Natural Drug Discovery
In parallel to the effort for detecting and preventing the use of illegal drugs in food production, the drug research group is devoting to searching for a variety of natural and safe alternatives that can be used in animal production to help prevent disease and improve production efficiencies. This research has been prompted by the world-wide concern about the development of pathogenic bacteria with multiple transferable resistances. This has been linked to the widespread use of antibiotics in farm animals. Due to the impact of chemical contaminants on food safety and human health implication and issue of animal health and welfare a ban for using many antibiotics and hormones as growth promoters in food animals in EU and many countries worldwide has resulted.
The history of pharmaceutical drugs is less than hundred years old whereas natural remedies have been used for several thousand years by millions of people. Perhaps even more surprising is the use of different natural plants for treatment of various illnesses is also evident in the animal kingdom. As science progresses, new knowledge is being constantly acquired that can, with the help of advanced and emerging technologies, be used to reveal the natural constituents widely used in herbal medicine. The identification of such compounds for veterinary applications may help solve some of the difficult issues having modern agriculture.
Current research projects:
1. The potential of naturally occurring compounds to decrease the need for use of drugs in animal husbandry.
A variety of naturally occurring compounds including essential oils, organic acids and amphibian peptides will be studied for antimicrobial properties using a range of microbiological methods. The synergistic effect of the potential compounds will also be assessed. Investigation of structure of active ingredient and mechanism of action will be undertaken using a range of biotechnologies. The potential of the identified compounds as alternative therapies for farm animals will be examined (PhD: Stella Wong)
2. The feasibility of utilizing herbal medicine in animals for prevention and treatment of diseases as well as growth promotion.
A large number of plants and herbs have shown various beneficial effects on inhibiting the growth of a range of human pathogens. A library of these materials will be screened for their antibacterial and antiviral effects on selected pathogens which commonly cause diseases in farm animals. The active components will be characterized by physico-chemical techniques whilst toxicity and unwanted side effect of plants/herbs will be examined in vitro using a battery of mammalian cell lines. Proteomics and metabolomics will facilitate the study of mode of actions (PhD: Ken Ngwoke)
3. Characterization of the effects on immune function of a range of plant and food extracts.
It has been recognizing that the powerful healing and curing effects of medicinal plants and herbs are not being direct bactericide but through their capability of boosting the immunity system to resist and against various diseases and retain optimal health conditions. A range of plant and food nutraceuticals will be investigated for their effect on immune function using in vitro tests for potential of food additives in farm animals. The potential adverse toxicological properties of these products will also be assessed (PhD: Conor Kerr)
