Dr.  Festus M. Tolo

ftolo@kemri.go.ke

Dr. Martin Bundi

Dr Elizabeth Matey

Dr. Martin Rono

Dr. Evans Chadeka

Dr. Aggrey Mokaya

Mr. Hillary Imire

Mr. Gideon Koech

Mr. Brian Orwa

Mr. Charles Syengo

Ms. Margaret Kamau

Ms. Margaret Gikuni

Mr. Francis Mwangi

Mr. Wilson Achola

Ms. Chemutai Rono

Mr. Dexta Gakuha

Mr. Allan Maiyo

Ms. Irene Koech

Ms. Lucy Wasilwa

Ms. Maryan Ali

Mr. Timothy Sang

Dr.  Festus M. Tolo

Medicinal Chemistry

Biography

Dr. Festus M. Tolo is a Phyto-Medical biologist holding a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Medicinal Phytochemistry of the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). He is an awardee of the “The Nelon Gold Award (NGA)” of the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and the Inter-Academy Medical Panel (IAMP) “Distinguished Scientist Award in Natural Products Research” of the Chinese Medical Sciences (CACMS) and Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), Beijing, China. Dr. Tolo is a Chief Research Scientist at the Centre for Traditional Medicine and Drug Research (CTMDR), KEMRI. His engagements in natural products research spans over three decades where he has been involved in various research projects, notably, the JICA sponsored Infectious Diseases Research Programme of KEMRI where he played a key role in the “Plant Drug Research Group for Antiviral Agents” leading to the innovation of an anti-herpes herbal product, “Zedupex”. He has been a project manager of a WHO/TDR funded project on the “Investigation of Safety, Efficacy and Chemistry of Herbal Medicines used Traditionally for Treatment of Malaria” and a lead scientist in the National Council for Science Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) funded project on the “Natural Products Innovation System: Establishing a National Nutraceuticals and Phytomedicines Development Pipeline”. He is presently engaged in a project evaluating Zedupex for COVID-19 management funded by the Government of Kenya and others touching on identification of herbal products for management of Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). Dr. Tolo has published widely in the area of natural products research and published papers and presented abstracts (over 100) in various peer reviewed Journals and at various local and international scientific forums. He is a faculty member at the KEMRI Graduate School where he is the Programme coordinator for the Pharmacy. He has successfully supervised a number of postgraduate students both at PhD and MSc. He is an appointed “Peer Reviewer” of Quality Standards (QS) by the Commission for University Education (CUE), Kenya. In May 2024, he was appointed as a member of the Ethnomedicine Committee of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Kenya.

Education

  • Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Medicinal Phytochemistry, JKUA&T, Kenya.
  • Master of Science (MSc.) in Infection Diagnosis, K.U, Kenya.
  • Bachelor of Science (BSc.) (HND eq.) in Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Microbiology, Physiology and Laboratory Management, TUK, Kenya.
  • Certificate in Research and Control of Infectious Diseases, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Toyama, Japan.
  • Radio-Immuno Assays Technology in Medicine, Institute of Izotopes Co. Ltd., Hungary.
  • Certificate in Strategic Leadership Development Programme (SLDP), KSG. Kenya.
  • Certificate in Peer Review, Commission for University Education (CUE), Kenya.

Selected Publications

  • Ndacyayisenga J, Tolo F, Wamunyokoli F, Maina EN. Effects of tea catechin extracts from BB35 and purple (TRFK 306) tea clones on the gene expression of EGFR, app, Bcl2, DNMT, Casp3, Hif1a, Gadd45b and Psmb5 genes involved in triple negative breast cancer diseases: In silico and in vitro study, Informatics in Medicine Unlocked (2024), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.imu.2024.101469. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Informatics in Medicine Unlocked (ScienceDirect). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imu.2024.101469 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imu.2024.101469
  • Ndacyayisenga J, Maina EN, Ngeny LC, Wamunyokoli F, Tolo FM. Purple tea catechins exhibit high antiproliferative activity and synergism with cisplatin against the triple-negative breast cancer cell line 4T1. Arch Biol Sci.2023;75(4):475-88.
  • Hadil S. Hussein, Caroline Ngugi, Esther N. Maina, Festus M. Tolo. Anticancer potential of silver nanoparticles biosynthesized using Catharanthus roseus leaves extract on cervical (HeLa229) cancer cell line. Published by Elsevier B.V. Scientific African. Contents lists available at ScienceDirect.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2024.e02268
  • Caroline J. Kosgei, Festus Tolo, Josphat C. Matasyoh, Meshack Obonyo, Peter Mwitari, Lucia Keter, Richard Korir and Beatrice Irungu. Anti-bacterial activity of secondary metabolites from Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research. Vol. 15(6), pp. 241-251, June, 2021. DOI: 10.5897/JMPR2019.6888. Article Number: 66054E866943
  • Nkirote N. Judith, Francis K. Njonge, Gideon Mutie Kikuvi and Festus M. Tolo. Determinants of Moringa oleifera utilization among HIV positive patients attending comprehensive care clinic at Migori County referral hospital, Kenya. Journal of Health, Medicine and Nursing. ISSN 2520-4025 (Online). Vol.4, Issue 6. No.1, pp 1- 16, 2019.http://www.iprjb.org
  • F. M. Tolo, G. M. Rukunga, F. W. Muli, J. M. Ochora, B. N. Irungu, C. N. Muthaura, C. K. Wanjiku, G. M. Mungai, Quang Ngoc, K. Hashimoto and Y. Asakawa. The antiviral activity of compounds isolated from Kenyan Carissa edulis (Forssk.) Vahl. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research Vol. 4(15), pp. 1517-1522, 4 August, 2010
  • Festus M. Tolo, Geoffrey M. Rukunga, Faith W. Muli, Eliud N.M. Njagi, Wilson Njue, Kazuko Kumon, Geoffrey M. Mungai, Charles N. Muthaura, Joseph M. Muli, Lucia K. Keter, Esau Oishi, Mawuli W. Kofi-Tsekpo. Anti-viral activity of the extracts of a Kenyan medicinal plant Carissa edulis against herpes simplex virus. Journal of Ethnoparmacology. 2006: 104: 92-99
  • Tolo, F.M., Rukunga, G.M., Muli, F.W., Ochora, J., Eizuru, Y., Ukon, T., Muthaura, C. N, Cicilia, K., and Mungai, G.M. The anti-viral activities of Kenyan Carissa edulis, Prunus africana and Melia azedarach total aqueous extracts against Human Cytomegalovirus infection in vitro. Africa Journal of Health Sciences. 2007: 14(3-4):143-148
  • Grace Odongo, Festus Tolo, Fred Wamunyokoli, Joseph Mwatha. Effects of methanol and aqueous extracts of Acacia xanthophloea, Strychnos heninningsiiand Microglossa pyrifolia on Immunoglobin E using asthma induced mice model. The Journal of Natural Sciences Research. ISSN 2222-1719 (Paper) ISSN 2222-2863 (Online) Vol X, No.X, 2015 Pages 1-16.
  • L. W. Karani, F. M. Tolo, S. M. Karanja and C. W. Khayeka. Safety and Efficacy of Prunus africana and Warburgia ugandensis Against Induced Asthma in BALB/c Mice. European Journal of Medicinal Plants. 3(3): 345-368, 2013.
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