Nigerian undergraduate scientist advances natural-compound research with Antiviral and Anticancer potential

By Seyi Oyebanji

Bamidele Towolawi, a young scientist from Nigeria, has garnered attention for his innovative computational research on natural compounds derived from Annona muricata (soursop). His study investigates molecules with potential activity against SARS-CoV-2 and compounds that may influence breast cancer progression.

The research was conducted at the Professor Misbahudeen Abdul-Hammed Computational Biophysical Laboratory in the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, during Towolawi’s undergraduate studies. The project involved screening more than 200 phytochemicals from soursop leaves and fruits using structure-based drug design and advanced cheminformatics techniques.

Published in De Gruyter Brill in 2023, the study identified several compounds with predicted antiviral and anticancer properties. As a corresponding author, Towolawi led the molecular docking and data analysis, coordinating the team’s workflow and ensuring the scientific rigor of the project.

The research has been recognized for bridging traditional African medicinal knowledge with cutting-edge computational approaches, showcasing how emerging Nigerian scientists can contribute to significant global biomedical challenges. The study also highlights the potential of undergraduate-led research to generate insights with practical implications for both antiviral and anticancer drug development.