Bioactive Secondary Metabolites from Medicinal Plants of Africa

This book provides a comprehensive overview of bioactive compounds derived from African traditional medicinal plants, shedding light on their potential applications in modern medicine. It compiles crucial information on compounds with proven in vitro and in vivo activity against various diseases, providing a foundation for further research in drug discovery. The book also introduces the use of these bioactive secondary metabolites in cosmetics, nutrition, and pest control, with detailed description of medicinal plant species, including their botanical names, ethnomedicinal uses, and pharmacological activities, making it an invaluable resource for researchers and pharmaceutical companies.
Key concepts include the exploration of secondary metabolites from plants in Ethiopia, Egypt, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Tanzania, Madagascar, and Nigeria, and Ghana, and their industrial applications. The chapters cover ethnobotanical knowledge, bioactivities, and chemical profiling of these plants, including the ethnobotanical and phytochemical studies of Ethiopian flora, the role of rose-scented geranium in the perfume industry, and the use of fruits and vegetables in treating respiratory ailments. Readers will also discover insights into the use of secondary metabolites for pest control, the conservation strategies for endangered African plants, and the synthesis of bio-nanoparticles for therapeutic applications. The book presents a detailed analysis of medicinal plants with anti-malarial, antileishmanial, improve sexual desire and antimicrobial properties, highlighting their significance in traditional and modern medicine.
This volume is an essential resource for researchers, graduate students, and professionals in the fields of natural products, phytochemistry, and pharmaceuticals. It provides a unique perspective on the integration of traditional African medicine with contemporary scientific research, offering valuable insights into the potential of these bioactive compounds in drug development.

Prof. Aman Dekebo holds a PhD in Bioorganic Chemistry from Ehime University, Japan (2007), and a PhD in Natural Products Chemistry from Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia (2002). His research areas include Natural Products Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Organic Synthesis, and Chemical Ecology. He is a member of various professional organizations, including the Chemical Society of Ethiopia, the Japanese Society of Applied Entomology and Zoology, the Korea Society of Applied Entomology, the Korean Apiculture Society, the Japan Alumni Association, and the Global Association of Traditional Medicine.
Prof. Aman has extensive teaching experience in Organic Chemistry, Natural Product Chemistry, Synthesis, and other courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He began his academic career in 1990 as a graduate assistant at Gondar College of Medical Sciences, Addis Ababa University. He worked as a Research Fellow at Ehime University, Japan, based in Kochi University. He then served as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Ambo University (2008–2012). In February 2012, he joined Adama Science and Technology University as an Assistant Professor and was subsequently promoted to Associate Professor and Professor. During his sabbatical leave (February 2017–February 2019), and short visits (2021-2024) he worked as a researcher at Andong National University, South Korea.
Prof. Aman has supervised several MSc and PhD students as a major supervisor in the Departments of Applied Chemistry and Applied Biology at Adama Science and Technology University. He has held several administrative roles, including Head of the Chemistry Department (2012–2014), Associate Dean for Consultancy Services in the Research Park (2015–2016), and Associate Dean of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Center (2019–2021). Since 2019, he has served as the Associate Editor of the Ethiopian Journal of Science and Sustainable Development. Prof. Aman is also a peer reviewer for numerous reputable international journals and a board member of the Natural Products Research Network for Eastern and Central Africa (NAPRECA). He has edited two books, Plant Extracts (2019) and Capsicum (2020), published by IntechOpen, UK. He also co-authored the book Phytochemistry of Turmeric Rhizomes (Curcuma longa): Isolation and Characterization of Compounds from Roots of Turmeric Rhizomes (Curcuma longa), published by Lambert Academic Publishing (2012). Prof. Aman has published over 95 peer-reviewed journal articles. He was awarded best researcher awards in Adama Science and Technology Universities and during international conferences. He has served as the principal investigator (PI) in several research projects funded by Adama Science and Technology University, the Korea Engineering Research Center, and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS).