Department of Natural Products Development and Formulation

The department of Natural Products Development and Formulations is one of the three departments of the Institute of Traditional Medicine. It deals with research, teaching and consultancy in natural products from traditionally used material medica as well as formulation of research proven products to be used for improvement of health. The department has a unit called production unit which houses a GMP laboratory (Good Manufacturing Practice laboratory) used for production of herbal medicine. It also has a natural products research laboratory used for research work. The department has ten (8) staff including seven (7) academic and one technical staff.

The department is involved in teaching postgraduates students, preparation of crude extracts and other fractions for bioassays, bioassay guided separation of active substances of plants, mineral or animal origin used in traditional medicine. characterization and identification of biologically active substances, structure elucidation of biologically active isolated compounds           formulation, standardization and laboratory scale production of herbal medicine, quality analysis of active ingredients of medicinal preparations from cultivated exotic plants and other formulations based on laboratory findings and information collected from traditional healers and dissemination of research findings to scientists, traditional healers and the general public, through publications, seminars and workshops.

1. Research

The department conducts research in the thematic areas prioritized by the University. The following are some of the ongoing research projects in the department, clustered to respective thematic areas

HIV and AIDS

1. Search for Antifungal Compounds from Tanzanian Medicinal Plants for managing Fungal infections
2. Formulation and standardization of herbal medicine from Garcinia and Combretum plant species growing in Tanzania for managing HIV/AIDS and related diseases
3. Phytochemical and Antifungal Investigation of Tanzanian Combretum Species for Potential Formulations against Fungal Infections
4. Laboratory and semi-field mosquito larvicidal activity of some Tanzanian medicinal plants formulations
5. Investigation of chemical composition and mosquito repellent property of essential oils from some Tanzanian plants

Malaria

1. Laboratory and semi-field mosquito larvicidal activity of some Tanzanian medicinal plants formulations
2. Investigation of chemical composition and mosquito repellent property of essential oils from some Tanzanian plants

Health System Research

1. Empowering Tanzanian Communities to achieve economic sustainability and resilience. A trainer of trainer approach for value addition of Avocado and Rosella products

2. Training Programmes

The department of Natural Products Development and Formulation is involved in training of MSc and PhD progrmames in Traditional Medicine Development. The department jointly with other departments’ runs one master program (MSc. Traditional Medicine Development) teaching the course named Phytochemical Processes in Herbal Drugs Development (TM 603). The department is also involved in  short course training programmes for Health Practitioners

3.  Consultancy

The department offers consultancies in the following areas

1. Phyrochemical screening of active ingredients from medicinal plants
2. Formulation and standardization of herbal medicine
3. Antioxidant assays