Day 1 :
Keynote Forum
David H Kinder
Ohio Northern University College of Pharmacy, USA
Keynote: Asphodolus microcarpus (L) history and current use for the treatment of psoriasis: development and validation of an herb used for over a millennium
Time : 10.00-10.30
Biography:
David H Kinder completed his PhD in Chemistry at the University of Illinois. Following a Postdoctoral fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in the Department of Oncology, he began a career in academia eventually rising to full rank at Ohio Northern University’s College of Pharmacy. For the past 15 years, he has been studying medicinal plants of the American Southwest as well as some medicinal plants in Israel. At Ohio Northern University, he is a member of the Ethnobotany Consortium with Drs. Vicki Motz, and Lynn Young and Chris Bowers studying various principles found in medicinal plants.
Abstract:
Western medicine has given us improved health and quality of life at the same time causing other problems with maintaining health. As we look to the past for better treatment of diseases, we find plants that are still in use by old communities for various diseases or conditions. So it is with the treatment of psoriasis. The story starts a millennium ago with the use of Asphodelus spp., where the juice of the bulb was squeezed on patchy itchy skin. Relief was rapid. Modern medicine substituted single agents for treating psoriasis, with some success, but we have shownand validated the use of a plant based therapy that has an advantage over these drugs. Furthermore when using plant based therapy, there are often several compounds that work in concert to affect the therapeutic outcome so that variations in individual responses to single agents can be minimized. Asphodelus are currently being used for treating psoriasis but has been known for at least a millennium among the Druse in the Golan. Psoriasis is a condition characterized by hyperplasia of the epidermal keratinocytes of skin causing flaky scales and crusty red patches. In vitro keratinocyte models then are a good representation for plaque psoriasis. An extract of Asphodelus shows potent keratinocyte inhibition. The extract has been subjected to fractionation and activity of several fractions have potent activity. Two clinical trials conducted by Pro-Z92 with a preparation of Asphodelus extract demonstrated efficacy that was as good as, or superior to that of corticosteroids.
Keynote Forum
Ian James Martins
Edith Cowan University, Australia
Keynote: Anti-aging genes improve NAFLD and Type 3 diabetes in Global populations
Time : 10:30-11:00
Biography:
Ian James Martins is a reviewer for various journals and was appointed as the Chief Editor for Scientific and Academic Publishing (2013/2014). Research Gate’s analysis of his publication stats places the RG score higher than 93% of the international researchers. He has been conferred with the Richard Kuhn Research Award-2015 Endocrinology and Metabolism. He sserved as Keynote Speaker at Ethnopharmacology 2016 conference.
Abstract:
In global communities humans have become more susceptible to adiposity compared with other species with the increased development of overweight individuals, non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and Type 3 diabetes. Drugs that improve insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and the metabolic syndrome with long term treatment have not been successful as a result of the increased susceptibility to NAFLD with removal of various anti-obese drugs from the market. The increased cell senescence in diabetes has been associated with the limited ability of cells to divide with indication of telomere shortening and genomic instability of cells that is connected to cell suicide. Lipoaspirates from obese individuals allow assessment of anti-aging genes relevant to mitochondrial biogenesis and effective drug therapy will be determined by non consumption of inhibitors of anti-aging genes (drugs) and consumption of healthy low calorie diets that activate adipocyte anti-aging genes. Defective anti-aging genes in adipocytes are linked to mitochondrial apoptosis in obesity and indicate that these genes are associated with defective hepatic drug clearance and metabolism. Interests in the global epidemic in obesity and diabetes involve anti-aging therapies that stabilize accelerated aging and delay chronic diseases. New drug development needs to be carefully interpreted in relation to nutritional intake with drug safety concerns/adverse effects relevant to adipogenesis and NAFLD in obesity.
Keynote Forum
Mohammed Hmamouchi
President of the Arab Federation Aromatic and Medicinal Plants, Morocco
Keynote: Old remedies for new valorizations: Cross-cultural, phytochemical, pharmacological studies
Time : 11:20-11:50
Biography:
Mohammed Hmamouchi has obtained PhD in Phytochemistry (1986, Laval University in Canada). After his graduation, he gets research and teaching positions in the faculty of medicine and pharmacy in Rabat. In 1999, he has published his first main book; it is the fruit of several years of research and reflection, on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in Morocco. In 2004, he was appointed by Moroccan government to develop and implement national policies on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. He oversaw build and equipment. He leads, as a Director, of a First National Institute on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (African and Arab). In 2011, he became President of the Arab Federation of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. He was also the focal point of different international conventions and agreements, and coordinator of national and international MAP networks (Tempus: European Union Projects). He managed several research projects, contracts and cooperation agreement. He assisted business creation, cooperatives for the production of MAP and product development opportunities. He has worked with many international institutions and companies in over 30 countries. He is a member of several professional bodies and has received many grants and awards. In 2013 he became Advisor to the Minister of Higher Teacher Education, Scientific Research. He is continuing to do research, to be invited to give plenary lectures at the Congress (Guest Speakers) and also to make expertise.
Abstract:
African and Arab areas represent a unique hotspot of biological and cultural diversity in the world, which allows for interesting cross-cultural, ethnobotanical, phytochemical, pharmacological studies and valorization. The aims of this presentation are threefold: to document the state of traditional knowledge related to local plants uses from different communities in African and Arab areas; to introduce phytochemical and pharmacological studies; to discuss the correlation between chemical compositions and pharmacological activities. Twenty years ago, a comparative ethnobotanical, phytochemical and pharmacological study was conducted by our laboratory. The relevance of this presentation is to demonstrate how from using ethnobotanical, phytochemical studies in combination with the pharmacological screening we can develop new products with higher added value. After inventory, the traditional knowledge and examined historical interactions, we present the correlation between chemical compositions and pharmacological activities of many extracts and compounds. Regional information system has also been briefly developed. It that includes: scientific plant name and authority, vernacular names, chemical data, distribution, habitat, description, conservation status, indigenous knowledge including references to literature sources of the potential utilization as medicines, social uses, food, food additives, animal food, bee plants, invertebrate foods, poisons, environmental uses, gene sources, fuels, etc. The research work in progress there concern the study of 136 indigenous plant species, 148 extracts, 96 essential oils and 30 identified products. The plants which have been selected and studied constitute the most obvious choice to develop effective new drugs. This can be illustrated by the results of the study on phytochemical and bioassays investigations (in vitro and in vivo test systems), provide the reader with insight into what is currently possible in the study of bioactive plant materials. These results indicate that a large number of secondary metabolic compounds provide protection against bacterial, veridical, fungicidal, parasitical, insecticidal, mosquito larvae, dermatophyte, for plants diseases and can be used in treatments for cancer. They exhibit a number of protective functions for human. The conclusion can thus be drawn that the new bioactive products found can improve human and animal health in the pharmaceutical, medical, cosmetic, agricultural and food industries, because the drug plants are readily available, less expensive, safe and effective and rarely have side effects. So, our program is one of the leading multi-disciplinary approaches to bioprospect to find these new bioactive natural products.
- Track 10: Nutraceuticals