Natural Product Research Issues, Opportunities And Current ...

19 International Journal of Natural Products Research 2014; 4(1): 19-32

ISSN: 2249-0353

Original Article

NATURAL PRODUCT RESEARCH ISSUES, OPPORTUNITIES AND CURRENT

PRIORITIES IN NIGERIA

*UGOALA EMEKA, 1NDUKWE GEORGE ILOEGBUNAM,

2AYO RACHAEL GBEKELE-OLUWA and

3MUSTAPHA BOLA

Fisheries Products’ Development Programme, National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research, P.M.B. 6006,

New Bussa 913003, Niger State, Nigeria 1Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

2Samaru College of Agriculture, Division of Agricultural Colleges, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

3National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research, Abuja

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Received 10 January 2014; Accepted 20 March 2014

Abstract

Natural products represent an unparalleled source of molecular diversity to drug discovery, and are complementary to other

molecular sources, such as synthetic chemical collection and combinatorial libraries. There are thousands of natural

chemical constituents of plants and animals that are beneficial to man. However, challenges in natural product drug

discovery are significant. Issues in drug development are increasingly complex, and development hurdles are high. There

should be an increasing focus and effort on drug development to ensure successful natural product drug development and

reduce the attrition rate of drug candidates by enhancing the quality of discovery compounds that lack major liabilities,

especially toxicity. It is thus essential to adopt a multidisciplinary approach when working in this field.

© 2014 Universal Research Publications. All rights reserved

Key words-:-Chemotherapeutic Agents; Chemical screening methods, Natural products Research

INTRODUCTION

Nature has been a source of medicinal agents for thousands

of years and an impressive number of modern drugs have

been isolated from natural sources. Although many have

been superseded by conventional pharmaceutical

approaches, there is currently a resurgence of interest in the

use of natural bioactive products by the general public.

Natural products are active plants/ animal constituents

which have biochemical effects. They are usually

synthesized in the body of the containing organism as

secondary metabolites.

Natural products study is truly an interdisciplinary

field of research. Chemistry is necessary to understand and

interrogate the numerous structures encountered.

Enyzmology is needed to study the enzymes that are

critical in biosynthesis and protein interactions that

facilitate binding activity between other molecules, and

pathogens. Fundamental biological research is needed to

identify biological pathways and functions. Research areas

related to or encompassed by natural products include

glycobiology, carbohydrate chemistry, synthetic and

biosynthetic chemistry, bioinformatics, microbiology,

genetics, genomics, proteomics, lipidomics, metabolomics,

immunology, reproductive biology, drug development,

systems biology, bio-energy and bio-products, and

developmental biology. Natural products therefore play

major roles in biological functions and are involved in all

phases of life.

While natural products have produced

unparalleled discoveries that have advanced the

understanding of biological processes, the picture these

present is incomplete. It is thought that on-going study of

natural products in plants, microbes, and animals could lead

to the next level of discoveries that may help treat and cure

diseases, develop new platforms for energy, and gain a

fundamental understanding of life. In today‟s health

conscious society more people are interested in the effects

of nutrients on human health.

Research support for natural products in Nigeria

comes primarily from federal funding agencies. These

research centres do not run collaborative research that has

the potential to generate large impacts across emerging

applications in human health and in areas such as the

development of new bio-energy and bio-product resources.

Also lack of adequate infrastructure and equipments hinder

scientists from making huge leaps forward in research.

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Such infrastructure included techniques for the rapid

expansion of nucleic acid material, rapid, automated and

cost‐effective nucleic acid sequencing and significant

computational advances enabling dynamic simulations of

protein and nucleic acid interactions. The complexity of

natural products makes the development of quick and

inexpensive methods significantly more difficult and

accessible to both students and other scientists.

There is need for more systematic and

comprehensive education on natural products, at multiple

educational levels, to raise awareness among students and

scientists of the fundamental roles played by natural

products in almost every aspect of biology, and to stimulate

interest in the field. Natural products importance has not

translated into widespread incorporation into core

educational curricula. The extent to which carbohydrates

are incorporated into courses reportedly varies by school,

as do the primary departments in which it is taught. The

interests and research of faculty members influence the

natural products topics that are covered. Traditional

departmental divisions may be a barrier to widespread

inclusion of a highly cross‐ disciplinary field. Organic

chemistry classes frequently focus on petroleum‐ based

hydrocarbons as a starting material, while biochemistry

classes often focus heavily on memorization of metabolic

pathways. As a result, there may be missed opportunities to

incorporate content on natural product or the field may be

perceived as boring by students. Undergraduates commonly

receive only limited exposure to natural products, and the

field is also poorly covered by most graduate and medical

schools. Generally, there is a “high activation barrier” for

many scientists to delve more deeply into natural products

because current research requires a significant biochemistry

background and collaborations with specialized chemists.

There are roles to be played by professional societies,

journal editors, and scientific meeting organizers to help

showcase interesting and important aspects of natural

products. Review articles, plenary talks, and seminars could

be potential ways to help raise the profile of the field and to

highlight the breadth and importance of natural products,

especially among less specialized scientific audiences. This

initiated the current investigation. As well as to identify key

areas of natural products research with potential for

commercial exploitation and to promote natural products

research as part of initial R&D rather than an „add-on‟ –

ensuring future sustainability.

IMPORTANCE OF NATURAL PRODUCTS

HUMAN HEALTH

Neglected tropical diseases are major health concern in

developing countries of the world. Most of neglected

tropical diseases seriously affect almost exclusively poor

population living in developing counties. These neglected

tropical diseases are caused by parasites, which are spread

by insects‟ vectors or contact with contaminated water or

soil. Over one billion people are the victims of parasitic

disease including malaria. Unfortunately there is serious

lack of interest in the research and control of these diseases.

More so, in developing countries the cost of research and

development of synthetic drugs is prohibitive and

technological facilities are lacking. Most of the

multinational pharmaceutical companies are not interested

in developing drugs against such tropical diseases. Since

investment on control of these diseases is considered to be

non profitable. Therefore, there is an urgent need to

develop new drugs and vaccines that are adapted to

developing countries‟ needs, and to make them available at

affordable prices for common people.

Therefore natural products are being developed as

dietary supplements, phytomedicine and nutraceuticals.

Also standards and monographs for the establishment of

efficacy and safety of herbal medicines, certification of

medicinal and aromatic plants, and commercialization of

research based products, standardization and quality

assurance of herbal medicine products and technologies are

on-going in the following fields:

Herbal Medicines/Remedies and Medicinal and

Aromatic Plants Products: traditional medicines,

whole plants, extract, tinctures, etc

Health, Cosmetics and Beauty Products: Natural

toothpaste, Soaps, Dyes, Hair, beauty and skin care

products

Health Foods and Food Ingredients: Fruits, nuts,

colouring and flavouring materials; Fruit drinks/juices;

health snacks; Spices

Vegetable Saps and Extracts: Shea butter; Lacs;

natural gums, resins, gum-resins and balsams; Honey,

Peanut, Coconut, Palm kernel oil (not chemically

modified); Vegetable and Animal Fats and Oils;

Waxes; Cocoa butter, fat and oil; Colouring matter of

vegetable or animal origin

Natural bioactive products are regarded as being

highly effective, possess low toxicity, have a minor

environmental impact and need not to be certified before

use. This is a common misconception not borne out by the

research evidence.

Natural toxins in food can be just as dangerous as

synthetic ones. Since we only consume very small amounts

of each of the different toxic compounds at any one time,

our livers can process the toxins and they are broken down

by a range of metabolic pathways. However, the ability of a

natural compound to affect an individual or population

would depend on a number of factors, including the

potency or efficacy of the compound, its concentration,

duration of exposure, bio-concentration potential, presence

of other compounds, life stage exposed, season, other

environmental stressors present (e.g., temperature, salinity,

and other contaminants), and mobility of the individual.

AQUACULTURE AND ANIMAL PRODUCTION

Fish culture and animal production are being hampered by

the high cost and scarcity of inputs such as antibiotics,

anesthetics, tranquilisers, hormones and other chemicals

needed for successful production. Synthetic compounds

with estrogenic activity disrupt normal endocrine function

in wildlife populations and humans. These have created

interest in the development of alternatives including the re-

examination of using plant derivatives. Therefore natural

immune stimulants like glucans, chitin and chitosan,

vitamin C and E, some polysaccharides and polyribo-

nucleotide are being used to replace chemotherapeutic


Table 1: Toxic compounds in some natural products

Source Effects

Heterocyclic amines

1. 2-amino-3-methylimidazo [4,5-f]

quinoline (IQ)

2. 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo

[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx)

3. 2-amino-3,4,8-trimethylimidazo

[4,5-f]quinoxaline (DiMeIOx)

4. 2-amino-1-methyl-6-

phenylimidazo[4,5-f]pyridine

(PhIP)

Proteins and Lipids 1. Tumor-promoting agent or condition

2. DNA damage

Maillard Reaction Products Carbohydrates

1. Antioxidants

2. Anti-nutritional

3. Aroma formation

4. Encourage the loss of amino acids (lysine)

5. Scavenging of active O2

6. Changes in chemical structures of carcinogens

7. Risks for vascular system and kidney in diabetics

Conalbumin and avidin Egg protein Binds to biotin and can impair metabolism of other B-

vitamins

Solanine and Chaconine Potatoes Toxic

Cyanogenic glycosides Lima beans, cassava, apricot

kernels Release cyanide when in contact with stomach acids

Canavanine Alfalfa sprouts Causes severe lupus erythematosus; an autoimmune

disease

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids Herbal teas Carcinogenic, Mutagenic and Teratogenic (birth

defects)

Gossypol Cottonseed 1. Causes abnormal sperm and male sterility

2. Carcinogenic

Allyl isothiocyanate Mustard, garlic Carcinogenic

Piperine and Capsaicin Pepper 1. Tumors

2. Mutagencity

Psoralens Parsnips Potent light-activated carcinogens and mutagens not

destroyed by heat

Oxalates Spinach Inhibits calcium absorption

Myristicin Parsley and carrots large quantities can cause hallucinations, liver damage

and even death

agents. Natural carotenoids (astaxanthin and canthaxanthin)

are used as pigments and as a quality index of marketedfish

(Ingemansson et al., 1993). Natural plant product promotes

various activities such as anti-stress, growth promotion,

appetite stimulation, antifertility, immune-stimulation,

adaptogenic actions, aphrodisiac and antimicrobial

properties as shown below.

Fertility control agent, pawpaw seed (Udoh and

Kehinde, 1999; Uche-Nwachi et al., 2001; Ekanem

and Okoronkwo, 2003; Jegede et al., 2008); Garcinia

kola (Dada and Ajilore, 2009); Lophira lanceolata

extract (Etuk and Muhammad, 2009); Ovulation,

Oestrous cycle and foetal development (Akpantah et

al., 2005)

Neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf as reproduction

inhibitor (Jegede and Fagbenro, 2008)

Toxicity of African locust bean extracts (Ahmed et

al., 2005)

Growth promoter (Adedeji et al., 2006)

Erythropoietic and Anti-Obesity effects Garcinia

cambogia (Adesanya et al., 2007)

Kigelia africana as a testicular damage reversal

(Abioye et al., 2003).

Kigelia africana as Analgesic and anti-inflammatory

agent (Owolabi and Omogbai, 2007)

Agro industrial waste as feedstuff (Falaye, 1992)

Feather meal as a protein source (Ayanwale, 2006)

Cassava starch as feed binder (Orire et al., 2001);

duckweed (in dried, powdered and pelleted forms) as

feed preservative (Mbagwu and Adeniji, 1998). NATURAL PRODUCTS DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES

IN NIGERIA

Association for the Promotion of Traditional Medicine

(PROMETRA)

Raw Materials Research and Development Council

(RMRDC)

National Association of Traditional Medicine Practitioners

(NANTMP)

National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA)


Nigerian Natural Medicine Development Company

(NMDC) is to research, collate, document, develop,

preserve and promote Nigeria‟s Natural Medicine defined

as indigenous (traditional) health systems, medication and

non–medication healing arts, sciences and technologies to

assist contribute to improved healthcare delivery, wealth

and job creation and national economic growth and

development.

Conducting extensive Ethno-medicinal and Veterinary

Surveys aimed at the development of a comprehensive

inventory of the national MAPs

Developing a Dedicated Herbarium and Experimental

farms nationwide

Developing in volumes Comprehensive National

Inventory of Medicinal, Aromatic and Pesticidal Plants

in Books titled Medicinal Plants of Nigeria covering

the 6 geo – political zones and publication of the Book

of Abstracts (published research findings)

Training of TMPs to enhance products and practices

that will enable them play active part in the bio-

business sector

Developing a Laboratory, Pilot Product Development

Unit (PDU) and Development of Process Technologies

for the primary efficacy and safety analysis of Herbal

therapies to assist provide scientific and technical

assistance to TMP entrepreneurs and health food

producers

Developing Digital Virtual Library – A dedicated

Focal Reference Centre which for the development and

promotion of traditional medicine as well as promote

e-commerce.

Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI) is

mandated to carry out research into bulk storage problems

of export commodities and food crops and in particular to

conduct research into:

Improvement and maintenance of bulk export

commodity crops including cocoa, groundnuts, palm

[produce (kernel and oil) etc

Improvement and maintenance of the quality of food

crops including cereal grains, pulses, tubers and any

other local commodity under bulk storage.

Special studies such as stored products pest, pesticide

formulations residues and mycotoxins.

Provision of advice and training of extension workers

in problems associated with stored products and

materials used in storage and pest control including

storage structures, new items of equipment and new

technologies.

National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) conduct

research into all aspects of animal diseases, their Treatment

and Control; To Develop and Produce animal Vaccines,

Sera and Biological to meet the National demand; To

provide Surveillance and Diagnosis of animal diseases; To

introduce Exotic Stock for improved egg, meat and milk

production

National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) Conducts research into fruits, vegetables, their processing

and preservation and development of indigenous

ornamentals plants

National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and

Development (NIPRD) is mandated to carry out research

and development of drugs and pharmaceutical substances

from locally available natural resources, ensure the quality

of drugs in circulation in the country: encourage the

development of herbal and traditional medicines by proper

documentation, verification and standardization of such

preparations; serve as a National Centre for Drug

Information

The Nigerian Institute for Trypanosomiasis Research

(NITR) is conduct research and development for the

control and eradication of Trypanosomiasis and

Onchocerciasis in all the geo-ecological zones of Nigeria.

National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) is

primarily concerned with researches into yams, cassava,

cocoyam, Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes and ginger.

Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) focuses on

cocoa, kola, cashew, coffee and tea. Also involved in the

improvement of the genetic potential, agronomic and

husbandry practices, including processing and storage of

the crops; Identification of the ecology and methods of

control of pests and diseases affecting the crops;

Investigating the effective utilization of the crops and their

by-products, and the feasibility of small-scale production of

such end-use products.

Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training (IAMRAT) involved in research of international standard

channelled towards solving relevant local and international

health related problems.

Studies on Molecular markers of resistance to anti-

malarial drugs such as Pfindr, Pfcrt, dhfr, dhps etc.

Factors affecting genetic associations with the

resistance phenotype.

Identification and evaluation of active natural products

for malaria therapy

In-vivo and In-vitro evaluation of anti-malarial

activities of drugs and natural products.

Drug disposition and pharmacokinetics of anti-malaria

agents including chloroquine, amodiaquine, quinine

and dihydro-artemisinin.

Toxicological studies of novel and conventional anti-

malarial agents.

Establishment of standard Ethno medical erbarium.

Extraction, isolation and development of pure

compounds having anti microbial, antitumour, anti-

malaria and anti viral properties from plants.

Formulation of active compounds into dosage forms.

National Centre for Genetic Resources and

Biotechnology (NACGRAB) is mandated to perform the

following functions so as to contribute to the realization of

government aspirations in national development.

Acquisition, maintenance, exchange and utilization of

microbial cultures.

Development of facilities, the identification of national

research needs and priorities and the conduct of

research in conservation and utilization of genetic

resources.

Acquisition of germplasm, their conservation for

posterity and immediate utilisation to rapidly transform

our agriculture and industry, improve the local


sourcing of drugs that are of plant origin and help in

the amelioration of harsh environments

National Animal Production Research Institute

(NAPRI) is to conduct Applied Research on food animal

species as well as forage, and to develop appropriate

technologies in breeding and reproduction, nutrition and

management with the ultimate and of improving the

productivity of the animals for milk, meat, eggs, traction

power etc.

National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT) is mandated to develop the technologies

required by the chemicals industry and shall undertake

research and development work into:

Processes for the conversion of agricultural, mineral

and other raw materials into chemicals; The processing

of commercial grade chemicals to laboratory grades;

The derivation of secondary chemicals from

petrochemicals, coal chemicals, etc.

The production of functional polymers and engineering

plastics, their characterization and utilization;

The processing of hides and skins into leather

products, and the processing of natural man-made

fibres.

National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research (NIFFR) is to research into fresh water fisheries and other

aquatic resources in rivers, natural and man-made lakes.

National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI) conducts

research into rice, soya-beans, beniseed and sugarcane

Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) is to

conduct research into the production and products of oil

palm and other palms of economic importance.

Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria is charged with

the mandate to conduct research into all aspects of forestry

and forest products utilization and for the training of

technical and sub technical personnel for the forestry

services in the country

Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIRO)

To conserve Nigeria„s foreign exchange earnings by

reducing dependence on foreign goods, through the

development of local substitutes from locally available

raw materials.

To improve the nutritional qualities of Nigerian foods,

which are known to be deficient in the essential body -

building food properties.

Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IART)

conducts research on various cereals and legumes such as

maize, jute, kenaf and sisal hemp

NATURAL PRODUCTS RESEARCH NETWORKS IN

AFRICA

International Centre for Ethno medicine and Drug

Development (InterCEDD) is a leading research,

development, and analytic laboratory that provide product

development, training, quality assurance and pilot

manufacturing service to scientists, traditional medicine

practitioners, institutions and pharmaceutical. InterCEDD

also buys raw materials from farmers, agro business owners

that are able to produce or supply select agro produce for

novel natural products as dietary supplements,

phytomedicines and nutraceuticals product development

purposes.

Botanical Standardization

Processing and standardization of Herbal Products

Complete analytical testing

Natural products extraction, isolation and purification;

Access to a full herbarium and ethno botanical

database;

Formulation/reformulation of Herbal Products

Biological assays

Laboratory evaluation of herbal products

Training

Natural Products Research Network for East and

Central Africa (NAPRECA) is to initiate, develop and

promote research in the area of natural products in the

countries in Central and Eastern Africa sub-region and to

coordinate and maintain inter- and intra-regional links

among different research groups. The countries in this

Network are Botswana, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of

Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, South

Africa, Sudan and Uganda.

Network for Analytical and Bioassay Services (NABSA) is a network of laboratories in the Chemistry Departments

of three East African Universities, namely, Addis Ababa

University in Ethiopia, University of Nairobi in Kenya and

University of Botswana located in Gaborone, Botswana.

The purpose was to find ways of assisting scientists

working in isolation and in various institutions in Africa

who were constrained because of inadequate facilities and

less enabling environments.

NABSA was created to encourage phytochemical

research underpinned with bioassay of natural products, by

pooling existing analytical facilities in African research

laboratories. Its objective is to "promote closer cooperation

among African scientists and institutions in order to reduce

undue dependence on the North and to enhance the growth

of science in Africa by mutual assistance, sharing and

effective utilization of available facilities in the continent."

NABSA also provides for short-term research visits.

Research scientists from various countries on the continent

can also access these services by sending samples for

analysis after prior approval of the Coordinator.

Western Africa Network of Natural Products Research

Scientists (WANNPRES) medicinal plant research focus

on Malaria and other parasitic diseases, HIV/AIDS, and

Maternal and Child Health diseases, especially

malnutrition. The emphasis is on finding the scientific basis

for the cure of medicinal plants and their products; be they

crude extracts, fractions of these extracts or the pure

compounds isolated from them. Validation of the medicinal

effects of herbs to corroborate the claims of herbalists

forms a large part of the research agenda of WANNPRES.

Characterization of isolated chemical compounds is an

important component of the research but it is not the

flagship project of the Network.

African Network of Drug and Diagnostics Innovation

(ANDI) was set up to address the problem of less spending

on health product discovery and development in Africa by

increasing and strengthening networks throughout Africa

that would build capacity from early drug discovery and

development right through to manufacturing. There was a

felt need for African-based solutions to African problems,

http://www.frin.gov.ng/

http://www.frin.gov.ng/

http://www.fiiro-ng.org/


with the involvement of African-based institutions and

researchers capable of identifying the priorities and doing

the work.

The network would focus on research for new

drugs and diagnostic tools for the diseases and health

problems most affecting Africa. Most African-based

researchers hardly communicate with their colleagues due

in large part to the lack of financial and organizational

support to link researchers throughout the continent. ANDI

would strengthen these intra-continental links, providing

funding for networked collaborative research across

countries, as well as supporting IT infrastructure and the

negotiation and management of intellectual property rights,

including patents.

West African Health Organisation Committee of

Traditional Medicine Experts is primarily to promote

traditional medicine agenda that aims at ensuring the

institutionalization of traditional medicine in the health

systems of Member States. However, it also promotes

traditional medicine research expertise in the sub-region

because of the way it operates.

African Association of Medicinal Plant Standards

(AAMPS) was established to address the lack of suitable

technical specifications and quality control standards for

African medicinal plants and herbal medicines which was

identified as a major constraint and a significant barrier to

regional and international trade and to integrating

traditional medicine into African public health services. Its

objectivities include

Developing quality control and quality assurance

standards for African medicinal plants and herbal

medicines to support the African herbal industry and

regulatory authorities.

offering membership of the newly formed association

to any individual or organisations dedicated to the

establishment of such standards and to the creation of

an African Herbal Pharmacopoeia

preparing and publishing an African Herbal

Pharmacopoeia based upon 50 herbal profiles and

promoting its use nationally and internationally

helping to obtain international validation for these

herbal standards and the subsequent herbal

pharmacopoeia and to lobby health authorities

throughout Africa to use such standards as the basis for

licensing safe and effective herbal medicines in Africa

Promoting capacity building in Africa for the

establishment of regional training centres for

certification, compliance and quality control of herbal

medicines.

promoting the safe, sustainable national and

international trade in the fifty profiled African

medicinal plants

Historically healthcare delivery, food, beverages, as

well as health and beauty products especially in Africa had

been supported by the indigenous flora and fauna. Nigeria

is blessed with a vast and diverse biodiversity and bio-

resources as well as enormous traditional (indigenous)

medical knowledge. Today, the renewed global focus

supported with emergence of new technologies is arguably

on the sustainable utilization of plants and genetic materials

in the development of new products in the agricultural,

food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry. This

represents tremendous opportunities for natural products

manufacturers in Nigeria to maximize these potentials for

improved quality of life and national economic growth and

development.

CURRENT RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING

Screening of the chemical constituents of plants has been

the major route for research in natural products in Nigeria.

Biologically active (antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-

angionic, analgesic, anti-allergic, cytostatic and antioxidant

properties) substances are extracted through the traditional

techniques (solvent-solvent). The principle behind the

extraction is that molecules of the same polarity will follow

solvents of the same polarity. The traditional extraction

methods used to obtain these type of products have several

drawbacks; they are time consuming, laborious, have low

selectivity and/or low extraction yields. Moreover, these

traditional techniques employ large amounts of toxic

solvents.

Structures were elucidated mainly using one and

two dimensional NMR techniques with additional

parameters such as optical rotation, UV and IR properties.

Identity of isolated compounds with compounds reported in

literature was judged, if not stated otherwise, based on 1H

and 13C NMR spectroscopic data. Literature searches are

usually done using Chapman and Hall Natural Products on

CD-ROM and Beilstein on-line databases. Structures are

designated as new, if they could not be found in Beilstein

database and Chemical Abstracts.

The modern natural product research is

undergoing a revolution due to recent advancements in

combinatorial biosynthesis, microbial genomics and

screening processes. Moreover, access to hyphenated

techniques like Liquid Chromatography-Mass

Spectrometry, Liquid Chromatography-Nuclear Magnetic

Resonance as well as X-ray crystallography have raised the

hope of drastically reducing the time and cost involved in

natural product research by using de-replication processes

that are combination of techniques to avoid the already

reported compounds. Promising technology is also found in

supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with natural CO2 for the

recovery of valuable compounds. This technique of

extraction is environmentally friendly solvent-free

extraction method as well as non-expensive method that

results in minimal oxidative and thermal stress. SFE aids

the extraction of high-value substances as well as aromas in

their natural composition.

MOST RESEARCHED ENVIRONMENT

The terrestrial environment has been a major source of

medicinal plants for thousands of years and many bioactive

compounds have been isolated. Many of these isolations

were based on the uses of the agents in traditional

medicine. The use of traditional medicines and medicinal

plants in most developing countries as therapeutic agents

for the maintenance of good health is widely observed.

Interest in medicinal plants as a re-emerging health aid has

been fuelled by the rising costs of prescription drugs in the

maintenance of personal health and well being and the bio-


prospecting of new plant-derived drugs, escalating faith in

herbal medicine, the extraction and development of drugs

and chemotherapeutics from these plants as well as from

traditionally used herbal remedies.

However, the instant rising demand of terrestrial

plant-based drugs is unfortunately creating heavy pressure

on some selected high-value medicinal plant populations in

the wild due to over-harvesting. Several of these medicinal

plant species have slow growth rates, low population

densities, and narrow geographic ranges; therefore they are

more prone to extinction.

Several life-saving drugs have been developed

from the extracted biochemical of terrestrial plants. Aquatic

plants are of considerable interest as a new promising

source for bioactive substances. They have been recognized

as an untapped resource for novel bioactive compounds.

Several natural products obtained from aquatic organisms

have proven to be rich sources of novel compounds

exhibiting many different biological activities. The lush

tropical rainforests and colourful coral reefs of our planet

have long been a source of promise in the fight against

diseases. They house an amazing biodiversity of microbial,

plant and animal life which produces a dizzying array of

protective chemicals. Therefore, the development and

adoption of hydraulic engineering to access estuarines,

creeks and wetlands into vast pens for culturing these

organisms is most needed.

Problems with Field Collected Material

Very few bioactive biomass can be collected in large

amounts (Blunden, 1989).

Collecting from the environment requires considerable

time and effort (Shakira, 2007).

Harvesting of large quantities requires the consent of

the country where the collection is made and must be

carefully evaluated not to adversely impact collection

site.

Lack of reproducibility: Secondary metabolite

production in field materials unpredictable, many

biomass prove to be non active on recollection while

bioactivity may vary within a few meters at the

collection site (Neushul, 1990; Witvrouw and De

Clercq, 1997).

Research and development of biomass from natural

resources cannot rely on field collected materials.

Advantages of Culturing

Some active strains may be very rare in the field and

thus their bioactivity is overlooked. We can find them

through enrichment, isolation and cultivation (Shi et

al., 2000).

Synthesis of biomass is dependent on culture

conditions (temperature, pH, light, nutrients).We can

stabilize production of the active molecule by

controlling culture conditions. Genetic manipulation is

also possible (Chisti, 2007; Paul et al., 2009).

Selection criteria for cultivated organisms used as

Industrial Resources

High yield and agronomy to avoid high production costs (cultivars of species will be generally better than wild

species). Culture conditions could be improved by use of

technologies, such as cryo-conservation, for the creation of

culture collections which can be screened to identify new

commercially interesting lines. Establishing a research

platform in this area could increase the commercial activity

and strains used for new compound discovery and provide

longer-term economic returns from public-sector

investment.

Ease of processability (to avoid the need of developing

new technologies and infrastructure). There are

opportunities to engineer plant strains more suited to

downstream processing (e.g. altered cell walls properties).

The application of new physical or biological methods

could also help improve process efficiencies.

The utility and value of by-products Opportunities exist

to integrate production and processing of resource around

current industrial infrastructure and market-driven needs.

This would allow by-products from other industrial

processes to be integrated into production systems. There is

a need to move towards proof-of-concept to stimulate

commercial uptake and help de-risk investment from

industry. Establishing a joint-call for commercialisation

programmes for bio-energy, chemicals and feed production

would help take advantage of the research-base and

industry strength in this area. By-products could be used as

a protein-enriched source of animal feed or to capture

energy within the system e.g. through anaerobic digestion

for CH4 production.

Identity preservation and out-crossing from non-

food crop (to ensure that industrial products do not enter

the food chain). Microalgae have Advantages than

conventional agricultural crops. Microalgae represent the

start of the food chain, and so are less likely to acquire

toxins such as heavy metals.

Fast track organism breeding and selection methods If

the exploration of natural biodiversity can reveal interesting

new species, their use should pass through a development

phase to increase the growth rate – natural species present a

rate of proliferation far inferior to other more developed

species. Three techniques are of note:

Natural selection in controlled conditions - this area

meets general approval despite restrictions on the rate

of multiplication. Strong pressures of selection permit

the populations to become uniform in the case of

continual culture.

Selection from populations submitted to mutagenic

agents and GMO – this area has been little developed

but could be used to develop strains with defined

performance characteristics for a variety of high-value

industry applications. Genetic transformation is the

only way to produce certain bio-products, but there

will be environmental, ethical and societal

considerations to how these are used.

Exploration of natural diversity – this area would

provide opportunities for discovery of new metabolic

pathways and metabolites. Genetic transformation of

these pathways to other more robust industrial

organisms has been used as an effective way for

synthesis at scale, but is not the only way to achieve

synthesis of certain bio-products e.g. where symbiosis

is necessary for production of bioactives/metabolites.


Suitability for genetic engineering

RESEARCH ISSUES/NEEDS

PHYSICAL CONSTRAINTS TO LARGE SCALE

BIOMASS GENERATION

Increasing World population

The use of energy crops (perennial grasses and trees grown

on agricultural land) as source for bioactive molecules

could drive up prices of both food and land due to

increasing population. The price increases could affect

impoverished populations in developing countries, in

particular. Although the total amount of terrestrial plants

now being used may never be accurately estimated, its

future use are limited by the availability of land to grow

trees and other plant materials.

Biomass Generation in Theory and Practice

The central part of the solar spectrum is photosynthetically

active radiation. Only 45 % of solar radiation energy is

carried by this part of the spectrum. A further reduction of

biological solar energy conversion efficiency is due to the

fact that some of the qualified photons absorbed by the

plant fail to perform photosynthesis; the quantum

efficiency about 25 %, which reduces the conversion

efficiency to about 11 %. In addition, some of the solar

radiation is reflected, and photosynthesis requires

respiration which requires energy. Thus, a realistic

expectation for the efficiency by which solar radiation

energy can be converted into biomass is about 3-6 %

(Kazuhisa, 1992). This theoretical efficiency is 10 times

lower than the technical conversion efficiency. Hence a

very large area of biologically productive land is required

to supply a significant proportion of biomass needs for

bimolecular extraction.

Global limits to Food and Energy Crops

A study of net primary productivity for the world Lieth,

(1975), confirms the low efficiency of biological

conversion of solar energy; only tropical rainforests and

wetlands generate biomass at some appreciable rate; other

forms of vegetation have lower yields. According to Lieth

1.4*1013

m2 of land worldwide is cultivated or used for

permanent crops; this amounts to 2150 m2/person.

Therefore systematic utilization of agricultural waste and

byproducts of animal food production can contribute some

amount of biomass. However, to supply the remaining

present biomass need is physically not feasible, as it

requires additional 4000 m2/person of biologically

productive land, which is not available on Planet Earth.

There are other reasons that prevent the large scale

use of biomass. Energy farming is in direct competition

with food production for land, for water, and for fertilizer.

It is no secret that humankind is already struggling to

eliminate hunger; therefore, to take land, water, and

fertilizers away from food production is, in a global

perspective, not an option. Furthermore, specific plant

farming for biomolecules is an enemy of biodiversity. Any

land taken away from wilderness destroys habitat and

contributes to the mass extinction of species. However, this

will inevitably happen with increasing use of biomass. It is

quite obvious that a healthy World ecosystem cannot spare

sufficient biomass production capacity to feed the

equivalent of 156 Billion human beings.

Complicated Structures of Bioactive Compounds

Some bioactive compounds from natural products have

complicated structures that preclude economical industrial

syntheses. This therefore implies that the acquisition of

such products relies on massive collection efforts, a process

which is time consuming and ultimately damaging to

biodiversity. Alternative strategies for an environmentally

friendly and economical feasible supply of natural products

are therefore needed.

Natural Products and Combinatorial Chemistry Drug companies are currently developing interests in

making products that have a larger potential profit base

than anti-infectious drugs. These include compounds that

provide social benefits, that reduce the symptoms of

allergies and arthritis, or that can soothe the stomach. It

therefore appears that this loss of interest can be attributed

to the enormous effort and expense that is required to pick

and choose a biological source and then to isolate active

natural products, decipher their structures, and begin the

long road to product development. It is also apparent that

combinatorial chemistry and other synthetic chemistries

revolving around certain basic chemical structures are now

serving as a never-ending source of products to feed the

screening robots of the drug industry. Within many large

pharmaceutical companies, progress of professionals is

primarily based upon numbers of compounds that can be

produced and sent to the screening machines. This tends to

work against the numerous steps needed even to find one

compound in natural-product discovery. It is important to

realize that the primary purpose of combinatorial chemistry

should be to complement and assist the efforts of natural-

product drug discovery and development, not to supersede

it (Demain, 1981).

Combinatorial chemistry generates larger libraries

but the compounds therein are relatively simple planar

molecules contrary to the natural products' pool that gives a

much higher hit-rate in high throughput screening with high

chemical diversity. Further, improvements in isolation,

purification and characterisation procedures have fastened

the output of natural product research, thereby reviving the

interest of the pharmaceutical industry.

Interdisciplinary collaboration in Natural Product

Research

Natural products chemistry increasingly collaborates with

synthetic chemistry, and vice versa, which works to the

strengths of both fields. Therefore, an integrated approach

that combines the various discovery tools and the new

discipline of integrative biology will provide the key for

success in natural product drug discovery and development.

The pharmaceutical industry has to come forward in

utilising the knowledge available in traditional medicines.

Traditional medicines may provide cure for different types

of diseases and disorders but need scientific validation. In

order to focus the research on traditional medicines to serve

national interests, the first priority is to assess the

therapeutic quality of herbal medicines objectively since

the dividing line between the modern therapies and

traditional therapies remains imprecise. In a paradigm shift

from discovery of single bioactive molecules, multi-

constituent mainstay of bioactive extracts can be


emphasised for synergistic and antagonistic studies at

cellular and molecular levels.

Networking and Natural Products Research

Advancement

Most natural products chemists in Africa, as is indeed the

case with Scientists in other fields are often forced to work

with inadequate facilities, both in terms of appropriate

infrastructure and modern equipment. These problems

coupled with lack of full access to the scientific literature

and inadequate financial resources pose as serious

stumbling blocks to the development of natural products

research in Africa. The establishment of networks with the

aim of initiating, developing and promoting research in

natural products could be one way of accelerating the

development of this science both at the local and

international levels. The networks may aim at not building

infrastructure but towards strengthening capabilities

through local and international cooperation. This

cooperation may be enhanced through information

dissemination and exchange of ideas, effected by means of

publications, workshops, symposia, exchange visits and

fellowship schemes.

Sources for Natural Products

Tropical plants were initially the focus of natural product

searches. However, the probability of discovering new

useful compounds from terrestrial microorganisms is

comparatively low. Hence it is worthwhile to explore the

possibilities of deriving not only new and novel antibiotics

and pharmaceutically important products but also other

economically valuable products such as novel enzymes,

fine chemicals, and vitamins. Now, the newest area to study

is the rich population of microorganisms from extreme

environments, especially bacteria and fungi. And while

human impact has destroyed much of the plant and animal

ecosystems, humanity has actually created novel habitats

for many microorganisms.

Microorganisms hold other advantages as well.

From a maintenance perspective, they are easier to store

and work with in a laboratory. From a molecular biology

perspective, they are even more advantageous because their

genes responsible for the synthesis of constituent active

compounds are located together in clusters. Scientists also

are exploring the possibility of inserting clusters of foreign

genes involved in the synthesis of plant and animal natural

products into bacteria, thus enabling the synthesis of useful

molecules readily in the lab. So it is possible to identify

which genes are involved in producing which compound.

This capability would ease the cost of acquiring raw

materials and protecting habitats. In essence, the bacteria

are doing the work of the combinatorial chemistry.

Low concentration of Bioactive compounds in

Organisms

The low concentration of bioactive substances in producing

organisms or the limited quantity of the organism itself or

the geographic, sexual and seasonal variations in the

amounts and in the nature of the produced secondary

metabolites seriously affects research on natural products.

This therefore means that natural products research can

threaten biodiversity. Thus considering bioethical

perspectives and finding alternative solutions to the

problems of supply for bioactive substances should be

given high priority in natural product research and

development. This is because impacts from stress on

natural products producing organisms although manifested

at individual species level are magnified in effect

throughout the entire ecosystem because of complex

interconnected relationships between species at different

trophic levels, including interactions such as predation,

competition and mutualism.

Complicated Structures of Bioactive Compounds

Some bioactive compounds from natural products have

complicated structures that preclude economical industrial

syntheses. This therefore implies that the acquisition of

such products relies on massive collection efforts, a process

which is time consuming and ultimately damaging to

biodiversity. Alternative strategies for an environmentally

friendly and economical feasible supply of natural products

are therefore needed.

OPPORTUNITIES IN NATURAL PRODUCT

DEVELOPMENT

Pharmaceuticals

Medicinal properties of biomolecules are based on the

antioxidant, antimicrobial, antitumour, anti-inflammatory,

insecticides and nematocides, herbicides, hormones,

antipyretic effects as well as its ability to the control of

toxic blooms by its phytochemicals. These phytochemicals

either act on different systems of animals including man,

and/or act through interfering in the metabolism of

microbes infecting them. phytochemicals derived from

them are also extremely useful as lead structures for

synthetic modification and optimization of bioactivity. The

microbes may be pathogenic or symbiotic. In either way the

bioactive compounds from microalgae play a determining

role in regulating host-microbe interaction in favour of the

host.

Dyes and colourants from natural sources for human food

are gaining importance mainly due to health issues.

Photosynthetic pigments are chlorophylls, carotenoids

(carotenes and xanthophylls) and phycobilins.

Functional food ingredients are substances derived from

plants or animals which besides nutritious effects, have one

or more functions for the human organism such as

improving the state of health or well-being or reducing the

risk of diseases (Diplock et al., 1999). Besides, these

ingredients have series of additional characteristics as, for

instance, the need for effectiveness in their beneficial

action at the normal consumed doses. Functional bioactive

materials include peptides, amino acids, selenium, taurine,

polysaccharides, polyphenolics, hydrolysates, antioxidants,

enzymes and alkaloids as well as micronutrients such as

omega-3 fatty acids, linoleic acids, phytosterols, soluble

fibre (inulin and fructooligosaccharides, called prebiotics).

Functional ingredients are used in cosmetics, pet food,

animal feeds, dietary supplements, bioactive packaging and

a range of other industrial products. Sources offering high

potential include bacteria, seaweed, finfish and microalgae.

Cosmeceuticals include an array of compounds commonly

found in modern foods to smooth, moisturize, protect and

heal skin. These compounds promote skin regeneration and

produce antioxidants and oils for anti-aging formulations


MOLECULAR FARMING

The idea of molecular farming (also called molecular

pharming, biopharming or gene pharming) to generate

biomolecules (Pharmaceuticals, Functional proteins and

Industrial enzymes) valuable to industry that are difficult

or even impossible to produce in another way, or which

require prohibitively high production costs in other

systems. Successful expression and assembly of a

recombinant human monoclonal IgA antibody has already

been demonstrated for Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

(Mayfield et al., 2003), while stable expression of the

hepatitis B surface antigen gene has been shown in

Dunaliella salina (Sayre et al., 2001; Geng et al., 2003;

Sun et al., 2003). In this way, antibody and vaccine

production can become not only much more convenient,

but also much cheaper than expression in other systems.

Expression in an organism without an immune system

allows expression of antibodies that would otherwise

interfere with the immune system of the host animal used in

conventional antibody production. Since Dunaliella is

otherwise used for nutrition, there is no need for

purification of the antigen, so the intact algae could be used

to deliver a vaccine. Microalgae have also been shown to

be useful for expressing insecticidal proteins. Because the

green alga Chlorella is one possible food for mosquito

larvae, the mosquito hormone trypsin-modulating oostatic

factor (TMOF) was heterologously expressed in Chlorella.

TMOF causes termination of trypsin biosynthesis in the

mosquito gut. After feeding mosquito larvae with these

recombinant Chlorella cells the larvae died within 72 h

(Borovsky, 2003). Because diseases such as malaria,

dengue and west Nile fever are transmitted via mosquitoes,

mosquito abatement is an expensive requirement in tropical

countries. Use of such transgenic algae might be a much

cheaper alternative. The utilization of algae as an

expression system is not restricted to antibodies, antigens,

or insecticidal proteins.

APPLICATIONS OF STARCH

Starch is one of the most widely used ingredients in the

food industry. There is a limitation on native starch for

special uses. Native starch cannot withstand the typical

Industrial processing conditions such as extreme

temperature, pH, high shear rate, and freeze thaw variation

encountered during processing. Therefore there is the need

for modification. The principal biochemical components of

starch are amylose and amylopectin, and these have been

pioneer target for modification. Modification had been

accomplished using chemical action, physical and genetic

modifications. The variations associated with different

starch sources may lead to differences in terms of

formation, development or derivation of new products with

wider industrial applications.

Partially refined and treated starches can be used

to modifying texture of gum, pastilles and jellies. Some

other specialty starches have been tailored to impact neutral

taste, and low viscosity in products like salad, creams, and

mayonnaises. Native starches can be modified in order to

form granular cold water gel or viscous mass on addition of

water even at room temperature (28°C). Such value added

starch that thickens without the applications of heat, find

applications in preparation of food products such as instant

puddings and cold dessert mixes. Specialty starches of

amiable attributes include, heat stability and resistance to

change in pH. These qualities make starch a functional raw

material for products like baby meal, pudding and sauce for

canning fruits.

Natural Management of Physiological Disorder

With regard to rate and extent of digestibility or nutrition,

starch can be group into three classes namely, rapidly

digestible starch, slowly digestible starch and resistant

starch (Englyst et al., 1992). Slowly digestible starches are

important for treatment and prevention of some glucose

dependent diseases. Elevated plasma glucose and insulin

levels after a glucose load are associated with non-insulin

dependent diabetes (Krapt and Nosal, 1975) and

cardiovascular diseases (Flodin, 1986). Prolonged digestion

and absorption of carbohydrates are favourable for the

dietary management of metabolic disorders such as

diabetes and hyperlipidemia (Asp, 1994; Wursch, 1994). In

addition, starch plays an important role as a component of

carbohydrate-based fat replacers, one of the strategies to

manage influential disease of hypercholestromia. Stable

starch-lipid composite can be prepared by co-jet cooking

starch, lipid and water in excess steam. The products are

useful in preparation of ice-cream and chocolate chip

cookies. Consequently, slowly digestible starch and dietary

fibres are gaining recognition as a component in

formulation of a functional cereal and meat products (Goff

et al., 2001).

Pectic substances, cellulose, hemicellulose and

lignin are the major components of the plant cell wall that

are collectively referred to as dietary fibre. Pectic

substances have important physiological and nutritional

effects such as hypocholesterolemic effect, increased

excretion of faecal sterols and lipids. Others are binding of

bile salts and polyvalent cations. Similarly, it is also now

well established that the main physiological effects of

dietary fiber are improved bowel function and improved

carbohydrate and lipid metabolism (Kay and Truswell,

1977). Dietary fiber can be used in the treatment of/or

counteracting obesity, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, colon

disease and constipation (Takahashi et al. 1999).

Starch Sugar and Chemicals

Starch sugar can be obtained from the action of dilute acid

on starch. It is a very important raw material in brewing

industry and spirituous liquors. Other sweetening agents

that can be produced from starch include D-glucose and

maltose. The sweetener is excellent because, the products

are not associated with all the physiological abnormalities

identified with consumption of cane sucrose. Therefore, the

product is a delight in confectionery (Radley, 1976). Heavy

chemicals such as ethanol, butanol, acetone, glycerol and

other organic chemicals notably acetic, citric, itaconic,

gluconic and lactic acids can be produced from starchy

materials using fermentation processes. Fermentation

process utilizing starch based substrates can be used to

produce complex organic chemicals that may not be easily

synthesized through chemical pathways. Some of the

organic chemicals include antibiotics, amino acids,

vitamins notably riboflavin, cobamides, carotene and


enzymes.

Biopolymer Based Packing Materials

Low cost, availability and total degradability after usage

has made starch a candidate material for replacement of

petroleum-derived synthetic polymers to decrease

environmental pollution. Some of the desirable attributes of

edible films are: renewable nature of their components,

among which starch is chief. Its films have ability to

function as carriers of food additives (e.g. flavourants,

antioxidants) and as selection barrier to transport vapours

and gases in living foods (George et al., 1995). Starch

derivatives can also be tailored for paper Industries. The

derivatives can function as wet end additives, surface sizes,

coatings and binders (Gebre-Mariam, 1996).

Vehicle for Bio-Active Components

Starch has been used as a carrier of active components in

drugs and fertilizer. The technique ensures that the active

components are released at the target over a period of time

at a controlled rate (Chen and Jane, 1995). The active

agents released at a controlled rate provide a continual but

constant concentration that exerts a steady action during

period of release. This prevents the loss of active agents by

degradation, leaching, evaporation or surface-run-off

(Boydston, 1992; FIeming et al., 1992). Similarly,

pesticides can be encapsulated within starch solid matrices

with view to control rate of release, decomposition,

leaching, ground water contamination, dermatoxicity and

other uncertainties associated with application of

therapeutic active agents (Carr et al., 1991; Schreiber and

Shasha, 1988).

Non-Food Applications of Modified Starch

Modified starch also finds utilization in oil-well drilling

muds, cosmetics formulation (hair dressings, wave sets,

etc.), production of plastics and resins, building materials

(wall boards and acoustic tiles), photography (coat for

fibres and plates), and manufacture of soapy and soapless

detergents. Treated starch conjugated to nitrates is

prominent component of some explosives. Dialdehyde

starch is water-resistant with high binding capacity which

makes them valuable as adhesive and binders. The bonding

characteristics of starch can be harnessed for manufacture

of briquettes. Briquettes have less carbon content than

petroleum products and therefore its burnt products will

contain lesser pollutants (tar, carbon monoxide, nitrogen

monoxide).

Valuable By-Product from Fermentation of Starchy

Foods

Organic acids are examples of such valuable by-product of

the fermentation of high carbohydrate containing industrial

substrates. Lactic acid, an intermediate-volume especially

chemical is under increasing demand in Food,

Pharmaceutical and Chemical Industries and for production

of Poly lactic acid polymers, which possess excellent

biomedical applications. Lactic acid is currently

manufactured either through chemical or microbial route

via fermentative mode. Wastes containing starch generated

from food processing plants may be regarded as a viable

option for meeting this growing demand for lactic acid, if

appropriate biotechnological interventions are used.

Blends Research: Bio-artificial Polymers and Bio-

polymeric Materials

This represents a new class of polymeric materials based on

blends of synthetic and natural polymers, de-signed with

the purpose of producing new materials with enhanced

properties with respect to the single components. Synthetic

components could be poly(vinyl alcohol) PVA;

poly(acrylic acid) PAA, poly(methacrylic acid) PMAA

among others while collagen, gelatin, starch, hyaluronic

acid (HA) and dextrin are examples of biological

components. These components can be mixed together in

various proportions and various properties including

mechanical, electronic, optical, dielectric etc. can be

measured. They are often prepared in the form of films and

generally regarded as soft solids.

Natural Fibre Reinforced Composites Research

Natural fibers are abundantly available as renewable

resource, low-cost, biodegradable and environmentally

friendly. They are also useful as fillers in polymers as they

can increase electrical resistance, thermal and acoustic

insulation. Renewable cellulose fibers include wood flour,

sisal, bagasse, kenaf, jute, and waste newspaper which can

be used as bio-fibers in thermoplastic composites. A

systematic development of composite materials based on

local resources for application in housing and building

sector is therefore imperative.

Self-Reinforcing Polymers and Composites

The availability of SPECTRA (a PE-based fiber) and Ultra-

High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) which

are ultra-high strength and modulus fiber have introduced a

new opportunity for composite assembly. They have

applications in defence and medicine.

ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN SOURCE FOR ORGANIC

AQUACULTURE

As the global population continues to grow, sources for

highly nutritious, safe, healthy and high protein content

feeds will be in extremely high demand to feed the

burgeoning population. Seafood and aquatic products

remain one of the premier protein sources in the world

today. However, captive fisheries cannot provide and

sustain this protein source for the growing global

population. This represents a tremendous opportunity for

aquaculture and its associated industries. However, the

aquaculture business must undergo tremendous changes in

order to be positioned to fill the huge gap between supply

and demand for seafood products. One of the most daunting

challenges facing aquaculture is the identification,

utilization and sustainability of alternate protein and lipid

sources – a challenge that must be met if the industry is to

survive and flourish.

RESEARCH PRIORITY

As land-based sources run dry, there is needed to go to the

ends of the aquatics to acquire the resources needed to

stoke industrial growth. The aquatic environment support

unique ecosystems of animals and microbes. The microbes

are sources of enzymes used in DNA fingerprinting, in

detergents, to enhance the flow of oil from old wells, and to

produce bioactive compounds that could prove effective

against cancer or other diseases. As chemically interesting

and biologically significant secondary metabolites, marine


microorganisms are expected to serve as lead compounds

for potential drug development or pharmacological tools

for basic research in life sciences. The metabolic and

physiological capabilities of marine microorganisms that

allow them to survive on their unique habitats also provide

a great potential for production of metabolites, which are

not found in terrestrial environments.

The biota of marine microorganisms has

developed unique metabolic and physiological functions

that not only ensure survival in extreme habitats but also

offer a potential for the production of novel enzymes and

bioactive metabolites for potential exploitation. It is

estimated that less than 5% of the bacteria observed by

microscopy are culturable under standard laboratory

conditions. Out of the large number of species examined,

only a fraction of marine bacteria have been isolated and

cultured.

Most marine microorganisms are of the gram-

negative eubacteria, cyanobacteria, and the myxobacteria

groups, which are generally thought to produce many

medically useful substances.

Several well-known chemists and biologists

reviewed different aspects of marine natural products. The

majority of natural products derived from microorganisms,

plants, and animals could exhibit a wide range of activities.

They are useful to produce important antibiotic, anti-

inflammatory, antitumor, antiviral, insecticidal, and

herbicidal effects. Marine toxins, enzymes, and other

chemicals are also important. A relatively large number of

marine organisms are known to produce secondary

metabolites that possess antibiotic properties, including

blue-green, green, brown, and red algae, dinoflagellates,

sponges, jellyfish, sea anemones, and others apart from

microorganisms. However, little research has been done on

this group of organisms.

Biotechnological prospecting of the marine

environment for microorganisms is still in its infant stage.

Several microorganisms are of considerable current interest

as a new promising source of metabolites and enzymes

with unsuspected application potential. There is ample

scope for the selection of microorganisms to produce novel

enzymes. There is the possibility of producing future drugs

from several marine organisms like algae, sponges,

jellyfish, corals, shark cartilage and shellfish, oyster, yeast,

and fungi

Specific policies to keep the nation's natural

resources available over very long-term should be a high

priority.

The need for linkages and alliances

In harnessing biodiversity and the sectors linked to

biodiversity, there is need for greater investment in policy-

relevant science and in strengthening the ability of

institutions to act coherently and in partnership. Experience

has shown that science that isolates problems and ignores

contexts of scale issues does not necessarily produce

sustainable solutions. Good science takes a holistic

approach including paying serious attention to socio-

economic aspects. It is necessary to promote

interdisciplinary science to strengthen government policies

and support bilateral, regional and international

negotiations and cooperation and the development of

market instruments and indicators. Conservation and

sustainable utilization of biological resources cannot be

achieved when there is such a gap in knowledge of existing

biodiversity and its related potential.

Nigeria has significant expertise in natural

products discovery, microbiology and molecular biology,

chemistry and engineering. Therefore developing strategic

research partnerships with industry through the formation

of public-private partnerships would represent a good way

to take forward research capacity towards commercial

targets with steer from industry of emerging market

opportunities. Supporting this emerging market sector will

help ensure the strong science-base and industry capacity in

Nigeria is maintained to establish a competitive position in

the emerging bio-economy.

As global trends of biodiversity continue to show

a decline, scientists in the ACP countries including

taxonomists, chemists, biochemists, pharmacologists, and

biologists in various disciplines such as evolution and

ecology, have the responsibility of increasing collaboration

not only among the scientists themselves but with local

communities to explore, collect, characterize and preserve

biodiversity. Capacity building to address the weak science

base should be given priority especially in building human

resource capacity and infrastructure including research

facilities and legislative framework. Biodiversity

conservation and sustainable use for social and economic

development should be based on local biodiversity

management systems of rural communities and indigenous

peoples buttressed by sound technical advice from their

scientific and legal experts.

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Source of support: Nil; Conflict of interest: None declared

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