Home
Home

Paul Owusu Donkor, PhD

Paul Owusu Donkor, PhD
Senior Lecturer / Head of Department
powusudonkor@ug.edu.gh

Address:            P. O. Box LG 610, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra

Tel:                    +233 244 244 080        

Email:               powusudonkor@ug.edu.gh ; paul.donkor@outlook.com

ORCID:           https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8448-3833

Scopus ID: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=56288981000

PubMed:          https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Paul%20owusu%20donkor&sort=date&ac=yes

Research Gate:  https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Paul-Owusu-Donkor

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=aOUh-2AAAAAJ&hl=en

 

Current Research

My research foci are phytochemistry, anti-inflammatory constituents of plants and roles of plant antioxidants in cancer, anti-microbial, and other inflammatory conditions. Currently, my lab is working on these research areas:

 

  1. Wound healing potential of Monodora myristica

This project seeks to investigate the bioactive constituents which confer wound healing properties to the traditional plant Monodora myristica. Firstly, the work will focus on validating the use of the plant as an antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. The petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of the leaf, stem bark and fruit of the plant will be assessed for their in vitro antibacterial effect using both the agar well diffusion and microbroth dilution assays. Rapid screening of antioxidant effect on TLC plates, free radical scavenging activity using DPPH, lipid peroxidation assay, total phenol content and antioxidant capacity assays will be employed to assess the antioxidant effects of the various plant parts. Anti-inflammatory activity will be determined using the carrageenan-induced oedema model in chicks. Based on the observed activities, the active fractions will be selected for further screening.

 

  1. Antiproliferative and cytotoxic constituents of Tetrapleura tetraptera

This study involves bioassay-guided isolation and characterization of the cytotoxic and antiproliferative constituents of the bark and ripe pod of Tetrapleura tetraptera using modern analytical separation (p-HPLC) and spectroscopic (e.g. UV/VIS, IR) techniques.

Education

2013 – 2016    PhD (Pharmacognosy), Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China

2008 – 2011    MPhil (Pharmacognosy), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

2001 – 2005    BPharm (Pharmacy), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

 

Research Experience

2011 - 2012     Research Scientist, Research and Development, LaGray Chemical Company, Nsawam, Ghana

2008 - 2010     Demonstrator, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

 

Teaching Experience

2020 to date    Senior Lecturer, Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine, School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

2018 - 2020     Lecturer, Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine, School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

2017 – 2018    Lecturer, Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine, School of Pharmacy, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana

2013 – 2013    Assistant Lecturer, Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine, School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

2007 – 2008    Teaching Assistant, Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

 

Administrative Experience

Aug 2022        Head, Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine, School Pharmacy, University of Ghana

Dec 2021         Chairman, School of Pharmacy Welfare, University of Ghana

Jan 2021          Board Member, Ghana National Electronic Pharmacy Platform

Aug 2020        Board Member, Ghana Cooperative Pharmacists Credit Union Limited, Ghana

Jan 2019          Seminar Coordinator, School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana

Apr 2018         Editor, Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, Ghana

Sep 2018         Laboratory Coordinator, Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine, School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana

 

Publications

  1. Boateng SL, Donkor PO (2022). Thirty-Four Years of Online Pharmaceutical Marketing Research: A Bibliometric Analysis. In: Boateng R., Boateng S.L., Anning-Dorson T., Olumide Babatope L. (eds) Digital Innovations, Business and Society in Africa. Advances in Theory and Practice of Emerging Markets. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-77987-0_8
  2. Mireku-Gyimah NA, Donkor PO, Kitcher C, Sarkodie JA, Oppong Bekoe E, Boateng OK (2021). Response to Covid-19 Disease in Ghana: A Review of the Herbs. Journal of Natural Remedies, 21 (4)
  3. Zhao Q, Zhu WT, Ding X, Huo ZQ, Donkor PO, Adelakun TA, Hao XJ, Zhang Y (2021), Voacafrines A-N, aspidosperma-type monoterpenoid indole alkaloids from Voacanga africana with AChE inhibitory activity. Phytochemistry 181, 112566,

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2020.112566

  1. Oppong Bekoe E, Kitcher C, Debrah P, Amoateng P, Donkor PO, Martinson S (2020). A study on Phyllanthus amarus; Pharmacognostic, Mycobactericidal and Mutagenic properties. Pharmacognosy Journal, 12(6): 1732-1739

http://dx.doi.org/10.5530/pj.2020.12.235

  1. Cao S, Huang Y, Zhang Q, Lu F, Donkor PO, Zhu Y, Qiu F, Kang N (2019). Molecular mechanisms of apoptosis and autophagy elicited by combined treatment with oridonin and cetuximab in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Apoptosis 24(1-2) pages 33-45

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10495-018-1497-0

  1. Yan J, Shi X, Donkor PO, Ding L, Qiu F (2018). Four new megastigmane glycosides from the leaves of Eucommia ulmoides Oliver. Phytochemistry Letters 27 208-213

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytol.2018.07.031

  1. Yan J, Shi X, Donkor PO, Gao X, Ding L, Qiu F (2018). Two pairs of phenolic enantiomers from the leaves of Eucommia ulmoides Oliver. Natural Product Research 1-7

https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2018.1462181

  1. Shi X, Yan J, Li W, Donkor PO, Gao X, Ding L, Qiu F (2018). Two pairs of phenylpropanoid enantiomers from the leaves of Eucommia ulmoides. Journal of Asian Natural Products Research 20(11) 1045-1054

https://doi.org/10.1080/10286020.2018.1483347

  1. Liu H, Wang K, Xia G, Wang K, Chai L, Donkor PO, Ding L, Qiu F (2018), Two sulfonate metabolites of physalin A in rats. Xenobiotica 48(1) 11-17

https://doi.org/10.1080/00498254.2016.1271961

  1. Chai L*, Donkor PO*, Wang K, Sun Y, Oppong M, Wang K, Ding L, Qiu F (2017). Metabolic profiles of corydaline in rats by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Xenobiotica 1-10

https://doi.org/10.1080/00498254.2017.1416207

  1. Yan J, Shi X, Donkor PO, Zhu H, Gao X, Ding L, Qiu F (2017). Nine pairs of megastigmane enantiomers from the leaves of Eucommia ulmoides Oliver. Journal of Natural Medicines 71(4) 780-790

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11418-017-1102-9

  1. Yan J, Ding L, Shi X, Donkor PO, Chen L, Qiu F (2017). Megastigmane glycosides from leaves of Eucommia ulmoides Oliver with ACE inhibitory activity. Fitoterapia 116

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2016.12.001

  1. Xia G, Sun D, Ma J, Liu Y, Zhao F, Donkor PO, Ding L, Chen L, Qiu F (2017). (+)/(-)-Phaeocaulin A-D, four pairs of new enantiomeric germacrane-type sesquiterpenes from Curcuma phaeocaulis as natural nitric oxide inhibitors. Scientific Reports 7

https://doi.org/10.1038/srep43576

  1. Donkor PO, Chen Y, Ding L, Qiu F (2016). Locally and traditionally used Ligusticum species – A review of their phytochemistry, pharmacology and pharmacokinetics. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 194

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2016.10.012

  1. Cao S, Xia M, Mao Y, Zhang Q, Donkor PO, Qiu F, Kang N (2016), Combined oridonin with cetuximab treatment shows synergistic anticancer effects on laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma: Involvement of inhibition of EGFR and activation of reactive oxygen species-mediated JNK pathway. International Journal of Oncology 49(5) pages 2075 – 2087

https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2016.3696

  1. Bo F, Dou T, Wang X, Donkor PO, Ouyang H, Chang Y, Tu Y, Gao X, He J (2015). A validated LC-MS/MS method for determination of periplogenin in rat plasma and its application in pharmacokinetic study. Journal of Chromatography B: Analytical Technologies in the Biomedical and Life Sciences 990 pages 80 – 83

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jchromb.2015.03.017

  1. Donnapee S, Li J, Yang X, Ge A, Donkor PO, Gao X, Chang Y (2014). Cuscuta chinensis Lam.: A systematic review on ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and pharmacology of an important traditional herbal medicine. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 157

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2014.09.032

  1. Liu Y, Ma J, Wang Y, Donkor PO, Li Q, Gao S, Hou Y, Xu Y, Cui J, Ding L, Zhao F, Kang N, Chen L, Qiu F (2014). Eudesmane-Type Sesquiterpenes from Curcuma phaeocaulis and Their Inhibitory Activities on Nitric Oxide Production in RAW 264.7 Cells. European Journal of Organic Chemistry 2014(25)

https://doi.org/10.1002/ejoc.201402465

  1. Mensah AY, Donkor PO, Fleischer TC (2011). Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of the leaves of Wissadula amplissima var rostrate. African Journal of Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicines 8(2) 185-195

https://doi.org/10.4314/ajtcam.v8i2.63207

 

  1. Magazine articles
  1. Hinson RE, Donkor PO, Madichie N (2020). COVID-19 and universities’ commercial appetites. University World News (Africa Edition). Published on 18th June, 2020 https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20200614200443526

 

Conferences and Presentations

Oral Presentation

  1. Donkor PO

Debater, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) Annual Research Meeting, 2022.*

  1. Donkor PO

Isolation, characterization and metabolomic studies of tetrahydropalmatine and corydaline

January 2022 – Diaspora Expert Visit 2022 on Mass Spectrometry Training

  1. Donkor PO, Kitcher C, Debrah P, Amoateng P, Adu F, Martinson S, Bekoe EO
    Pharmacognostic, mycobactericidal and mutagenic studies of Combretum mucronatum, Phyllanthus muellerianus and Clerodendrum splendens

September 2019 - West Africa Network of Natural Product Research Scientists (WANNPRES) Conference: British Council, Ghana.*

  1. Peprah-Boaitey K, Blankson SE, Mfodwo A, Opoku MM, Donkor PO

Gaps in Pharmaceutical Service Provision in the Upper West Region of Ghana August 2019 - Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana Annual Conference: Accra, Ghana.

  1. Donkor PO, Mensah AY, Fleischer TC
    Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities of Wissadula amplissima var Rostrata

July 2010 - West Africa Network of Natural Product Research Scientists (WANNPRES): Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

  1. Moderator, Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana COVID-19 Webinar Series. Topic: Overview of Coronavirus Diseases and Pathophysiology of COVID-19. May 8, 2020. Sponsored by AstraZeneca.
  2. Moderator, Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana COVID-19 Webinar Series. Topic: Overview of Coronavirus Diseases and Pathophysiology of COVID-19. May 11, 2020. Sponsored by AstraZeneca.
  3. Moderator, Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana COVID-19 Webinar Series. Topic: Community Pharmacy Practice in the evolving COVID Conversation. June 25, 2020. Sponsored by IQVIA.  
  4. Moderator, Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana Annual General Meeting Online. Topic: Pharmacy Practice Today: Reaching More People in More Places through Community Pharmacy Practice. September 22 – September 25, 2020.
  5. Moderator, West Africa International Health Summit. Topic: Collaborating Through Networking and Technology for Improved Healthcare in Africa. February 20 – 22, 2019. Accra International Conference Center.
  6. Invited Speaker, Radio Discussion on Drug Discovery and Development hosted on Starr FM. July 16, 2020. Starr FM studio, Accra.
  7. Invited Speaker Radio Discussion on Emerging treatment options for COVID-19 hosted on UTV. April 23, 2020.  UTV Studio, Accra.
  8. Participant, International Conference on Quality Control of Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM). 12th – 14th August, 2016 at Tianjin International Joint Academy of Biotechnology and Medicine, Tianjin, China
  9. Participant, International Conference on Harmonization of Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM). 15th – 17th September 2015 at Tianjin International Joint Academy of Biotechnology and Medicine, Tianjin, China.
  10. Participant, International Conference on Quality Control of Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM). 20th – 22nd August, 2014 at Tianjin State Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine of Tianjin University of TCM, Tianjin, China

 

*best oral presenter award

 

Poster presentation

  1. Donkor PO, Kitcher C, Debrah P, Amoateng P, Adu F, Martinson S, Bekoe EO
    Pharmacognostic, mycobactericidal and mutagenic studies of Combretum mucronatum, Phyllanthus muellerianus and Clerodendrum splendens

September 2019 - West Africa Network of Natural Product Research Scientists (WANNPRES) Conference: British Council, Ghana.*

  1. Peprah-Boaitey K, Blankson SE, Agyei-Wiredu L, Opoku MM, Donkor PO

Gaps in Pharmaceutical Service Delivery in the Upper West Region of Ghana

August 2020 – Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana Annual General Meeting: University for Professional Studies, Accra Conference Room.

  1. Donkor PO and Mensah AY. Sexual enhancers on the Ghanaian market.

September 2009 – Commonwealth Pharmacists Association Annual General Meeting: National Theatre, Accra, Ghana.

 

*best poster award

 

Committee Membership

  1. College of Health Sciences Representative, University of Ghana Technology and Innovation Drive Team, November 2021 – to date.
  2. School Representative, College of Health Sciences Committee to harmonize University of Ghana Required Courses (UGRC), November 2021 – to date.
  3. E-Learning Ambassador, University of Ghana, School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacognosy, October 2020 – to date.
  4. Member, University of Ghana, School of Pharmacy, Sanitizer Production Committee, May 2020 – to date.
  5. Member, University of Ghana, College of Health Sciences, Sub-committee to recommend a remuneration package for College of Health Sciences (CHS) staff expected to render service at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), October 2019 – to December 2019.
  6. Patron (August 2020 – to date), University of Ghana Pharmacy Students Association (UGPSA). I provide advice and guidance for the governance of the student association.
  7. Member, University of Ghana, School of Pharmacy, Committee to determine the criteria for assessing students project work, July – September 2019.
  8. Member, Academic Board, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, September 2018 to date.
  9. Member, Faculty Board, University of Ghana School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana, Legon. January 2013 - August 2013.
  10. Member, Academic Board, University of Ghana, Legon, January 2013 - August 2013.
  11. Academic tutor, University of Ghana School of Pharmacy, August 2018 – to date.
  12. Chairman, University of Health and Allied Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Curriculum Review Committee, August 2017 – July 2018.
  13. Vice Chairman, Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana National Planning Committee, Annual General Meetings, January 2018 – to date.
  14. Invigilator, Undergraduate examination, School of Pharmacy, Second Semester, 2012/2013, 2018/2019, 2019/2020 Academic Years.
  15. Tutor, School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana, August 2018 to date.
  16. Mentor, National Science and Maths Quiz, 2017 to date.

 

Professional Membership

  1. Member, Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH)
  2. Member, West African Network of Natural Product Research Scientists (WANNPRES)
  3. Member, University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG)