School of Health Care Sciences

The Department is involved in a number of community engagement projects including:

• Involvement in the national football through the Premier Soccer League
• Confederation of African Football (CAF)
• Community RDP houses in Sekhukhune District
• Philanthropy for old-age homes, supplying blankets and food parcels
• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) clinics
• Relief Pharmacist at the COVID-19 vaccination site within the University of Limpopo
• An analysis of the direct cost of out-patient ophthalmology care at Mankweng hospital in Limpopo Province, South Africa
• Development, implementation and cost analysis of a cervical cancer screening programme in public hospitals of Limpopo Province, South Africa

Niche areas and related research projects include:

• Formulation and novel drug delivery systems
• Anti-cancer and antimicrobial agents from medicinal plants
• Microbiology, applied microbiology, medicinal plant research, ethnopharmacology, phytochemicals and cytotoxicity
• Medicinal chemistry and isolation of bioactive compounds with medicinal properties against tuberculosis, cancer and malaria.
• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Substance Abuse, Mental Health, Herbal medicine
• Pharmacovigilance of prescribed and non-prescribed medicines
• Evaluation of the use of antiretroviral therapy in public primary health care settings
• Indigenous Knowledge Systems in healthcare, complementary and traditional medicine use in combination with prescribed medicines
• Community pharmacy practice research services in rural areas
• Pharmacoepidiomology/drug utilization studies
• Natural products chemistry and medicinal plants research

In addition, the Pharmacy Department has renovated its pharmaceutical sterile laboratory to offer industry-relevant practicum. Radio pharmacy, with a focus on dosage form design and transdermal drug delivery, will be a future research interest.

For pharmaceutics-related projects, the Department of Pharmacy collaborates with other universities such as Rhodes University, North-West University, and Tshwane University of Technology.

Furthermore, it has research collaborations with the University of Zimbabwe in pharmacology and the VLIR [Vlaamse Interuniversitaire Raad (Flemish Interuniversity Council)] in Belgium on the prevention, control, and management of chronic diseases in Limpopo Province’s rural areas.

Other research partners include Anova Health Institute, Capricorn District Municipality, the international ICASA project on ADHD and Substance Abuse from The Netherlands, the European Union Pharmacoepidemiology Programme, and the Nestle Nutrition Institute in Africa.

Recent research publications in the past five years.

Adenola HA and Nlooto M. Development of an interventional tool for direct reporting of adverse drug reactions by health care users in South Africa. African Journal of Biomedical Research. Vol.24 Sep. 2021. Preprint

Mushebenge, AGA., Kadima, MG., Mashamba-Thompson T and Nlooto M . Evidence on collaboration of traditional and biomedical practitioners in the management of antimicrobial resistance in sub-Saharan Africa over 15 years: a systematic review protocol. Syst Rev 10, 158 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-021-01710-9

Boadu A, Agoni C, Karpoormath R, Soliman M and Nlooto M. Exploiting the antiviral properties of selected phytochemicals from leaf extracts of Spondias mombin (Linn): A computational repurposing approach toward the discovery of potential SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors. Advances in Traditional Medicine (2021) DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-197212/v1

Boadu A., Karpoormath R. & Nlooto M. Exploration of alternate therapeutic remedies in Ebola virus disease: the case of reported antiviral phytochemical derived from the leaves Spondias Mombin Linn. ADV TRADIT MED (ADTM) (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13596-021-00603-5

Adenola HA & Nlooto M. Direct reporting of adverse drug reactions by healthcare consumers in Africa: a narrative review. Int J Clin Pharm 43, 11–24 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-020-01141-x

MP Mphekgwana, LN Mabila, E Maimela. Indirect and direct effects of factors associated with diabetes amongst the rural black population in the Dikgale Health and Demographic Surveillance System, South Africa. African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine 2021: 13 (1), a2819

L Muthelo, F Moradi, TA Phukubye, MO Mbombi, RN Malema, LN Mabila. Implementing the Ideal Clinic Program at Selected Primary Healthcare Facilities in South Africa. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021:18 (15)

IIdowu K; Khan R; Nlooto M, and Gordon M. Viability, mRNA and Protein Expression of Cytochrome P450 3A4 and P-glycoprotein in HepG2 and HEK293 cells .December 2020 Bioorganic Chemistry 107(3) DOI:10.1016/j.bioorg.2020.104573

Adenola HA & Nlooto M. Views of healthcare users on adverse drug reactions reporting: the Case of KwaZulu-Natal. Ponte. International Journal of Sciences and Research. Vol.76. No 9/1. Sep. 2020

Idowu K; Ramharack P; Nlooto M & Gordon M. Molecular Dynamic Mechanism(s) of inhibition of Bioactive Antiviral Phytochemical Compounds targeting Cytochrome P450 3A4 and P-glycoprotein.  September 2020 Journal of Biomolecular Structure & Dynamics DOI:10.1080/07391102.2020.1821780

Adeniyi J; Adeniyi; A; Moodley R; Nlooto M; Ngcobo M; Gomo E & Conradie J. Unravelling the drugability of MSI2 RNA recognition motif (RRM) protein and the prediction of their effective antileukemia inhibitors from traditional herb concoctions. November 2020.Journal of biomolecular Structure & Dynamics  DOI:10.1080/07391102.2020.1840442

Mukanda Gedeon Kadima, AG Mushebenger, Manimbulu Nlooto. Perspectives on the Concurrent Use of Traditional and Prescribed Antimicrobial Medicines for Infectious Diseases: A Triangulation Study in a South African Community. Afr. J. Biomed. Res.Vol.23(January,2020);111-115J Eval Clin AG

Saka SA, Oosthuizen F, Nlooto M, Odusan O. The knowledge, awareness, and perception of healthcare professionals about appropriate prescribing in the elderly: Findings from Nigeria and South Africa. J Eval Clin Pract. 2020 Oct;26(5):1512-1521. doi: 10.1111/jep.13347. Epub 2020 Jan 3. PMID: 31898394

Kadima MG, Mushebenge  AG , Nlooto M. Perspectives on the Concurrent Use of Traditional and Prescribed Antimicrobial Medicines for Infectious Diseases: A Triangulation Study in a South African Community. Afr. J. Biomed. Res.Vol.23 (January,2020);111-115

Frimpong E, Nlooto M .Management of Diabetes and Hypertension among Tswana and Zulu Traditional Health Practitioners: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study Using a Mixed-Methods Approach. African Journal of Biomedical Research 2020, 23 (2), – 135-14

Corné Coetzee , Ilse Truter & Anneke Meyer. Prevalence and characteristics of South African treatment-seeking patients with substance use disorder and co-occurring attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology 2020: 13(11); 1271-1280. DOI:10.1080/17512433.2020.1835467

Kapitány-Fövény, M., Barta, C., Crunelle, C. L., van den Brink, W., Moggi, F., Konstenius, M., Franck, J., Levin, F. R., van de Glind, G., Coetzee, C., Luderer, M., Schellekens, A., Matthys, F., Demetrovics, Z., & group, I. C. Recommendations for the screening, diagnosis and treatment of patients with comorbid attention deficit hyperactivity- and substance use disorder. Psychiatria Hungarica : A Magyar Pszichiatriai Tarsasag tudomanyos folyoirata. 2020: 35(4); 435-447. PMID: 33263293

Nyamazana, T., Manyama, T.L. and Tshitake, R.M., 2020. A review on the prevention and management of diabetes mellitus complications and the role of the pharmacist. South African Pharmaceutical Journal, 87(4), pp.22-25.

Manyama, T.L., Tshitake, R.M. and Moloto, N.B., 2020. The role of pharmacists in the renal multidisciplinary team at a tertiary hospital in South Africa: Strategies to increase participation of pharmacists. Health SA Gesondheid, 25.

L Muthelo, T Nemagumoni, TM Mothiba, AT Phukubje, LN Mabila. Experiences of Professional Nurses Regarding the Implementation of a Central Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution Program at Primary Health Care Facilities in South Africa. The Open Public Health Journal 2020:13 (1)

Meela MM, Mdee LK, Masoko P, and Eloff JN. Acetone leaf extracts of seven invasive weeds have promising activity against eight important plant fungal pathogens., South African Journal of Botany, 2019: 121, 442-446.

Johnston, D. M., Truter, I., Irwin, Y. L., Naidoo, P., Coetzee, B. C., & Basson, W. D. (2019). Pharmacy students’ opinions and experiences working on board the Transnet‐Phelophepa Health Care Trains. International Journal of Pharmacy Practice 2019: 27(3); 311-317. 7, DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpp.12504

Crunelle, C. L., van den Brink, W., Moggi, F., Konstenius, M., Franck, J., Levin, F. R., van de Glind, G., Demetrovics, Z., Coetzee, C., & Luderer, M. International consensus statement on screening, diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorder patients with comorbid attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. European addiction research 2018: 24(1); 43-51.

Meela MM, Mdee LK, and Eloff JN. Tecoma stans (Bignoniaceae), leaf extracts, fractions and isolated compound have promising activity against fungal phytopathogens. Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskap en Tegnologie, 2017:   ISSN: (Online) 2222-4173, (Print) 0254-3486.

Matemu AO, Adeyemi D, Nyoni H, Mdee L, Tshabalala P, Mamba B and Msagati TAM. Fatty Acid Composition of Dried Fruits of Sclerocarya birrea, Diospyros blancoi and Landolphia kirkii. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2017: 14, 1401

Komape N. P. M., Bagla V. P., Kabongo- Kayaoka P. and Masoko P. “Antimycobacteria and synergistic effects of plants used to treat tuberculosis and related symptoms by the Bapedi people in Limpopo Province, South Africa” 2017: BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 17 (128): 1- 13.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Pharmacy is one of the most diverse professions in the health care industry. Pharmacists can choose their areas of specialisation in the four main sectors: community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, industrial pharmacy, and academia.

Community Pharmacy
A pharmacist in this sector is required to dispense medicines, provide essential clinical services such as screening of glucose and cholesterol levels to patients. It also entails giving advice to patients on general and specific health matters. Community pharmacy can also operate as a business. This, therefore, requires both business skills and the capacity to serve the local community in health matters.

Hospital Pharmacy
A pharmacist working in hospitals is responsible for the dispensing of medicines, bandages, and surgical instruments to outpatients and patients in the hospital, as well as administrative management. A pharmacist will also give advice to patients on general and specific health matters. This gives the pharmacist an opportunity to work as part of the healthcare team, advising doctors and nurses on optimal drug therapy for patients.

Industrial Pharmacy
An industrial pharmacist is responsible for the research and development of drugs and the manufacturing of medicines. Pharmaceutical companies require pharmacists to supervise the manufacturing of medicines to ensure the quality, safety, and efficacy of such products. Pharmacists, among other roles, therefore play an important role in production, quality assurance and quality control, clinical trials, pharmacovigilance, and registration of medicinal products with regulatory authorities in South Africa and around the world.

Academia and Research Pharmacy
Pharmacists in academia are involved in research, teaching and learning to produce the next generation of pharmacists and contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge.