MASTER OF SCIENCE MEDICAL PLANT SCIENCES (MMPS)
| Module Code | Module Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| MMPS501 | Biostatistics and Experimental Design | What is research: Why do research, The scientific method, Ethics in science. The research process: Problem definition and selection, Problem analysis, Study plan. The research proposal: Guidelines for writing a proposal, Planning the research, Site selection, Sampling units, Replication. Data collection: Primary and secondary data, Sources of data. Statistical and data management software: Overview of software, Choice of appropriate package, Data entry and data management. Sampling: Random number tables, Simple random sampling, Stratified random sampling, Systematic sampling, Quadrat sampling. Surveys: Planning a survey, Types of surveys, Phases of a survey, How to sample, Questionnaire design, Implementing a survey, Data management, Tabulation and further data analysis, Reporting. Modelling: Multiple linear regression, Model checking and dealing with deviations from model assumptions, General linear models, Model checking and dealing with deviations from model assumptions, comparison of means, Introduction to REML, Introduction to generalised linear models. Simple time series models: Time series plots, Components of a time series, Smoothing. Analysis of distribution of free data (non-parametrics): Ranked data, Scores, Alternative methods of data analysis. Multivariate methods: Cluster methods, Principle component analysis, Discriminant analysis, Factor analysis. Presentation of research: Logging of data entry, Validation and analysis, Data presentation, Graphs and diagrams, Report writing. |
| MMPS502 | Plant Biology and Environmental Botany | This course explores the biochemical and biophysical life of plants ‒ from molecule to whole plant. The course is designed to consolidate student understanding of plants as living organisms formed from microscopic cells and sub-microscopic molecules which interact in a complex environment to perform highly complex functions and processes. These metabolic processes ultimately give rise to the biomass that sustains the plant and other life forms on earth. Topics to be covered include plant cell structure, plant cell membrane structure and function, mitosis and meiosis in plant cells, plant DNA and gene expression, plant tissues and organs (root system and nutrient uptake, leaves, stems and transport systems, flowers and reproduction, fruits, seeds and embryonic development), control of plant growth, photosynthesis and respiration. Plant evolve in the environment; the environment has been changing over the years and plants have adapted to these changes. Botanists need to explore the links between plants and the environment and use the information for practical purposes. The course focuses on plant adaptation strategies to competition, herbivory, toxicity, nutritional deficiencies, habitat destruction for example by fire, species invasions, climate change and how these factors have influenced the abundance and distribution of plant populations. |
| MMPS504 | Introduction to Herbal Science and Commercial Aspects of Herbal Science |
The course introduces students to traditional uses of herbal medicine, a practice that has evolved over the years. The course covers the mode of action of herbal medicine compared to conventional pharmaceuticals. It also stresses on the role of botanists in the discovery of natural medicine. Topics to be covered include the classification of herbs and how to prepare herbal products, the use of herbs for therapeutic purposes, anatomy and physiology for herbalists, disease symptom evaluation and treatment practice, women health and wellness, male health and wellness, children health and wellness, first aid using herbal remedies, herbal product for personal care, herbs in food and nutrition, herbal remedies for animals, herbal gardening, establishing herbalist business and finding clients. This course trains students to venture in herbal products business. Students require knowledge about products and herbs being sold, their traditional and modern use, an understanding of laws and regulations governing the handling, use and selling of herbal supplements and cosmetics. The course focuses on post-harvest technology of medicinal crops (pre- and post-harvest factors promoting deterioration such as maturity indices, storage systems, packaging principles and methods of processing of medicinal plants), herbal formulation (drug constituents, extraction technology and factors affecting the process), dosage form design (pharmaceutical ingredients, drug formulation that enhances stability, protect from microbial contamination, improve aesthetics and taste), quality assurance and marketing of herbal products (quality control mechanisms – WHO guidelines on standardisation and quality, Good Laboratory Practice, ISO application, detection of heavy metals, pesticide residues and microbial contamination, export potential of herbs), intellectual property rights (patenting, plant variety protection bill, trade secrets, data base, trademark). |
| MMPS503 | Ethnobotany | Ethnobotany is a sub discipline of ethnobiology, which refers to the study of dynamic relationships amongst people, biota and environment. The course specifically explores the interaction between people and plants. The introduction to the course introduces students to the principles and methods used in the field of ethnobotany. The students generally appreciate the economic importance of plants and specifically on how plants affect health and nutritional attributes of humankind. Plants also interact with other living organisms in order to support biodiversity. The course also focuses on how people destroy plants and their habitats and emphasizes on the importance of replacement and plant conservation to ensure survival of future generations. Economically important plants such as staple crops and how plants serve as sources of natural products are some areas to be covered. Differences on the value placed on plants by different ethnical groups around the world, how climate change and other environmental factors affect plants particularly food crops are aspects to be included in the course. |
| MMPS508 | Microbiology and Immunology | Microbiology and Immunology is the study of how the body’s immune system protects itself from infectious diseases, microbial genetics and genetic engineering. The course looks at perspectives in immunology and emphasizes on the importance of microorganisms as both living systems and disease causing agents. Topics to be covered include discussion on the diversity of microbes and culturing techniques, selected bacterial, fungal and viral infections, mechanisms of pathogenesis, microbial interactions, immunochemistry, immunogenetics, cellular immunity, tumor and transplantation immunology, immunopathology and the human body maintenance system. |
| MMPS505 | harmacognosy and Phytochemistry | Pharmacognosy refers to the study of natural products and their application in the improvement of health. This course covers the physical, chemical, biochemical and biological properties of drugs specifically of natural origin from plant sources. The course focusses on the systemic description, classification, collection, storage and therapeutic uses of plant crude extracts. It covers the general methods of phytochemical screening and agrotechnology of medicinal plants, for instance, ecotypic, phenotypic and genotypic variability that affect phytochemistry of plants. Biosynthetic techniques, metabolic pathways, precursor product sequence, competitive feeding and sequential analysis are also covered. Recent advance in pharmacognosy are discussed, for example, development of anticancer drugs from plant sources. |
| MMPS506 | Pharmacology and Toxicology | The course covers components of the effect of drugs in the body and also how the body responds to the presence of the drug in the system. The course contents involve drug development, administration’ processing and fate in the body. These can be categorised into pharmacokinetics (absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs), pharmacodynamics (mode of action and therapeutic effect in the body), pharmacometrics (dosage requirements), toxicology and side effects (poisonous effects if any, management). Mechanisms of toxicity in organ systems, types of adverse effects, risk assessment and toxicity testing are also considered. The course also looks at the general principles of pharmacology i.e. central nervous system, autonomic nervous system, cardiovascular, renal, cancer, microbial and endocrine pharmacology. |
| MMPS507 | Biodiversity Conservation and Cultivation of Medicinal Plants |
The course provides an introduction to terrestrial biodiversity and conservation biology and methods of conserving the environment and biological diversity. In this course, students get an understanding of the adverse effects of habitat destructions, fragmentation and overexploitation of plant biodiversity through continuous harvesting of medicinal plants. Topics include introduction to biodiversity: species, genetic and ecosystem diversity. Biodiversity magnitude and distribution: diversity gradients and related hypotheses, biodiversity and ecosystem function, methods for biodiversity monitoring. Biodiversity and ecosystem services: provisioning, regulating, cultural and supporting. Threats to biodiversity: Natural and anthropogenic, species extinctions, IUCN threat categories, Red data book, Invasions: causes and impact. Biodiversity conservation, principles and strategies; in-stu a and ex-situ conservation, Protected Area Network. Biodiversity Hot spots: concepts, distribution and importance. Use of biodiversity: Source of food, medicine, raw material, aesthetic and cultural. Biodiversity prospecting. Cultivation of medicinal plants is important to avoid continuous harvesting of medicinal plants from the wild and to maintain populations to support commercial drug development. The course involves propagation techniques which include sexual propagation (seed viability and seed dormancy aspects), vegetative propagation (cuttings, budding, grafting, layering), biotechnological methods (micropropagation, somatic embryogenesis and somaclonal variation). Other topics to be covered include polyhouse technology, biotransformations (to enhance product formation by elicitation), types of medicinal plants which can be cultivated for wasteland management, in wetlands and public gardens, pest control. |
| MMPS570 | Research Project/Dissertation | This course will cover the scientific method, Ethics in science. The research process: Problem definition and selection, Problem analysis, Study plan. The research proposal: Guidelines for writing a proposal, Planning the research, Site selection, Sampling units, Replication. Data collection: Primary and secondary data, Sources of data. Statistical and data management software: Overview of software, Choice of appropriate package, Data entry and data management. Sampling: Random number tables, Simple random sampling, Stratified random sampling, Systematic sampling, Quadrat sampling. Surveys: Planning a survey, Types of surveys, Phases of a survey, How to sample, Questionnaire design, Implementing a survey, Data management, Tabulation and further data analysis, Reporting. Modelling: Multiple linear regression, Model checking and dealing with deviations from model assumptions, General linear models, Model checking and dealing with deviations from model assumptions, comparison of means, Introduction to REML, Introduction to generalised linear models. Simple time series models: Time series plots, Components of a time series, Smoothing. Analysis of distribution of free data (non-parametrics): Ranked data, Scores, Alternative methods of data analysis. Multivariate methods: Cluster methods, Principle component analysis, Discriminant analysis, Factor analysis. Presentation of research: Logging of data entry, Validation and analysis, Data presentation, Graphs and diagrams, Report writing. |