FRIN Research Departments

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Bio-Medicinal Department at FRIN

Introduction

The Biomedicinal Research Center of the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria was established in July 2015.   The Center’s mandate is to ensure sustainable plant research by undergoing extensive experiment for better advancement of herbal medicine in the country and world at large.  Our mission is to bridge the gap between Research and Herbal medicine practice through conservation of medicinal plants and extensive training towards development of standardized herbal product for safe consumption and benefit mankind. We also vision to be the leading research center in the advancement of herbal medicine and provision of safe remedies for the treatment and management of diverse medical conditions

Department Head:

  • Name of Department Head: Ibraheem Oduola Lawal, PhD (Phytomedicine)
  • Contact Information: Email Address: lawal.io@frin.gov.ng or ibroodula@gmail.com and Contact Number: +2348035059095 
  • Academic Qualifications          
  • Doctor of Philosophy (Phytomedicine/ Ethnobotany) University of Fort Hare, South Africa. Graduation: September, 2015. Title of dissertation:  Phytochemical, antibacterial and pharmacological investigations of Clausena anisata Hook. One of the medicinal plants used for traditional treatment of tuberculosis in eastern cape, south Africa
  • Master of Science (Pharmacognosy), University of Ibadan. Nigeria Graduation Nov., 2011 Title of Fractionation and identification of compound in Physalis angulata used for the treatment of diabetes
  • Bachelor of Science (forest Resource Management) Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta Nigeria. Awarded January, 2004. Title of mini-thesis: The extraction of essential oils in Pinus carribeae using hydodistillation method.
  • PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
  • Registered Member, International Society of Tropical Foresters USA Inc.
  • Member, ARSO-SON technical committee on standardization of African medicine
  • Life member, Forestry Association of Nigeria
  • Member, Governing Council, Commonwealth Forestry Association, UK
  • Member, International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO)
  • Member, Society for medicinal plants and economic developments, South Africa
  • Member, Nigerian Society of Pharmacognosy
  • Member, International Society for Ethnopharmacology (ISE)
  • Member, Society for Conservation Biology
  • Member, Indigenous Plant User Forum (IPUF), South Africa
  • Member, International Society of Ethnobiology, USA
  • Fellow, Institute for Business Diplomacy and Management
  • Fellow, International Chartered World Learned Society 
  • EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
  • Principal Research Fellow/ Head, Biomedicinal Research Centre at Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (July 2015 till date)
  • Adjunct lecturer at Department of Forest Production and Product and African Studies Department University of Ibadan (2018 till date)
  • Adjunct lecturer at Kwara State University, Plant and Environmental Biology Department (July 2015-2018)
  • Teaching Assistant at University of Fort Hare (2013- 2014)
  • Herbal medicine consultant FRIN Consultancy Unit, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, Nigeria (August 2011-2013)
  • Researcher at Sustainable Forest Management, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (Oct.2007 – Aug. 2011)

About Us

Herbal Nutrition and Nutraceuticals

This section is responsible for conducting research covering the processing, production and packaging of nutraceutical products using important medicinal plants and other indigenous raw materials. Some of the products to be improved on include: BP Care, Essential oils and spices.

Herbal Gene Bank

This section conserves and multiplies the indigenous and exotic medicinal plants through improved silvicultural practices, tending operations and using of growth hormones to improve growth yield and production.

Analysis and Experimental Research

The centre is equipped with a laboratory and equipment where analyses of medicinal plant samples are undertaken; this covers plants active principle extraction, drying/freeze drying, proximate composition analysis, Phytochemical screening, investigation of biological activities, antioxidant capacities, toxicity assays.

We are anticipating to expand develop the highlighted:

  • Elaborate standards on safe and use of traditional medicine that will be integrated into our National health care systems.
  • Develop medicinal plant product standards that will assist traditional medicine practitioners in Nigeria and Africa to produce pharmaceutical products that meet the requirements of international markets and cultural acceptability.
  • Articulates Nigeria’s position in Regional and International Standardisation on activities relating to African Traditional Medicine.
  • Expansion of existing herbal garden
  • Development and expansion of herbal drug production facilities and specific equipments to meet up the standardization
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