Dr Natasha October

Teaching

Organic Chemistry (undergraduate and postgraduate)
Modules: CMY 127, CMY 154, CHM 181, CHM 215, CMY 384, CMY 708 (HONS), CMY 709 (HONS)

Research interests

Medicinal Chemistry, Synthetic Chemistry and Natural products

Selected publications

Adigun, R. A.; Malan, F.P.; Balogun, M.O.; October, N.; Design, syhthese, and silico-in vitro antimalarial evaluation of 1,2,3-triazole-lonked dihydropyrimidine quinoline hybrids; Structural Chemistry, 2023, 34 (6), pp 2065 – 2082.

Adewole, A, H., Famuyide, I. M., McGaw, L. J., Selepe, M. A., and October, N., Antifungal Compounds from the Leaves of Rhynchosia minima, Chem. Biodiversity 2022, 19, e202200837, https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.202200837.

Adigun, R.A., Malan, F.P., Balogun, M.O., October, N., Rational Optimization of Dihydropyrimidinone-Quinoline Hybrids as Plasmodium falciparum Glutathione Reductase Inhibitors, ChemMedChem 2022, 17, e202200034 (1 -15).

Simea, G. D., Nyemeck, N.M., A. A. A., Zintchema, October,N., Balemaken Missi, M., Farooq, R., Khan, K. M., Ngono Bikobo, D. S., M. I., Choudhary and D. E., Pegnyemb, Secondary metabolites of the leaves of Tricalysia atherura N. Halle (Rubiaceae) and their potential antiplasmodial activity, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2022.2137796.

Olayiwola, M.O, Ajayi, O.S., Balogun O.S., Olawuni, I.J., Adeyemo, S.M., October, N, Isolation, Identification and Biological Activities of the Constituents of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Leaf Extract, Ife Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 5 No.1 (2021)33–48

C. W. L. Fidèle, M. Balemaken Missi, October, N., P.H. B. Didoue, N. H.N., Ikome, J-P., Abdou, et. al., Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activities of the Extract and Some Flavonoids from Aerial Parts of Echinops Gracilis O. Hoffm. (Asteraceae), Natural Product Communications, 16(3): 1–6, 2021.

Ajayi, O.S., Balogun, O.S., Olawuni, I.J, October, N., Adigun, R., Akinlade, I.G.; Bicyclic Diterpenoid Lactones, Alpha Amylase Inhibition and Antioxidant Activities from Andrographis paniculata Nees; Tropical Journal of Natural Product Research.; Vol 5 issue 2, 2021.

Adigun, R. A.; Malan, F.; Balogun, M. O.; October, N.; Substitutional effects on the thermal stability and reactivity of dihydropyrimidinones ; Journal of Molecular Structure; 1223, 129193, 2021.

Oluwatosin Yemisi Audu, Jessica Jooste, Frederick P. Malan, Olayinka O. Ajani, October, N; Synthesis, characterization, molecular structure, and computational studies on 4(1H)-pyran-4-one and its derivatives; Journal of Molecular Structure; Volume 1245, 5 December 2021, 131077.

Oluwatosin Audu, Andre Stander, Olayinka Ajani, Samuel Egieyeh, Natasha October; In-Silico Design, Chemical Synthesis and Biological Screening of Novel 4-(1H)-Pyridone-based Antimalarial Agents; Chemical Biology & Drug Design; 30 November 2021 https://doi.org/10.1111/cbdd.13987.

Balemaken Missi, M.; Evina, J. N.; Zintchem, A. A.; October, N.; Bona, A.; Moela, P.; Diboué, P. H. B.; Serge, D.; Bikobo, N.; Pegnyemb, D. E.; Natural Product Research, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2021.1981313.

Adigun, R. A.; Malan, F.; Balogun, M. O.; October, N.; Tetrahydropyrimidinones/thiones stabilized by trifluoromethyl-containing β-diketones; Journal of Molecular Structure; 1202, 127281, 2020.

Ajani, O. O.; Joseph, O. E.; Iyaye, K. T.; October, N.; Aderohunmu, D.V.; Olorunshola, S. J.; Audu, O. Y.; Facile Synthesis, Characterization and in-vitro Antibacterial Efficacy of Functionalized 2-Substitued Benzimidazole Motifs; Indones. J. Chem., 20(1), 72-87, 2020.

Thakur, A.; Chun, Y.S.; October, N.; Yang, H.O.; Maharaj, V.; Potential of South African medicinal plants targeting the reduction of Aβ42 protein as a treatment of Alzheimer's disease, J Ethnopharmacol.;231:363-37, 2019.

Ajani, O. O.; Akande, M. M.; October, N.; Siyanbola, T. O.; Aderohunmu, D. V.; Akinsiku, A. A.; Olorunshola, S. J.; Microwave assisted synthesis, characterization and investigation of antibacterial activity of 3-(5-(substituted-phenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-2H-chromen-2-one derivatives, Arab Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, Vol. 26, No. 1, 362–375, 2019.

Mshelia, H. E.; Ugwah-Oguejiofor, C-J.; October, N.; Abubakar, K.; Isolation of Oleanolic Acid from Parinari curatellifolia (Planch Ex. Benth) Stem Bark and Evaluation of its Anticonvulsant and Sedative activities in Rodents; Trop J Nat Prod Res; 3(1); 17-21; 2019.

Anas, A.; Ahmed, A.; Umar, S.; Jajere, U.M.; Mshelia, E.H.; Natasha, O.; Inhibitory Effect of Isolated Lupeol from Stem Bark of Diospyros mespiliformis Horsch (Ebenaceae) against some Microbial pathogens Bayero Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, 10(1): 293 – 299, 2017

Shehu, S.; Ibrahim, G.; Danmalam, U. H.; October, N.; Halilu, M. E.; Abubakar, M. S.; Isolation of Kaempferide and Antimicrobial activity of fraction of aqueous ethanol extract of Thesium Viride; African Journal of Pharmaceutical Research & Development; Vol.8 No.1; 19-23; 2016.

Mathias, S. N.; Abubakar, K. ; October, N. ; Pentacyclic Triterpenoids from the stem-bark; International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences; Vol 8; Issue 5; 2016.

Collaborations

• Dr Pontsho Moela: Biochemistry Department, Genetics, and Microbiology, University of Pretoria
• Prof Vinesh Maharaj: Chemistry Department, University of Pretoria
• Dr Mamoalosi Selepe: Chemistry Department, University of Pretoria   Department of Pharmacology and Clinical
• Prof Samuel A. Egieyeh:  Pharmacy, University of Western Cape
• Prof Vuyo Mavumengwana,  South African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Stellenbosch University
• Prof. Olayinka O. Ajani: Department of Chemistry Covenant University
• Dr Kayode Ajayi: Department of Chemistry Obafemi Awolowo University
• Prof D E Pegnyemb: Department of Organic, Chemistry, University of Yaoundé I

Postgraduate students

Emmanuel Mshelia, PhD, 2016, Evaluation of Parinari curatellifolia Planch Ex. Benth (Chrysobalanaceae) Extracts for Anticancer and Antioxidant Activities

Ethan Besaans, MSc, 2017, Synthesis, structure–activity relationships and biological evaluation of optimised terminally alkylated (bis)urea and (bis)thiourea polyamine analogues as antiplasmodial agents

Anuradha Thakur, PhD, 2020, Potential of South African medicinal plants as treatments for Alzheimer’s disease through Aβ42 protein reduction and identification of their active compounds

Marius Balemaken,     PhD, 2021, Antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of undescribed cassiaric acid and other constituents from Cassia Arereh stem barks

AUDU Oluwatosin Yemisi, PhD, 2022, In-silico guided design, synthesis and bio-evaluation of potential chemotherapeutic agents against malaria, cancer and disease-causing pathogens

Adetola Henry Adewole, PhD, 2023, Scientific validation and authentication of the use and methods of treatment of traditional medicinal plants

Angela Bona, MSc, 2023, In vitro screening of plant-derived compounds with potential anti-cancer properties on breast- and cervical cancer cell lines