University of Ibadan (UI) Don, Professor Adekunle Bakare, has advised the Federal Government to commit more funds to scientific investigations of herbs extracts, saying it has the ability to manage cancer and other diseases that affect normal cell cycle functioning.
This statement is contained in his inaugural lecture delivered at Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan.
Bakare, a Professor of Genetics, Cellular and Molecular Toxicology, pointed to studies showing that herb extracts available in Nigeria had potentials to inhibit and reduce cell division in eukaryotic cells, according to a report by Nigerian Tribune.
He noted that such investigations into the ability of indigenous plants should be directed towards patenting and use of herb extracts in drug formulations going by its ability to inhibit and reduce cell division.
Delivering the lecture titled, “Environmental Xenobiotics and Biological Spiral Staircase: For Good or For Ill?”, Bakare pointed out that findings had shown that herbs used in Nigeria possessed mitodepressive capacity and had agents with the capacity to disturb normal cell cycle activity.
“From our studies, we have constantly observed the inhibitory, turbagenic and mitodepressive effects of herb extracts available and used in Nigeria, that is, they have the potentials to inhibit and reduce cell division in eukaryotic cells.
“Could this have been part of the mechanism and mode of action of these herbs in traditional disease management in Nigeria. An agent’s ability to inhibit or reduce cell division simply means that such agent has the capacity to disturb the normal cell cycle regulation activity.
“Considering our observations on herbs with mitodepressive capacity, I am of the opinion that government needs to invest more on scientific investigations of indigenous plants with this ability towards patenting and use in drug formulations and traditional management of cancer and any other disease that has its aetiology in cell-cycle dysregulation,” Bakare stated.
