Dr. Awo Afi Kwapong

Academic Qualifications

• PhD Medicinal Phytochemistry and Microbiology (University College London (UCL), U.K.)
• MPharm Pharmaceutics (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology)
• BPharm Pharmacy (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology)

Area of Specialization

• Pharmaceutical formulation
• Structure activity studies of plant products with antibacterial properties (Plant product chemistry)

Research Interests

• Pharmaceutical formulation
• Structure activity studies of plant products with antibacterial properties

Projects

1. Investigation of the effect of selected plants on plasmid transfer in Escherichia coli 

In this study, selected Ghanaian plants are investigated for bacterial plasmid conjugation inhibition activity: an approach to combat the transfer of multi-drug resistance genes among bacteria, and a means to re-establish the antibiotic-susceptible microbial population and reinstate the efficacy of existing antibiotics.  

2. Formulation of herbal cough mixtures and evaluation of its inhibitory activity against bacteria implicated in upper respiratory tract infection

Recent Publications

Peer-Reviewed Journals

• Asiedu-Gyekye, I. J., Borovskaya, T. G., Poluektova, M. E., Vychuzhanina, A. V., Shchemerova, Y. A., Kamalova, S. I., Grgoreva, V. A., Amoateng, P., Kukuia, K. E., Kwapong, A. A., Allotey-Babington, L., Amponsah, S. K., N'guessan, B. B. (2021). Reproductive toxicity of Theobroma cacao: Increase insurvival index, non-genotoxic, and proimplantation potential. Journal of Toxicology, 2021 Jan 12; 2021:6114672. https://doi:10.1155/2021/6114672. PMID: 33519930; PMCID: PMC7817302
• Kwapong, A. A., Soares, S., Teo, S. P., Stapleton, P., Gibbons, S. (2020). Myristica lowiana phytochemicals as inhibitor of plasmid conjugation in Escherichia coli. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/1604638
• Kwapong, A. A., Stapleton, P., Gibbons, S. (2019). Inhibiting plasmid mobility: The effect of isothiocyanates on bacterial conjugation. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 53(5), 629-639.
• Kwapong, A. A., Stapleton, P., Gibbons, S. (2018). A new dimeric imidazole alkaloid plasmid conjugation inhibitor from Lepidium sativum. Tetrahedron Letters, 59(20), 1952-1954.
• Maree, J. E., Khondkar, P., Kwapong, A. A., Oyedemi, B. M., Aljarba, T. M., Stapleton, P., Viljoen, A. M., Gibbons, S. (2014). Bioactive acetophenones from Plectranthus venteri. Phytochemistry Letters, 10, cxli-cxliv.
• Ofori-Kwakye, K., Kwapong, A. A., and Bayor, M. T. (2011). Wound healing potential of methanol extract of Spathodea campanulata stem bark formulated into a topical preparation. African Journal Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines. Vol. 8, No. 3, Page 218 -223. www.africanethnomedicines.net
• Ofori-Kwakye, K., Kwapong, A. A., and Adu, F. (2009). Antimicrobial Activity of Extracts and Topical Products of the Stem Bark of Spathodea campanulata for wound healing. African Journal Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines. Vol. 6, No. 2, Page 168 -174. www.africanethnomedicines.net

Book Chapters

• Debrah, P., Kwapong, A. A., Fredua-Agyeman, M. (2020). Treatment of biofilms in infected wounds. In: Therapeutic dressings and wound healing applications. West Sussex, U.K: John Wiley & Sons Ltd, pp 115-136.
• Allotey-Babington, L., Kwapong, A. A., Banga, K. B. N., Amponsah, S. K., Asiedu-Gyekye, I. J. (2019). Unsweetened natural cocoa powder: A potent nutraceutical in perspective. In: Theobroma cacao - Deploying science for sustainability of global cocoa economy. London, U.K: IntechOpen Limited, http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88145