Alice Nabatanzi

Alice Nabatanzi (ECRLF, PhD, MSc, BSc)

Lecturer, Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology, School of Bio-sciences, College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), Makerere University

P.O BOX 7062, Kampala, Uganda

Email: alice.nabatanzi@mak.ac.ug

Speciality: Phytomedicine, Phytochemistry, Nutrition, Nutraceuticals

Dr. Alice Nabatanzi is the founder of NAPIANA (Natural Products Industry Advancement Network Africa). In February 2023, Alice won the BEST INNOVATOR AWARD at the Approriate Technologies Expo when she came up with a novel sustainable water purification system. She is an Early Career Fellow (2023-2025) of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD), The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), Trieste, Italy. Alice is also an Early Career Research Leader Fellow of the Carnegie Corporation of New York (2019-2020). She is a Lecturer of Phytomedicine and Nutraceuticals at Makerere University, Kampala Uganda (East Africa). Alice holds a  Post-Doc (Phytobiomolecules for human cancer treatment) from the University of Pretoria, Future Africa campus, South Africa, Ph.D. Natural Products (Nutraceuticals) from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, M.Sc. Natural Products Technology and Value Chains (Nutraceuticals) from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, and a B.Sc. Ethnobotany from the College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University.  Alice prides herself in doing societal-changing research. Her current research is multidisciplinary and includes investigating phytobiomolecules for treating human diseases, nutraceutical and physicochemical properties of traditional African foods, phytogenics in animal feeds, and assessing levels of contamination in water bodies. She has published scholarly articles in various international peer-reviewed journals, and international conference proceeding papers.  She has supervised 25 Undergraduate and 6 Graduate students. Alice has examined 10 graduate students and has been a panelist on several occasions.

AREAS OF INTEREST
  • Phytomedicine (Phytochemistry, Pharmacology)  - Focus on phytobiomolecules that can be used to treat diseases in humans.
  • Nutraceuticals - Focusing on neglected foods that play both nutritional and pharmaceutical roles and their ability to meet RDAs of vulnerable groups (Pregnant women, school-going children, People living with HIV/AIDs, and the elderly)  thus improving the nutrition and dietary quality. 
  • Ethnoveterinary medicine - Focusing on phytogenic feed additives which can be used to replace conventional antibiotics.
  • Water quality - Focus on contamination through human and animal activities.

 

PUBLICATIONS:

Articles in Peer-Reviewed Journals:

  1. Samuel Baker Obakiro, Kenedy Kiyimba, Richard Oriko Owor, Moses Andima, Tonny Wotoyitide Lukwago, Carol Kawuma, Yahaya Gavamukulya, Alice Nabatanzi, Dan Kibuule, Charles Drago Kato, Godwin Anywar, Paul Waako, Acute and subacute toxicity profile of ethanolic stem bark extract of Albizia coriaria Welw. ex Oliv. in Wistar albino rats, Toxicology Reports, Volume 12, 2024,

Pages 178-185, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2024.01.005.

  1. Stephen Magambo, Alice Nabatanzi, Titus Alicai, Enoch Wembabazi, Ketra Oketcho, Immaculate Nakalembe, Henry Wagaba. 2024. Somatic embryo production and GFP genetic transformation in elite Ugandan cassava genotypes. Scientific African, Elsevier. 24(3). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2023.e02039
  2. Douglas O. Ochora, Caroline Murithi, Rael J. Masai, Farid Abdi, Agnes Cheruyiot, Esther Katuura, Savina Asiimwe, Alice Nabatanzi, Godwin Anywar, Hannington Oryem-Origa, Jane Namukobe, Esezah K. Kakudidi, Abiy Yenesew, Hoseah M. Akala, Edwin Kamau. 2023. Ex vivo and in vitro antiplasmodial activity and toxicity of Caesalpinia decapetala (Roth) alston (Fabaceae). Journal of Pharmacology, Elsevier.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2023.117007.
  3. Ibrahim Karume, Simon Bbumba, Moses Kigozi, Alice Nabatanzi, Is’harq Z. T. Mukasa & Solomon Yiga. 2023. One-pot removal of pharmaceuticals and toxic heavy metals from water using xerogel immobilized quartz/banana peels-activated carbon. Green Chemistry Letters and Reviews. Taylor and Francis. 16:1. https://doi.org/10.1080/17518253.2023.2238726.
  4. Tabuti, J.R.S., Obakiro, S.B., Nabatanzi, A. Godwin Anywar, Cissy Nambejja, Michael R. Mutyaba, Timothy Omara, and Paul Waako. 2023. Medicinal plants used for the treatment of malaria by indigenous communities of Tororo District, Eastern Uganda. Trop Med Health 51, 34. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-023-00526-8.
  5. Nabatanzi A, Kazibwe AJN, Nakalembe I, Nabubuya A, Tumwine G, Kungu BN, and JD Kabasa.. 2022. Nutraceutical and Antinutritional properties of Wild edible plants consumed by pregnant women and School-age Children (6-12 years) in Najjembe sub-county, Buikwe district, Uganda. African Journal of Food, Nutrition, Agriculture and Development. 22(10):21990-22016. https://doi.org/10.18697/ajfand.115.20925
  6. Abdul Walusansa, Jesca. L. Nakavuma, Savina Asiimwe, Jamilu. E. Ssenku, Dickson Aruhomukama, Tahalu Sekulima, Hussein. M. Kafeero, Godwin Anywar, Esther Katuura, Alice Nabatanzi, Nathan. L. Musisi, Arthur. K. Tugume and, Esezah. K. Kakudidi. 2022. Medically important bacteria isolated from commercial herbal medicines in Kampala city indicate the need to enhance safety frameworks. Scientific Reports, Springer Nature 12, 16647. https://doi.org/:10.1038/s41598-022-21065-y
  7. Walusansa A, Asiimwe S, Nakavuma JL, Ssenku JE, Katuura E, Kafeero HM, Aruhomukama D, Nabatanzi A, Anywar G, Tugume AK, Kakudidi EK. 2022. Antibiotic-resistance in medically important bacteria isolated from commercial herbal medicines in Africa from 2000 to 2021: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control. 11(1):11. https://doi.org/: 10.1186/s13756-022-01054-6
  8. Sanah Nkadimeng, Alice Nabatanzi, Christiaan Steinmann, Jacobus Eloff. 2020. Phytochemical, Cytotoxicity, Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Psilocybe Natalensis Magic Mushroom. Plants, 9(9), 1127. DOI: 10.3390/plants9091127.
  9. Nabatanzi, A., Sanah M. Nkadimeng, Namrita Lall, John D. Kabasa, Lyndy J. McGaw. 2020. Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (1):1-11. DOI: 10.1155/2020/4352084.
  10. Nabatanzi, A., Sanah M. Nkadimeng, Namrita Lall, John D. Kabasa, Lyndy J. McGaw. 2020. Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Activity of Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth. (Bignoniaceae). Plants, 9, 753; DOI: 10.3390/plants9060753.
  11. Nabatanzi, A. 2018. In-vitro Antibacterial Activity of Allium sativum L. Clove Extract against Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Advances in Research, ISSN: 2348-0394, 16: 6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.9734/AIR/2018/44151.
  12. Nabatanzi, A., Kabasa, J. D., Nakalembe, I., Owiny, D., Mugisha, C. and Nyanzi, S. 2016. Phytoconstituent Analyses of Selected Wild Edible Plants Constituting Diets of Pregnant Women in Buikwe District, Uganda. Int. J. Biochemistry Research & Review, 14(2): 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2023.117007.
  13. Nabatanzi, A. and Nakalembe, I. 2016. Wild Food Plants used by People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nakisunga Sub-County, Uganda. African Journal of Food, Nutrition, Agriculture and Development, 16 (4): 11311 – 11331. https://doi.org/ :10.18697/ajfand.76.15720.
  14. Nabatanzi, A., Kabasa, J. D., and Nakalembe, I. 2015. Phytochemicals and Antioxidant properties of five wild edible plants consumed by pregnant women in Buikwe district, Uganda. Int. J. Pharmacognosy and Phytochemical Research, 7(6); 1267-1271. ISSN: 0975-4873.
  15. Nabatanzi, A., Kabasa, J. D., and Nakalembe, I. 2015. Wild edible plants consumed by pregnant women in Buikwe district, Uganda. Int. J. Technology Enhancements and Emerging engineering research, 3 (11): 18 -27. ISSN 2347-4289.
  16. Nyamukuru, A., Nabatanzi, A., Mpiira, S.  and Tabuti, J. R. S. 2015. Locally Preferred Woody Species and Their Management in Kiruhura and Arua Districts, Uganda. Ethnobotanical Research and Applications, 4:049-061. https://doi.org/: 10.17348/era.14.0.49-61.

 

Conference Paper

  1. A. Nabatanzi. 2021. The Future of Africa’s Natural Products in Drug Discovery and Development: Trends and Challenges. Planta Medica. Vol. 87, Issue 15, Pages KN13, Publisher Georg Thieme Verlag.

 

Articles in National News Papers:

1. Daily monitor: Daily Newspaper. Article: “How I mind my mental well-being.” Alice Nabatanzi. https:// www.monitor.co.ug.

  1. Daily monitor: Daily Newspaper. Article: “Crops you harvest in less than six months.” By Alice Nabatanzi. https:// www.monitor.co.ug.

 

Articles in Scientific Magazines:

  1. 8M Construction Digest: Articles on Plant chemistry in construction – A bi-monthly series - 8mconstruction.com.

Article Titles

  • Good Properties of Bamboo in Construction
  • Eucalyptus. Foe or Friend?
  • What is this Asbestos…and the Cancer talk on every Ugandan’s mouth?
  • Cactus in Building Construction

 

  1. Miti Magazine: THE TREE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR AFRICA. 

Francis Gachathi and Alice Nabatanzi. January – March 2014. Uses of the Sausage Tree (Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth. Miti Magazine – The Tree business magazine for Africa. Pages 30 -31. https://issuu.com/mitimagazine/docs/miti_21_full.

 

Technical Reports:

  1. Cheikh Mbow (Senegal), Yamkela Ntola (South Africa), Eness Paidamoyo Mutsvangwa Sammie (Zimbabwe), Edmond Totin (Benin), Alice Norah Nabatanzi (Uganda), and Rachel Fischer (South Africa). Climate, Land, Agriculture, and Biodiversity (CLAB-AFRICA). An African initiative to support climate and biodiversity global negotiations. https://www.futureafrica.science/hub/clab/CLAB%20Report_1%20November%202021.pdf
  2. John R. S. Tabuti and Alice Nabatanzi. Status report on the situation of Traditional medicine in the East African Community Member States.

 

RESEARCH GRANTS WON

 

  1. Project (2024-2025): Commercialisation Grant: Phytogenic Chicken feed additives.

Funder: Government of Uganda through the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF).

  1. Project (2024-2025): Commercialisation Grant: PhytoFoodPlus: Mitigating Malnutrition among pregnant women and children.

Funder: Government of Uganda through the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF).

  1. Project Name (2023-2024): PHASE II:  Designing Biosorbents for water purification.

Funder: Government of Uganda through the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF).

  1. Project (2023-2025): Safe and Sustainable solutions to prevent postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in women.

Funder: IDRC-UNESCO (Grant No. 4500476471.).

  1. Project (2022-2023): PHASE II: PhytoFoodPlus: Mitigating Malnutrition among pregnant women and children.

Funder: Government of Uganda through the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF).

  1. Project Name (2021-2022): Designing Biosorbents for water purification.

Funder: Government of Uganda through the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF).

  1. Project (2020-2021): Developing Phytogenic Chicken Feed Additives.

Funder: Government of Uganda through the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF).

  1. Project (2019-2020): Anticancer and Anti-inflammatory activities of Kigelia Africana.

Funder: Carnegie Corporation of NewYork through Future Africa University of Pretoria, South Africa.

  1. Project (2019-2020): PHASE I: PhytoFoodPlus: Mitigating Malnutrition among pregnant women and children.

Funder: Government of Uganda through the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF).

  1. Project (2019-2020): Developing a Safe and Efficacious Anti-malarial drug from Traditional medicine.

Funder: Government of Uganda through the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF)

  1. Project (2014-2016): Wild edible plants as sources of nutrients to boost the nutrition status of pregnant women.

Funder: Carnegie Corporation of New York.

  1. Project (2011-2013): Wild edible plants as sources of nutrients to boost the nutrition status of People Living with HIV/AIDs.

Funder: Carnegie Corporation of New York.

 

GRANTS WON TO CONVENE CONFERENCES

  1. RNPIA-2021 Conference Award by Carnegie Corporation of New York of USD 40000.
  2. 1st NAPIANA Symposium Award by Carnegie Corporation of New York of USD 18000.