JCU > Research Portfolio > Dr Phurpa Wangchuk

About

Biography

Dr. Phurpa Wangchuk is a Senior Research Fellow at the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM) and a Medical/Biomedicine Lecturer at the College of Public Health, Medical, and Veterinary Sciences (CPHMVS). He is a medicinal chemist and he is a group leader currently leading a research team to find treatments for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and related diseases.

Educational achievements:

Dr. Wangchuk acquired his:

Ph.D. with an ‘Outstanding Thesis’ from the University of Wollongong (UOW), Australia.
M.Phil. (Medicinal Chemistry) from UOW.
Post Graduate Diploma in Research Methodology (Clinical Research) with HD from the DBL-Centre for Health Research and Development, Copenhagen University, Denmark.
Bachelor of Science (Major in Chemistry, Botany, and Zoology) from the University of Delhi, India with an ‘Overall Academic Excellence Award’.

Grant achievements:

He was awarded the following highly competitive grants (Category A) and has led/leading the research projects as Chief Investigator A. In addition, he obtained a number of other small grants from Far North Hospital Foundation Research Grants (listed under the funding tab):

National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Ideas Grant (2020-2024)
NHMRC Early Career Peter Doherty Biomedical Fellowship (currently called NHMRC Investigator Grant for Emerging Leadership Fellow, 2015-2019).
Australian Endeavour Postgraduate Award (2010-2014).
Danish DANIDA Research Fellowship (2006).
Royal Government of Bhutan M.Sc. Scholarship (2002-2004).

Awards and prizes

He was awarded:

University level - 2 consecutive conference awards for best Ph.D oral presentation organized by the University of Wollongong, Australia
State level: 2 consecutive Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) conference prizes for best student talk and poster presentation organized by RACI, New South Wales, Australia
International level: 2 international conference prizes/awards for best communication (in Spain organized by Phytochemical Society of Europe) and best poster presentation (in Greece organized by Molecular Parasitology Society).

Research program:

Dr. Wangchuk designed a research program called 'Nature-inspired therapeutics for inflammatory bowel disease'. His drug discovery research at AITHM and CPHMVS focuses on discovering novel anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and antimalarial drug leads from natural sources such as medicinal plants, climate-affected plants, insect fungi, parasitic helminths, and other tropical flora and fauna. His research projects resulted in the discovery of 10 novel molecules, 18 drug lead compounds, and 3 patent/provisional patents on the novel antimalarial and anti-inflammatory drug leads.

He also established the 'Metabolomics platforms' for helminth's small molecules research, which is the first of its kind in the field of parasitology. He identified biomarkers including polar metabolites and novel lipids that have potential applications in developing diagnostics and therapeutics.

Research group:

He is one of the group leaders at AITHM and he is leading a group of seven researchers including:

Postdoc - Dr. Matthew Perry
Adjunct Postdoc - Dr. Edita Ritjemeryte
Research Officer - Dr. Karma Yeshi
Ph.D. student - Mr. Tenzin Jamtsho
M.Phil student - Mr. Gerry Turpin
M.Phil student - Mr. Andres Alverez
M.Phil student - Mr. Ngawang Gempo
Visiting student from Germany- Mara Curic.

Cosupervisor to:

Ph.D student - Mrs. Jessica Watt (JCU)
P.hD student - Ms. Preetha Ebenezer (Queensland University of Technology).

Potential research candidates interested in undertaking a Ph.D. or Masters project/Honours should contact Dr. Wangchuk to discuss potential projects. Funding is available through:

https://www.jcu.edu.au/graduate-research-school/hdr-candidates/postgraduate-research-scholarships.

Available research techniques and technologies:

His research laboratory uses innovative and integrated techniques of:

Natural products chemistry, metabolomics, drug development, ethnobotany, molecular biology, parasitology, and immunology.
Advanced analytical technologies including HPLC, MALDI-MS, GCMS, LCMS, and NMR for isolation, structure elucidation, and identification of novel compounds.
In vitro (PBMC), in vivo (animal models), and ex vivo (for parasites) experimental models.

Past and present professional leadership roles:

Prior to his appointment at JCU, he worked in Bhutan in various capacities as a Chemist, Product Manager, and Head of the Research and Development Section of Manjong Sorig Pharmaceuticals. As a Head of R&D, he led a team comprising ethnobotanist, pharmacognosist, traditional physicians, and external technical consultants from Europe, Japan, India, and Thailand. He implemented four World Health Organisation grants and was an executive team member involved in deciding and executing the million Euros European Union Medicinal Plants Project in Bhutan.

He currently serves in the following professional bodies/capacities as a/an:

Scientific reviewer for more than 33 reputed international journal papers
Assessor for books and grant proposals
Examiner for the HDR thesis (National and International)
Active member of the NHMRC Ideas grant review panel
Editor, and editorial board member of four reputed international journals.

Teaching/Supervising/Marking:

MD1010 - Introduction to Integrated Medical Studies Part 1 of 2 (Medical Biochemistry).
MD1010 - Introduction to Integrated Medical Studies Part 2 of 2 (Genetics and Health).
TV3002 Research Proposals - Veterinary Sciences Year 3.
NRS-MBBS 6 Research Activity Task- MBBS Year 6
DS40101 Research Task - Dentistry Year 4.

Teaching

MD1020: Introduction to Integrated Medical Studies Part 2 of 2 (Level 1; CNS & TSV)

Interests

Research

Parasitology-worms and their anti-inflammatory compounds
Anti-inflammatory and anthelmintic alkaloids/flavonoids
Phytochemicals and pharmacology of medicinal and parasitic plants
Insect-fungi and their bioactive secondary metabolites
North Queensland Natural Products, their chemistry and therapeutic applications
Metabolomics and biomarkers of natural compounds and diseases

Experience

2020 to 2022 - Topic Editor for the international journal "Plants", Journal publisher (Switzerland)
2018 to 2022 - Guest Editor for the international journal 'Molecules', Journal publisher (Switzerland)
2015 to 2018 - NHMRC ECR Fellow, James Cook University (Cairns)
2014 - Research Officer, James Cook University (Cairns, Australia)
2010 to 2014 - PhD Research Candidate, University of Wollongong (NSW, Australia)
2008 to 2009 - Editor of Quarterly Morbidity and Activity Report, Ministry of Health (Bhutan)
2008 to 2009 - Editor of Manjong Sorig Journal, Ministry of Health (Bhutan)
2007 to 2009 - Product Manager, Manjong Sorig Pharmaceuticals, Kawajangsa, Thimphu District, Bhutan (Thimphu, Bhutan)
2006 to 2009 - Head of R&D, Manjong Sorig Pharmaceuticals (Thmphu, Bhutan)
2006 to 2009 - Executive Team (representing R&D section) of the European Union Project-II, Manjong Sorig Pharmaceuticals, Kawajangsa, Thimphu District, Bhutan (Thimphu, Bhutan)
2006 to 2007 - Secretary of Research and Development of Bhutan, MSP/MoH (Bhutan)
2006 - DANIDA Research Fellowship, DBL-Centre for Health Research and Development, University of Copenhagen (Denmark)
2004 to 2006 - Chemist, Pharmaceutical and Research Unit (Thmphu, Bhutan)
2002 to 2004 - M.Sc. Research Candidate, University of Wollongong (NSW, Australia)
1999 to 2002 - Research Officer, Pharmaceutical and Research Unit (Thmphu, Bhutan)

Research Disciplines

Socio-Economic Objectives

Honours

Awards

2023 to 2026 - HDR PhD Scholarship to T. Jamtsho (~AUD $266,400)
2022 to 2024 - HDR M.Phil Scholarship to A. Alverez (~AUD $148,000)
2020 to 2023 - HDR PhD Scholarship to K. Kaposi (~AUD $190,800)
2019 to 2023 - HDR PhD Scholarship to K. Yeshi (~AUD $255,600)
2022 - Invited Guest Lecture at Yangchenphug and Jigme Sherubling Higher Secondary Schools, Bhutan
2022 - Invited Guest Speaker for MEd Biology and STEM Programme, Samtse College of Education, Royal University of Bhutan.
2022 - Invited Talk at Queensland Pharmacy Students' Association Research Night
2022 - Invited Plenary Speaker for the International Conference on Medicinal Plants, Jember University, Indonesia.
2021 - Invited Guest Lecture - Mendrelgang Secondary School, Bhutan
2021 - Invited Guest Speaker at Cairns Marlin Coast Probus.
2020 - Invited Guest Lecture - Jember University, Indonesia
2020 - Inaugural Talk - Drukrig Network of Bhutan Scholars.
2019 - Invited speaker to The Second Annual Canadian Metabolomics Conference
2018 - Invited Speaker to the International conference in Beijing (fully funded by the conference organiser)
2018 - Special Address/Talk invitation -fully funded by the international conference on JIGNASA 2018 International conference, India
2018 - Invited Keynote Speaker -fully funded by the international conference on medicine and health sciences, Indonesia
2017 - Full conference travel award as an 'Invited Speaker' at Harvard Conference on Health-Body-Mind
2017 - Invited speaker at International Conference on Medical and Health Sciences, Bhutan
2017 - Conference travel grant for organising and chairing a biodiscovery panel at ICTAM IX, Germany
2016 to 2017 - Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine Capacity Building Grant
2016 - Best Poster Presentation Award - awarded in the International Conference on 'Molecular and Cellular Biology of Helminth Parasites X' held at Hydra (4-9 September 2016).
2015 - "Invited speaker" Travel Award -International conference on 'Utilising Sub-Himalayan Biological Resources (fully funded by the conference organiser-Dibrugarh University, India)
2014 - Examiners' special commendations for outstanding PhD thesis
2009 to 2014 - Australian Endeavour Post Graduate Award
2013 - KIOM-South Korea keynote speaker full funding award for the International Symposium on Value and Folk Remedy as Traditional Knowledge
2013 - ICTAM VIII Congress Award for attending the conference held every after 4 years
2013 - Bhutan Royal Civil Service Award for dedicated service (10 years) to the nation and the public
2012 - Phytochemical Society of Europe's Best Congress Communication Award
2012 - UOW Faculty of Science post graduate conference funding award
2011 - Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) 2011 Best Oral Presentation Runner up Award
2011 - UOW 2011 Highly Commended PhD Presentation Award
2010 - Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) 2010 Best PhD Meritorious Poster Presentation Award
2010 - BlueScope Steel Research Innovation Awards 2010
2008 - RCSC meritorious promotion
2007 - International Centre for Environmental Health and Toxicology Training Award, Thailand
2000 - United Nations Industrial Development Organization Training Workshop Award
1998 - Graduate Academic Excellence Award

Fellowships

2015 to 2018 - National Health and Medical Research Council ECR Grant
2010 to 2014 - Australian Endeavour Award-PhD
2006 - DANIDA Fellowship for Post Graduate Diploma in Social/Clinical Research Methodology, Denmark.
2002 to 2004 - Royal Government of Bhutan M.Sc. Scholarship

Memberships

2020 - Guest Editor for an international journal 'Molecules' (Impact Factor 3.2)
2020 - 'Subject/Topic Editor' for an international journal 'Plants' (Impact Factor 2.8)
2016 to 2020 - Australia & New Zealand Society for Magnetic Resonance (ANZMAG )
2014 to 2020 - Editorial Board of the Journal of Biologically Active Products from Nature
2013 to 2020 - Council Member of The International Association for the Study of Traditional Asian Medicine (Germany)
2012 to 2016 - Member of the Phytochemical Society of Europe
2014 - The Australian Society for Parasitology
2010 to 2014 - Chemical Society of University of Wollongong
2008 to 2009 - Editorial Board of the Bhutan Ministry of Health Quarterly and Morbidity Activity Report
2008 to 2009 - Member of the National Scientific Review Committee of Bhutan
2008 to 2009 - Organiser and Editor of the Manjong Sorig Journal
2005 to 2009 - Research Core Group and Quality Assurance Team of Manjong Sorig Pharmaceuticals
2007 to 2008 - Non-Wood Forest Products Task Force
2007 - Ethnobotany
2007 - Biodiversity Action Plan Development Technical Committee Member

Other

2021 - Invited Reviewer for Food Reviews International
2020 - Invited Reviewer of Phytotherapy Research
2020 - Invited Reviewer for Metabolomics
2020 - Invited Reviewer for Phytochemistry
2020 - Invited Reviewer for Communication Biology (Nature GP)
2019 - PhD thesis Examiner for Macquarie University
2018 - Invited Reviewer for the BMC Infectious Diseases
2018 - Invited reviewer -Acta Parasitologica
2018 - Invited Reviewer of the 'International Wound Journal'
2022 - Invited Plenary Speaker at the International Conference in Indonesia.
2022 - Plenary speaker at the International Conference in Indonesia.
2021 - Invited Reviewer for 'Cell Biology and Toxicology'
2021 - Invited Reviewer for 'Horticulture Research'-Nature
2021 - Invited Reviewer for 'Communications Biology': https://mts-spd.nature.com/apps/spd.plex?form_type=display_person_manuscripts&mod_p_id=73825&mod_j_id=153.
2020 - M.Sc. Thesis Examiner for Macquarie University
2016 to 2020 - Invited Reviewer of the 'Journal of Ethnopharmacology' Elsevier Impact factor-3.11
2016 to 2020 - Reviewed paper for Molecules
2019 - Invited Reviewer for the 'Bioorganic Chemistry'
2019 - Invited Reviewer of the PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
2016 to 2019 - Reviewed paper for International Journal of Molecular Sciences
2016 to 2019 - Reviewed paper for Phytochemistry Letters
2015 to 2019 - Invited reviewer for the Journal of Biologically Active Products from Nature
2015 to 2019 - Invited Reviewer of the Pharmaceutical Biology
2018 - Invited Reviewer of the 'Digestive Diseases and Sciences'
2018 - Invited Reviewer of the Toxins
2018 - Invited Reviewer of the 'Nutrients'
2013 to 2017 - Reviewer for a journal paper-Natural Products Communication
2016 - Reviewed paper for BMC Immunology
2016 - Reviewed paper for International Journal of Parasitology
2015 - Invited Reviewer of the 'BMC Ecology'
2015 - Invited Reviewer of the 'BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine'
2015 - Invited Reviewer for the Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis
2015 - Invited Reviewer of the BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology
2015 - Invited reviewer for Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine
2015 - Invited Reviewer of the paper submitted to the BMC Research Notes.
2015 - Invited Reviewer for Ethnobotany Research & Applications
2015 - Invited Reviewer for the Natural Products Research
2015 - Invited Reviewer of the 'Scientific Reports'-Nature Publishing Group.
2012 - Guest Reviewer of the Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B

Publications

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

Farha N, Daniells J, Cernusak L, Ritmejeryte E, Wangchuk P, Sitch S, Mercado L, Hayes F, Brown F and Cheesman A (in press) Examining ozone susceptibility in the genus Musa (bananas). Functional Plant Biology,
Kamal M, Mukherjee S, Joshi B, Sindhu Z, Wangchuk P, Haider S, Ahmed N, Talukder M, Geary T and Yadav A (2023) Model nematodes as a practical innovation to promote high throughput screening of natural products for anthelmintics discovery in South Asia: Current challenges, proposed practical and conceptual solutions. Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology, 256 (2023).
Muema F, Nanjala C, Oulo M and Wangchuk P (2023) Phytochemical Content and Antidiabetic Properties of Most Commonly Used Antidiabetic Medicinal Plants of Kenya. Molecules, 28 (20).
Perry M and Wangchuk P (2023) The Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry and Bioactivities of the Corymbia Genus (Myrtaceae). Plants, 12 (21).
Premarathna A, Tuvikene R, Somasiri M, De Silva M, Adhikari R, Ranahewa T, Wijesundara R, Wijesekera S, Wangchuk P, Rjabovs V, Jayasooriya A and Rajapakse R (2023) A novel therapeutic effect of mannitol-rich extract from the brown seaweed Sargassum ilicifolium using in vitro and in vivo models. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 23.
Seephonkai P, Kaewtong C, Wangchuk P, Jearawuttanakul K, Kanjanasirirat P, Borwornpinyo S, Khulmanee T and Patrapuvich R (in press) Bioassay-Guided Isolation and Identification of Antiplasmodial Compounds from the Stem Bark of Clausena excavata. Planta Medica,
Wangchuk P, Yeshi K and Loukas A (2023) Metabolomics and lipidomics studies of parasitic helminths: molecular diversity and identification levels achieved by using different characterisation tools. Metabolomics, 19 (63).
Wangchuk P, Samten and Jamtsho T (2023) Phytopharmaceutical properties and quality assessment of two Himalayan medicinal plants, Meconopsis horridula and Meconopsis simplicifolia. Journal of Herbal Medicine, 38.

Book Chapters

Jamtsho T, Ugyen and Wangchuk P (2023) Auricularia auricula-judae (Bull.) Major Bioactive Compounds, Health Benefits, and Pharmacological Activities. In: Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms of the Himalayas. Natural Products Chemistry of Global Plants. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, USA, pp. 19-43
Jamtsho T, Ugyen and Wangchuk P (2023) Datura stramonium (Thorn Apple or Devil’s Trumpet). In: Exploring Poisonous Plants: Medicinal Values, Toxicity Responses, and Therapeutic Uses. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, USA, pp. 219-240
Wangchuk P and Jamtsho T (2023) Inula racemosa Hook. f. Pushkarmool: Its Ethnobotanical Uses, Phytochemicals, and Pharmacological Activities. In: Immunity Boosting Medicinal Plants of the Western Himalayas. Springer, Singapore, pp. 253-289
Yeshi K and Wangchuk P (2023) Bush Medicinal Plants of the Australian Wet Tropics and Their Biodiscovery Potential. In: Bioprospecting of Tropical Medicinal Plants. Springer, Cham, Switzerland, pp. 357-379

More: ResearchOnline@JCU stores 90+ research outputs authored by Dr Phurpa Wangchuk from 2007 onwards.

Current Funding

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation - Research Grant

Evaluation of cytotoxicity, antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties of FNQ bush food

Indicative Funding: $5,000 over 1 year
Summary: Native foods in Australia have a rich history and there is a growing demand for bush foods. The Far North Queensland (FNQ) is considered a hotspot for a wide range of bush foods and yet its commercial production remains small. This study will evaluate the antioxidant, cytotoxicity, and anti-diabetic properties of bushfoods used by the FNQ Mbabaram Aboriginal community. While the data from cytotoxicity and antioxidant screening will help the community in developing unique and safe FNQ bush food products, the antidiabetic data will help us in identifying foods that could be used as i) healthy food substitutes in the restaurant menus, and ii) intervention foods for diabetic patients.
Investigators: Pornphimon Meesakul, Phurpa Wangchuk and Gerald Turpin (Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine and Australian Tropical Herbarium)
Keywords: Bush food; Antioxidant; Natural products; Cytotoxicity; Anti-diabetic

Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation - Research Grant

Biodiscovery from Wet Tropics' native plants

Indicative Funding: $5,000 over 2 years
Summary: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects 1 in 250 Australians including the people living in the FNQ region. It cost Australians a total of $3.18 billion per annum. Given that it has no cure and the disease prevalence and its associated cost are expected to increase sharply, there is an urgent need for new drugs. Inspired by the Wet Tropics' biodiversity of Far North Queensland (FNQ), the proposed project envisions discovering novel anti-inflammatory drug leads for IBD from selected climate-affected native plants using cutting-edge drug discovery techniques and technologies. The aims are : ? Determine the metabolomes of the anti-inflammatory extracts of five native mountaintop plants using mass spectrometry techniques. ? Isolate anti-inflammatory molecules from Uromyrtus metrosideros extract using chromatographic techniques.
Investigators: Phurpa Wangchuk and Karma Yeshi (Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine)
Keywords: Wet Tropics; Biodiscovery; Inflammatory Bowel Disease; Anti-inflammatory drug lead; Natural Products; Climate change

National Health & Medical Research Council - Ideas Grants

Discovering novel drug lead molecules for inflammatory bowel disease from Australian Aboriginal tropical medicinal plants

Indicative Funding: $1,209,524 over 5 years
Summary: Inflammatory Bowel Disease is a debilitating disease, which has no cure. It costs the Australian Health System billions of dollars in hospitalisation, management and lost productivity, thereby precipitating the need for novel drugs. Building on my extensive preliminary data, we aim to discover novel drug leads from Aboriginal medicinal plants, which are currently used for treating inflammatory conditions by the Mbabaram community of the Atherton Tablelands.
Investigators: Phurpa Wangchuk, Roland Ruscher, Joanne Jamie, Stephen Pyne, Darren Crayn and Gerald Turpin (Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine, Macquarie University, University of Wollongong, College of Science & Engineering and Australian Tropical Herbarium)
Keywords: Aboriginal medicinal plants; Anti-inflammatory activities; Inflammatory Bowel Disease; Biologically active molecules; New drug leads; Metabolomics

Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation - Research Grant

Preclinical evaluation of novel drug lead compounds discovered from Wet Tropics plant

Indicative Funding: $50,000 over 1 year
Summary: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects 1 in 250 Australians including the people living in Far North Queensland (FNQ). There is no cure for this debilitating disease. Inspired by the Wet Tropics, we have isolated two compounds that demonstrated strong in vitro anti-inflammatory activity. A provisional patent has been approved for these two compounds. To further develop them into the marketable drug lead candidates, this proposed project will endeavor to achieve preclinical evaluation of these two novel compounds using the two commonly used animal models of IBD- Trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) and T cell transfer models of colitis.
Investigators: Phurpa Wangchuk, Karma Yeshi and Paul Giacomin (Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine)
Keywords: Wet Tropics; Biodiscovery; Inflammatory Bowel Disease; Anti-inflammatory drug lead; Natural products; Drug leads

Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation - Research Grant

Exploring the mosquito repellent and larvicidal activities of essential oils against Aedes aegypti

Indicative Funding: $5,000 over 1 year
Summary: To explore the mosquito repellent and larvicidal activities of essential oils (EOs) derived from native plants of wet tropics. Mosquito repellent and larvicidal activities of essential oil (EO) or a combination of EOs will be assessed against Aedes aegypti (primary dengue vector) in the laboratory following World Health Organisation protocols. The repellent and larvicidal activities will be compared with a commercially available mosquito repellent N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (20% in ethanol), and permethrin, respectively. The study outcome will ultimately lead to the development of better and more effective mosquito-repellent to prevent bittings and, thus, reduce the dengue burden in Far North Queensland.
Investigators: Karma Yeshi, Boni Sebayang and Phurpa Wangchuk (Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine)

Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation - Research Grant

Documentation and evaluation of Aboriginal medicinal plants for anti-inflammatory agents

Indicative Funding: $5,000 over 1 year
Summary: Aboriginal people in Australia, especially in remote areas, have a vast knowledge of medicinal plants and bush food (Packer et al., 2012) that have supported their sustenance and protected them against different ailments for thousands of years. In Far North Queensland (FNQ), there are more than 18 Aboriginal communities and their customary food and medical knowledge differ from other parts of Australia. Their knowledge is shaped by their rich tropical forests that are home to range of medicinal plants and bush tucker. It is believed that these plants and bush food keep some remote Aboriginal people healthy especially protected against Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The prevalence of IBD in Indigenous Australians in the Northern Territory is almost 8-37-times less than the non-indigenous population (Leach et al., 2014; Iyngkaran, 2015). Although genetic and other factors cannot be ruled out, diet, which plays a pivotal role in shaping the architecture and functionality of resident microbes in the gut (Zmora et al., 2019), may be responsible for this health outcome. Indeed, some Indigenous populations are known to possess unique microbiota compared to non-indigenous population (Iyngkaran, 2015) and we hypothesize that this could be due to inclusion of medicinal plants and bush food in their diet. Unfortunately, since younger generation are not interested to learn the Aboriginal medicinal plants and bush food knowledge, the rich customary knowledge is dying with the community elders. There is urgent need to document the surviving customary food and medical knowledge of some remote Indigenous communities before they are lost forever, which has both cultural and health ramifications in near future. Therefore, this study proposes to document and study the largely untapped pharmacopoeia of Mbabaram Aboriginal people in Atherton and discover viable medicinal plant candidates for anti-inflammatory screening.
Investigators: Phurpa Wangchuk and Gerald Paul Turpin (Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine)
Keywords: Aboriginal Medicine; Rainforest plants; Biodiscovery; Medicinal Plants; Inflammatory Bowel Disease; Traditional Knowledge

Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation - Research Grant

Preclinical evaluation of phytocompounds as novel antimicrobial agents.

Indicative Funding: $5,000 over 2 years
Summary: Through previous work funded by a FNQ Hospital Foundation Grant (JCU-QLD-838341), we have discovered two novel phytocompounds from tropical medicinal plants that show broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties against drug resistant bacterial strains that affect FNQ. To progress the development of these compounds into potential antibiotics, further pre-clinical in vitro and in vivo testing is required.
Investigators: Phurpa Wangchuk and Andreas Kupz in collaboration with Visai Muruganandah (Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine and College of Medicine & Dentistry)
Keywords: Biologically active molecules; Novel drug leads; Antimicrobial agents; Isolation of compounds; Tropical medicinal plants; Wet Tropics

Supervision

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

Antimicrobial Properties of Molecular Isolates from Tropical Flora and Fauna (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
Anti-inflammatory Molecules of the selected Aboriginal Plants and Helminths (PhD , Primary Advisor)
Metabolomics studies of selected Wet Tropic plants threatened by climate change. (Masters , Primary Advisor)
Isolation of Novel Anti-inflammatory Drug lead Molecules from Australian Tropical Medicinal Plants (Masters , Primary Advisor)
Ethnobotany and the biological activities of Iningai and Mbabaram Medicinal Plants (Masters , Primary Advisor)

Completed

Biodiscovery of anti-inflammatory drug lead molecules from Australian wet tropics plants and parasites (2023, PhD , Primary Advisor)
Exploring low molecular weight molecules produced by hookworms (Ancylostoma caninum) and their use as anti-inflammatory agents (2018, PhD , Secondary Advisor)

Data

These are the most recent metadata records associated with this researcher. To see a detailed description of all dataset records, visit Research Data Australia.

Wangchuk, P. (2020) Single crystal X-ray structure of virescenine hydrochloride. James Cook University
Wangchuk, P. (2020) Single crystal X-ray structure data of dubiamine. James Cook University
Wangchuk, P. (2020) Single crystal X-ray structure data of atisinium chloride. James Cook University
Wangchuk, P. (2020) Single crystal X-ray structure data of 6-methoxy-dihydrosanguinarine. James Cook University
Wangchuk, P. (2020) Single crystal X-ray structure data of dihydrosanguinarine. James Cook University

Collaboration

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.