MRC MSc student

Level of study: MSc

Title: Pharmaceutical Evaluation of Phela Capsules used as Traditional Medicine for Immune Modulation

Research question: Herbs used in traditional medicine are nowadays frequently manufactured as conventional pharmaceutical dosage forms i.e. tablets, capsules and solutions such as tinctures, syrups etc. , and in most cases preservatives, flavourants, colorants and tablet coatings are used, but these are generally not properly evaluated for their pharmaceutical properties. The Indigenous Knowledge Systems Research Unit (IKS) of the Medical Research Council (MRC) works in partnership with Traditional Health Practitioners (THP) to manufacture pharmaceutical dosage forms of traditional medicines for the THP’s and for its clinical trial stocks. Little is known about the pharmaceutical quality of these preparations, behaviour of constituent plant materials and how it will react with other excipients or adulterants. There is a need therefore to evaluate and validate the pharmaceutical quality of these products as they shall eventually end up being prescribed to patients.  

Project Summary: Phela is a traditional herbal medicine comprising four plants which together are claimed to have immune boosting properties. The IKS Research Unit of the MRC focuses on investigating such claims. The purpose of this study was to assess the pharmaceutical quality of Phela, in capsule form, and its suitability for use in clinical trials. Thus the organoleptic features and physical and chemical properties of the individual plant powders and the content uniformity, release characteristics and shelf-life were determined. Standard pharmaceutical methods and procedures will be used to determine the organoleptic properties, dissolution and stability, and HPLC assay for the content uniformity of the capsules. From the results a certificate of analysis will be issued highlighting any pharmaceutical problems associated with the capsules identified. Criteria and specification for the formulation, manufacture and evaluation of phela capsules will be established.

Supervisors: Prof James Syce and Dr. Matsabisa
Study Institution: UWC
MRC Unit: Indigenous Knowledge Systems Research Unit