Nana Ama Mireku-Gyimah, PhD, MPCPharm, BPharm

Address:            P. O. Box LG 43, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra

Tel:                    +233 249917789        

Email:                namireku-gyimah@ug.edu.gh; namgyimah@gmail.com

ORCID:           https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3051-4486  

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=hmL9RNIAAAAJ

Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nana-Ama-Mireku-Gyimah

Current Research

My research focuses on:

1. Isolation, identification and characterisation of compounds of medicinal benefit from plants, focusing on anticancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-infective agents of ethnomedicinal benefits.
2. Pharmacognostic identification, quality assessment and documentation of ethnomedicinal plants.
3. Herbal medicine production and quality assurance.
4. Biological assay (anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-infective and toxicity) of extracts and compounds from ethnomedicinal plants.

Education

2019 – 2020    MPCPharm (Drug Production and Quality Assurance), West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists, Ghana Chapter, Accra Centre

2019                Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China

2012 – 2017    PhD (Pharmacognosy), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology            Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumasi, Ghana and State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, China (Sandwich option)

2007 – 2011    BPharm (Pharmacy), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

Research Experience

2011 - 2012     Teaching/ Research Assistant (National Service), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacognosy, Kumasi, Ghana

Teaching Experience

2021 to date    Senior Lecturer, Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine, School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

2018 - 2021     Lecturer, Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine, School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

2011 – 2012    Teaching Assistant, Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

Administrative Experience

Aug 2022 to date        Exam Officer, Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine, School Pharmacy, University of Ghana

Jan 2021 to date          Project Coordinator, Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine, School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana

Aug 2020 to date        Financial Advisor, University of Ghana Pharmacy Students’ Association, School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana

Publications

0. 1. Book Chapters
1. *Mireku-Gyimah, N. A., Mireku-Gyimah, N. (2022). Tuberculosis: Cellular Understanding of the Disease. In R. Shegokar & Y. V. Pathak, Tubercular Drug Delivery Systems. Springer International Publishing (Verlag). Available in print in July, 2023.

2. *Mireku-Gyimah, N. A., Anane, R. F., Hamenu, L. (2021). Phytochemicals and Biogenic Metallic Nanoparticles as Anti-cancer Agents in Lung Cancer. Bioactivities and Health-Promoting Properties of Bioactive Peptides. In Y. V. Pathak & N. Islam, Handbook of Lung Targeted Drug Delivery Systems: Recent Trends and Clinical Evidences (pp. 459-469). CRC Press. DOI: 10.1201/9781003046547

3. *Mireku-Gyimah, N. A. (2021). Bioactivities and Health-Promoting Properties of Bioactive Peptides. In J. O. Onuh, M. Selvamuthukumaran & Y. V. Pathak (1st Edition), Bioactive Peptides: Production, Bioavailability, Health Potential, and Regulatory Issues (pp. 297-320). CRC Press. DOI: 10.1201/9781003052777-14 (https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003052777)

4. *Mireku-Gyimah, N. A., Jibira, Y. (2021). Sensory Perception of Bioactive Peptides and Debittering Techniques Employed for Taste Improvement. In J. O. Onuh, M. Selvamuthukumaran, Y. V. Pathak (1st Edition), Bioactive Peptides: Production, Bioavailability, Health Potential, and Regulatory Issues (pp. 281-296). CRC Press. DOI: 10.1201/9781003052777-13 (https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003052777)

5. Bekoe, E. O., Kitcher, C., Mireku-Gyimah, N. A., Schwinger, G., Frimpong, M. (2018). Medicinal Plants Used as Galactagogues. In S. Perveen & A. Al-Taweel, Pharmacognosy-Medicinal Plants. IntechOpen. (pp. 1-21) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82199

1. 2. Published Research Work in Peer-Reviewed Journals

1. Adjei, D. G. G., Mireku-Gyimah, N. A., Sarkodie, J. A., Nguessan, B. B., Kodua, E., Amedior, J. K., Lartey, I.A., Adi-Dako, O., Asiedu-Gyekye, I.J., Nyarko, A. K. (2022). Antidiabetic properties of an Ethanolic leaf extract of Launaea taraxacifolia (Willd.) Amin ex C. Jeffrey (Asteraceae) in SD rats. Clinical Phytoscience, 8(1), 1-15.

2. Sarkodie, J. A., Xiang, L., Kitcher, C., Zhang, D., Mireku-Gyimah N. A.*, Okyere P. A. Y., Debrah, P., Asante I. K. (2022). Preliminary studies on Artemisia annua L. (Asteraceae) grown in Ghana: morphology, microscopy and artemisinin yield. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research 13(7): 2683-88. doi: 10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.13(7). 2683-88.

3. Harley, B. K., Quagraine, A. M., Neglo, D., Aggrey, M. O., Orman, E., Mireku-Gyimah, N. A., Amengor, C. D., Jato, J., Saaka, Y., Fleischer, T. C. (2022). Metabolite profiling, antifungal, biofilm formation prevention and disruption of mature biofilm activities of Erythrina senegalensis stem bark extract against Candida albicans and Candida glabrata. PloS one, 17(11), e0278096.
4. Harley, B. K., Amponsah, I. K., Ben, I. O., Mireku-Gyimah, N. A., Anokwah, D., Neglo, Amengor, C.D.K., Fleischer, T. C. (2022). Hypoglycaemic activity of Oleanonic acid, a 3-oxotriterpenoid isolated from Aidia genipiflora (DC.) Dandy, involves inhibition of carbohydrate metabolic enzymes and promotion of glucose uptake. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 149, 112833.

5. Harley, B. K., Neglo, D., Aggrey, M. O., Quagraine, A. M., Orman, E., Jato, J., Mireku-Gyimah, N.A., Amengor, C.D.K. Fleischer, T. C. (2022). Antifungal Activities of Phytochemically Characterized Hydroethanolic Extracts of Sclerocarya birrea Leaves and Stem Bark against Fluconazole-Resistant Candida albicans Strains. BioMed Research International, 2022.

6. Mireku-Gyimah, N. A., Donkor, P.O., Kitcher, C., Sarkodie, J. A., Bekoe, E. O., Obed Boateng, O., Nyarko, A. K. (2021). Response to Covid-19 Disease in Ghana: A Review of the Herbs. Journal of Natural Remedies, 283-290.
7. Kitcher, C., Mireku-Gyimah, N. A., Bekoe, E. O., Sarkodie, J. A., Frimpong-Manso, S., Tattah, G., Maiga, M. Asafo-Agyei, T. (2021). Crude drug analysis and elemental content of the leaves and stem bark of Adansonia digitata L. (Malvaceae), an indigenous Ghanaian medicinal plant. Plant Science Today, 8(2), 264-272. https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.2021.8.2.1027

8. Kitcher, C., *Mireku-Gyimah, N. A., Sarkodie, J. A., Bekoe, E. O., Asafo-Agyei, T., Agyei, P. A., Frimpong-Manso, S., Asante, I. K. (2021). Pharmacognostic Standardisation of the Leaf and Stem bark of Millingtonia hortensis Linn. (Bignoniaceae). International Journal of Pharmaceutical Research & Allied Sciences, 10(1), 42-49. https://doi.org/10.51847/SbSsumz

9. Bekoe, E. O., Mireku-Gyimah, N. A., Boamah V. E., Martinson, S. (2021). Phytochemical Analysis and Mycobactericidal Studies of the Leaves of C. mucronatum Schumach. & Thonn. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, 12(3): 1446-1452. DOI: 10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.12(3).1446-52
10. Harley, B. K., Neglo, D., Tawiah, P., Pipim, M. A., Mireku-Gyimah, N. A., Tettey, C. O., Amengor, C.D., Fleischer, T.C., Waikhom, S. D. (2021). Bioactive triterpenoids from Solanum torvum fruits with antifungal, resistance modulatory and anti-biofilm formation activities against fluconazole-resistant candida albicans strains. PloS one, 16(12), e0260956.

11. Harley, B. K., Amponsah, I. K., Ben, I. O., Adongo, D. W., Mireku-Gyimah, N. A., Baah, M. K., Mensah, A. Y., Fleischer, T. C. (2021). Myrianthus libericus: Possible mechanisms of hypoglycaemic action and in silico prediction of pharmacokinetics and toxicity profile of its bioactive metabolite, friedelan-3-one. Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy, 137, 111379. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111379
12. Quartey, A. K., Ayensu, I., Orman, E., Mireku-Gyimah, N. A., Jibira, Y., Goku, P, E. (2021). In-vivo anti-inflammatory activity of different parts of Adansonia Digitata. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 15(6), 252-259.

13. Quartey, A. K., Orman, E., Mireku-Gyimah, N. A., Goku, P. E., Alidu, F., Boateng, L. O. (2020). Evaluating the antibacterial, antioxidant and wound healing properties of the stem bark extract of Khaya grandifoliola (Welw) CDC (Meliaceae) (African mahogany). Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 14(11), 604-612. DOI: 10.5897/JMPR2020.7023

14. Mireku-Gyimah, N. A., Sarpong, K., Amponsah, I. K., Mensah, A. Y., Dickson, R. A. (2018). Comparative Pharmacognostic Studies of Two Ghanaian Medicinal Plants: Saba senegalensis and Saba thompsonii. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, 9(4), 1451-1461. DOI: 10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.9(4).1451-61
15. Nyansa, M. M. S., Fiawoyife, P. D., Mireku-Gyimah, N. A., Addotey, J. N. A. (2017). Stability-Indicating HPLC Method for the Simultaneous Determination of Paracetamol and Tramadol Hydrochloride in Fixed-Dose Combination Tablets. J. Biomed. Sci. Eng, 5, 41-47.

Conferences and Presentations

Oral Presentation

1. Speaker, “Response to Covid-19 Disease in Ghana: A review of the Herbs” presented at 1^st Oko Ampofo Memorial Conference, Accra, Ghana, 1st November, 2022.
2. Co-speaker, “Traditional Medicine with Regards to Ghana’s History” presented at SIT (Study Abroad International Training) Summer 2021 Programme, Accra, Ghana, 26th June, 2021.
3. Speaker, “From Traditional Use to Scientific Evidence: An Overview of Cancer Studies in Ghana” presented at the International Online Training Session for Researchers organised by Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TUTCM) in collaboration with University of Ghana (UG), Accra, Ghana/ Tianjin, China, 26th to 27th May, 2021.
4. Speaker, “COVID-19 Home Remedies: The Do’s and Don’ts” presented at the Cedar Mountain Chapel International, Assemblies of God, Health Week 2021, Accra, Ghana, 25th February, 2021.
5. Speaker, “Antimicrobial Resistance and Rational Use of Antibiotics”, interviewed on World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, by Starr FM station (103.5), Accra, Ghana, 18th to 24th November, 2020.
6. Speaker, “We can be pure” presented at SetApart Girl Worldwide: Teen Talk on Sexual Purity-I can do all things through Him who gives me strength”, Accra, Ghana. 24th October, 2020.
7. Speaker and Mentor: Neurocamp 2019 Accra Edition, hosted by GH Science, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana, 30th March, 2019.
8. Speaker, “Antimicrobial Stewardship” presented at the Antibiotic Awareness Week 2018, Accra, Ghana, 12th to 16th November, 2018.
9. Delegate of University of Ghana for the programme “Bringing Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to Ghana-Program on Healthcare Generalization”, organised by Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TUTCM) and University of Ghana (UG) at Tianjin, China, 4th to 13th June, 2018.

10. Speaker, “Comparative Pharmacognostic Studies of Two Species of Saba” presented at the University of Ghana School of Pharmacy Faculty Seminar, Accra, Ghana, 8th March, 2018.

11. Speaker, “Stimulatory and depressant-like effects of the crude alkaloids of Picralima nitida”. Young Researchers’ Workshop (YRW), 63rd International Congress and Annual Meeting of the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research (GA), Budapest, Hungary, 23rd to 27th August, 2015.

Poster presentation

1. Poster Presenter, “Two Steroidal Alkaloids from Saba senegalensis (A.DC.) Pichon (Apocynaceae)” presented at the 65th Annual Conference of the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research (GA), Basel, Switzerland, 3rd to 7th September, 2017.
2. Poster Presenter, “Comparative antimicrobial and antioxidant studies of two closely related species of Saba” presented at the 9th Joint Natural Product Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark, 24th to 27th July, 2016.
3. Poster Presenter, “Stimulatory and depressant-like effects of the crude alkaloids of Picralima nitida”. 63rd International Congress and Annual Meeting of the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research (GA), Budapest, Hungary, 23rd to 27th August, 2015.

Committee Membership

1. 1. Representative of the Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine, College Academic Board, University of Ghana, August, 2022 to date
   2. Representative of the Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine, University Academic Board, University of Ghana, August, 2018 to 2022
   3. Member, College of Health Sciences Website Committee, University of Ghana, Dec, 2022 to date
   4. Member, University of Ghana School of Pharmacy White Coat Ceremony Committee, May, 2022 to date
   5. Chairperson, University of Ghana School of Pharmacy Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Implementation Committee, September, 2021 to date
   6. Member, University of Ghana Required Courses (UGRC) Committee for the development of UGRC for School of Pharmacy: Etiquettes for Health Professionals, February, 2020          
   7. Member, University of Ghana School of Pharmacy Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Implementation Committee, May, 2019 to August, 2021
   8. Member/ School of Pharmacy Representative, College of Health Sciences @ 20 Anniversary Celebration Planning Committee, April, 2019 to July, 2019
   9. Member, University of Ghana School of Pharmacy Research Proposal Review Committee, August, 2018 to date       
   10. Chairperson, Sponsorship Committee for Herbal Medical Practitioners Training Workshop, Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine, University of Ghana School of Pharmacy, March, 2018 to June, 2019
   11. Member, Postgraduate and Special Programs (PharmD Top Up) Curriculum Development for the Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine, University of Ghana School of Pharmacy, January, 2018 to date
   12. Member, Laboratory Manual Development for the Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine, University of Ghana School of Pharmacy, January, 2018 to date
   13. Member, Academic, Social and Research Pharmacists’ Association (ASRPA) Continuous Professional Development Committee, April, 2021           
   14. Executive Member, Cedar Medical Outreach Team, Cedar Mountain Chapel International, Assemblies of God, Accra, Ghana, July, 2018 to

Others

1. Academic Tutor, University of Ghana School of Pharmacy, 2019/2020 Academic year to date
2. Invigilator, Undergraduate Examinations, University of Ghana School of Pharmacy, November 2018 to date

Professional Membership

1. Member, West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP)
2. Member, University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG)           
3. Member, Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research (GA)
4. Member / PhD Fellow, Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD)         
5. Member, Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH)