Eman A. Alam

Title : Critical issues related to plant and pharmaceutical biotechnologies to achieve nations' development and welfare

Abstract:

In recent years, biotechnology has expanded too much in its scope and applicability. Now biotechnology is well known for its great role in the field of medicine and is also used in many other areas such as food and fuel. Via using plant and pharmaceutical biotechnologies, we can produce huge amounts of secondary metabolites by following different application methods. Applicable methods used for the enhancement of the in vitro production of secondary metabolites: 1. Selection of source materials. 2. Selection of superior cell lines.3. Optimization of culture conditions. 4. Alteration of controls of secondary metabolism pathways. 5. Elicitation (including physical, biological and chemical elicitation). 6. Genetic transformation. 7. Product release and adsorption. 8. Bioconversion.  9. Root cultures. 10. Cell culture or suspension culture. 11. Cryopreservation. 12. Production of differentiated tissues. 13. (Micro) propagation. 14. Precursor addition.15. Metabolic engineering. 16. Bioreactors scaling up of production of secondary metabolites. 17. Immobilization scaling up of secondary metabolite accumulation.  18. Bionanotechnology and other modern methods, are used to improve the efficiency of these in vitro-produced natural products. However, this field is very important and fruitful, there is a lack in developing countries regarding the protection of IPR related to plant and pharmaceutical biotechnologies compared to developed countries. This study will also introduce some successful examples of protection of IPR related to plant and pharmaceutical biotechnologies in some developing and developed countries to be guided by them, to be improved in our country (Egypt) accordingly. Objective of the study: 1-Identification of biotechnology, types of biotechnologies, applicable methods used to improve the in vitro production of secondary metabolites, IBE in simplifying the education of green and pharmaceutical biotechnologies in schools and faculties, and also the impact of biotechnology in economy of nations'. 2- Studying different legal means of protection of IPR in plant and pharmaceutical biotechnological fields. 3- Comparative analysis of legal protection of IPR in plant and pharmaceutical biotechnological fields in both developed and developing countries. 4-Measuring the awareness regarding the legal protection of IPR in plant and pharmaceutical biotechnological fields in both developed and developing countries. 5- Plant and pharmaceutical biotechnological innovations during crises (e.g., COVID-19) and its impact on fighting diseases and establishing small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and governmental rules in this regard.  6- Crimes of IPR in plant and pharmaceutical biotechnological fields in both developing and developed countries. This study is based on a hypothesis that: there is a difference between developed and developing countries (including Egypt) regarding the protection of IPR in plant and pharmaceutical biotechnological fields and studying this difference will lead us to improve the situation in Egypt. Comparative Studies of different legal means of IPR protection in plant and pharmaceutical biotechnological fields in both developing and developed countries will be done (Examples of Developing countries in this study are: Arab countries including; the Arab Republic of Egypt, Tunisia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and others; African countries including; Nigeria and others; Asian countries including India and others. Meanwhile, examples of Developed countries are USA; European countries including France, Australia and others). Results indicated that there is a difference between developed and developing countries in this regard and by studying these differences we can change the situation on land and awareness is an important factor in this issue.

Biography:

Dr. Alam is a dedicated lecturer and a highly skilled researcher and Trainer, trained various science related subjects at undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral and postdoctoral levels, with a special interest in phytochemistry, plant physiology (especially green and pharmaceutical biotechnology). Currently Dr. Alam is working on several plants' extracts which have proved significant effects and promising results in the treatment of colon and prostate cancer and as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, diuretic, hepatoprotective, hepatocurative and antibacterial agents etc.,. She has got M.Sc. and Ph.D. theses in Plant Physiology, Production and improvement of secondary metabolites from wild medicinal plants using tissue culture techniques and biological evaluations of these secondary metabolites as in the treatment of many human dangerous diseases, this point is her first scientific interest. Additionally, Dr. Alam has submitted to 16 Patents related to new drugs extracted from plants and novel methods for the determination of flavonoids, anthraquinones/ and tannins in plants' extracts. Also, she has 45 Books in the area of medicinal plants and in the improvement of research skills of youth researchers and students, in addition to these she has also 36 Internationally Published Scientific Papers in this area of science. Dr. Alam is an enthusiastic, self-motivated, reliable, responsible and hard working person, also she is a mature team worker and adaptable to all challenging situations, able to work well both in a team environment as well as using her own initiative, able to work well under pressure and adhere to strict deadlines. She reviewed many international scientific books and scientific original articles (more than 250) for many international scientific publishers. She is the president of hundreds international scientific meetings and participated as keynote-speaker, resource person, organizer, moderator and chairperson in nearly about 1500 international scientific meetings and engaged in many international training programs as organizer and instructor in a collaborative work with many international scientific and training Organization in many countries in Europe, USA, Asia, Africa.