Bewilligungen im Jahr 2008 - Volkswagen Stiftung

Legon
- 75 -
Propagation, cultural practices, genetic and biochemical diversity of two medicinal plant
species, Croton membranaceus and Cryptolepis sanguinolenta
Bewilligung: 09.02.2011 Laufzeit: 3 Jahre
Croton membranaceus and Cryptolepis sanguinolenta are two medicinal plant species
with restricted distribution in the West Africa region that are on the verge of extinction.
Root extracts of Croton membranaceus are used to treat measles and urine retention
problems, while Cryptolepis sanguinolenta have been found to have anti-malarial, antimicrobial
and anti-hyperglycemic properties. The goal of this project is to identify
populations with high bioactive compounds, assess genetic diversity and develop
propagation and cultivation protocols for their domestication. The concentration of
bioactive compounds and percentage composition of the active ingredients in the plants
will also be determined. Anti-malaria activities of C. sanguinolenta bioactive compounds
would be assessed. The effectiveness of C. membranaceus decoctions will be
determined using the MTT assay protocol. It is expected at the end of this research that
natural habitats of C. membranaceus and C. sanguinolenta with high concentration of the
bioactive compounds would be identified. Propagation, cultural and management
practices for the above mentioned species would be developed.
University of Ghana, Accra
Department of Crop Science
Dr. J. Naalamle Amissah
Legon
GHANA
Tel.: + 233 285 331 362
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Nairobi
Screening polyextremophiles for biomineralization of organochlorine pesticide
stockpiles in Kenya
Bewilligung: 09.02.2011 Laufzeit: 3 Jahre
Stockpiled obsolete pesticides (mainly organochlorine compounds) are a serious and
growing public health and environmental danger confronting nearly every country in
Africa. This project proposes to develop novel biotechnological alternatives for the safe
and sustainable disposal of recalcitrant obsolete pesticides. A "search, discover and
harness" approach is envisaged where microorganisms that can tolerate multiple
environmental extremes (polyextremophiles) will be screened systematically for new
biological activities and biochemical pathways for the detoxification, degradation or
complete mineralization of environmentally persistent organochlorine pesticides. This
project is expected to catalogue new microbial taxa, discover novel biodegradative routes
for recalcitrant chemical pesticides, and create new biotechnologies for pesticide
stockpile elimination using 'mined' polyextremophile genes. In doing so, the project will
have harnessed natural resources to generate information beyond existing knowledge
and understanding as well as new tools for bioengineering cheap non-polluting
bioprocesses for the rapid mineralization of organochlorine pesticides.
University of Nairobi
College of Biological and Physical Sciences
Laboratory of Biochemistry
Dr. Benson Wamalwa
Postfach 30197
Nairobi 00100 GPO
KENIA
Tel.: + 254 729 903 792
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