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Toxicology & Pharmacology Unit

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INTRODUCTION

This unit plays an important role in the research of extracted plant for pre-clinical studies to find the toxicological and pharmacological effects produced by selected plants. The current focus is on safety evaluation and research works conducted are:

• Studies for acute and chronic systemic toxicity in animal models.
• In vitro toxicology & molecular toxicology studies, such as mutagenicity, genotoxicity and carcinogenicity, including the effect of the plant extracts to the genome of the cell or organism.
• Routine screening of drug of abuse and various heavy metals in biological fluids are part of the diagnosis services offered by the unit.
• Other studies include evaluation of presence of adulterants, steroid and heavy metals in the plant extracts.

 

OBJECTIVES

• To strengthen the research of plant extracts for pre-clinical studies to determine the toxicological and pharmacological effects
• To ascertain the safety and efficacy of extracts on the different types of animal models

 

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

• To strengthen techniques for toxicity testing

 

General toxicology

• Acute, sub-acute and chronic toxicity testing
  
• Histopathology testing
  
• Hematological testing
  
• Biochemistry testing

Genotoxicity

• Cytotoxicity test using a few methods e.g. Viability method or metabolic activity
  
• Mutagenicity test: MLA, AMES test, COMET Assay, In- vivo and in- vitro micronucleus test

Biochemical toxicology

• Hepatotoxicity - Liver enzymes analysis, cytochrome P450

Product safety

• Adulterant (steroid and other drugs)
  
• Contaminants (heavy metals, bacterial, pesticides)

 

1. To develop techniques for developmental toxicology including teratogenicity and reproductive toxicology
   
2. To established methods, facilities for pharmacological investigations of herbal products; including (ADME) – Administration e.g. Absorption, Distribution ; look for target organ, Metabolism e.g. Excretion: duration of drug from entry to exit.
   
3. To establish the pharmacodynamics of herbal products: to look at the mechanism of action of the herbal products
   
4. To develop and strengthen technique for Biochemical toxicology : for other specific organ toxicity

 

Future plan

• To set-up the High Throughput screening for Toxicity
  
• To establish High Throughput screening for pharmacological testing
  
• Pharmaco-toxicology profiling of biomolecules from Natural Resources to Drug Development in order to prepare the products for clinical trials (Phase I, II, and III)

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