (choose one that is purified, contains no vitamin A and has a high eicosapenanoic acid (EPA) content – take no more than 1g EPA per day). If you are vegetarian, try a flax seed supplement (although only a very small fraction of the omega 3 contained in plant products can be used by the body).

Maintain a healthy weight.
Depression affects different people in different ways. Some people lose interest in food or can’t motivate themselves to shop and cook, so lose weight. Others find they want to eat more and gain weight when they are unhappy. Some medications can also increase or decrease your appetite – if you are concerned that the medication you are taking has made your weight problems worse, speak to your doctor.
Both excessive weight loss or weight gain can make your mood worse and should be avoided. Weight loss and lack of good nutrition will deprive the brain of glucose and the other nutrients that control mood – you may need the advice of a dietitian to help you overcome this problem.
Putting on weight unintentionally or feeling out of control of your eating can increase your depression and can lead to yo-yo dieting, which leaves you further out of control. If you are overweight, follow the advice on healthy eating but be extra careful to limit your fat and sugar intake (no fries, pies, cakes, puddings, sweets, chocolate or sweet drinks), use less fat in cooking, reduce your alcohol consumption, avoid sugary drinks, and increase your exercise levels.

Maintain adequate fluid intake.
Not drinking enough fluid has significant implications for mental health. The early effects of even mild dehydration can affect our feelings and behaviour.
An adult loses approximately 2.5 litres of water daily through the lungs as water vapour, through the skin as perspiration and through the kidneys as urine. If you don’t drink enough fluids to replace this loss then you will get symptoms of dehydration, including irritability, loss of concentration and reduced mental functioning.
Coffee, colas, some energy drinks and tea all contain caffeine, which some people use to boost energy levels. However, in large quantities caffeine can increase blood pressure, anxiety, depressive symptoms and sleep problems.
Caffeine also has a diuretic effect in the body – it encourages the production of urine and therefore leads to dehydration. For this reason you should not rely solely on caffeine-based fluids.
If you do take drinks with caffeine in them, try to limit yourself to just 3–4 cups per day and drink other fluids such as water, fruit juice and non-stimulant herbal teas at other times. Chocolate also contains caffeine and should be limited to an occasional treat.

Limit your alcohol intake.
Alcohol has a depressant effect on the brain and can result in a rapid worsening of your mood. It is also a toxin that has to be deactivated by the liver. During this detoxification process the body uses thiamin, zinc and other nutrients and this can deplete your reserves, especially if your diet is poor.
Thiamin and other vitamin deficiencies are common in heavy drinkers and can cause low mood, irritability and/or aggressive behaviour, as well as more serious and long-term mental health problems.
Because the body uses important nutrients to process alcohol, people who experience depression should consider avoiding alcohol until they have recovered. Even then, because of alcohol’s depressant effects, they should consider drinking only small amounts – no more than once a week.
If you do want to drink alcohol, try not to exceed the recommended safe limits – two units a day for women and three units for men.
1 unit = 1 small glass wine (8 % ABV)
½ pint beer or lager (3.5 % ABV)
1 single measure spirits (40 % ABV)
1 small glass sherry or port (20 % ABV)

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The Kind Of Food You Eat Could Determined Your Mental Health (2)

( being the continuation of Tuesday's topic on the effect of foods on mental health, sent in by an expert from Mental Health Foundation ).

Eat regular meals throughout the day to maintain blood sugar levels.
Make sure you eat at least three meals each day. Missing meals, especially breakfast, leads to low blood sugar and this causes low mood, irritability and fatigue. If you feel hungry between meals you may need to include a healthy snack eg. fruit, nuts and cereals.



East fewer high sugar foods and more wholegrain cereals, nuts, beans, lentils, fruit and vegetables.
Sugary foods are absorbed quickly into the bloodstream. This may cause an initial ‘high’ or surge of energy that soon wears off as the body increases its insulin production, leaving you feeling tired and low.
Wholegrain cereals, pulses, fruit and vegetables are more filling and, because the sugar in these foods is absorbed more slowly, don’t cause mood swings.
These foods are more nutritious as they contain thiamin (B1), a vitamin that has been associated with control of mood, and folate and zinc (supplements of these nutrients have been shown to improve the mood of people with depression in a small number of studies).
Choose:

• bread – wholemeal and granary rather than white. Also try rye breads, pumpernickel, wholemeal pitta bread, wholemeal chapattis, oat cakes, rice cakes and corn cakes

• breakfast cereals – choose high fibre, low sugar types eg. wholegrain or bran cereals or porridge

• rice and pasta – go for Basmati and brown rice (this gives a nutty texture in salads) and wholemeal pasta

• potatoes – serve boiled new potatoes in their skins (with a little bit of butter) or mashed or jacket potatoes. Potato wedges (lightly brushed with olive oil) are a lower fat alternative to chips and roast potatoes if you are watching your weight. Try sweet potatoes or yams for a change – these are delicious baked.

Aim to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day eg. 1 glass of orange juice or ½ grapefruit for breakfast, a banana or apple for a mid morning snack, salad at lunch time and then two types of vegetable (a portion is roughly two serving spoons) and piece of fresh or baked fruit for your evening meal.
NB: Green vegetables should be steamed or boiled in a little water and should not be overcooked or you will lose much of the vitamin content.
Avoid sugar and sugary drinks, cakes, sweets and puddings. These are loaded with calories but have little nutritional value and may trigger mood swings because of their sugar content.

Include protein at every meal to ensure a continuous supply of the amino acid tryptophan to the brain.
We all need to eat enough protein to maintain our skin, organ, muscle and immune function but recent research suggests that one particular component of protein, the amino acid tryptophan, can influence mood.
Supplements of tryptophan were tested in studies and in some were shown to improve the mood of people with depression. The supplements were not considered safe and were removed from the market. However, you can ensure your brain gets a regular supply of tryptophan by including at least one good sized portion of protein at each meal ie. meat, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, nuts, beans, lentils (dhal), or a meat substitute such as textured vegetable protein or mycoprotein.
NB: Peanuts are low in tryptophan so if you eat them at a meal-time include another source of protein (eg. other nuts) at the same time...
(To be continued next week)
 

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