Cynthia Amaning Danquah
Department of PharmacologyLife SciencesHealth SciencesPhysical SciencesSocial Sciences

Cynthia Amaning Danquah

67 Publications37 Research Themes59 Open Access
Research Overview & Focus

The integration of diverse research themes within the health sciences reveals a unified pursuit towards enhancing therapeutic effectiveness, particularly through the utilization of natural products and their synergies with antibiotics. Studies on microbial natural products highlight their significant role in combating multidrug-resistant pathogens, while investigations into therapeutic agents like palimusaponins and biotin underscore innovative methods to address antibiotic resistance. The biological activity and synthesis of alkaloids further demonstrate the versatility of plant-derived compounds in modulating biofilm formation, efflux pump inhibition, and antibiotic susceptibility. Molecular docking studies on compounds such as taxanes and DPC-108 reveal their potential as potent anti-tubercular agents. Additionally, research into phytochemistry and pharmacology, including the effects of ethyl extracts from plants like turmeric, cymodendron, and crinum, underscores their effectiveness in combating infections. The interplay between molecular mechanisms and clinical outcomes underscores the importance of natural product bioactivity in therapeutic development. This synthesis highlights a collaborative effort to understand diverse pathways for drug efficacy, ultimately aiming to advance the creation of more effective therapies, particularly targeting multidrug-resistant bacteria.

Faculty Biography

PROFILE OF PROFESSOR CYNTHIA AMANING DANQUAHBPharm, MPhil (Kumasi), PhD (London), MPSGH, MRSC    Professor Cynthia Amaning Danquah, is an Associate Professor in Pharmacology and current head of the Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana. She obtained her PhD in Natural Product Drug Discovery from the School of Pharmacy, University College London, United Kingdom. Her MPhil. Pharmacology and B. Pharm degrees were obtained from KNUST, and she holds a certificate in Pharmacovigilance from the University of Groningen, Netherlands. She is a registered Pharmacist, a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana and a Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry. Professor Cynthia Amaning Danquah was employed as a lecturer in the department of Pharmacology in November 2009, promoted to the rank of Senior lecturer in August 2014 and subsequently to Associate Professor in August 2021. She has since her appointment as a senior member rendered diverse service to the University, Ghana and the International Community. She has served as an external examiner for local and international universities, as a reviewer of grant applications and journals for both local and international institutions and member of editorial board of journals. She has worked as a visiting scholar/research associate to Birkbeck, University of London, University of Nottingham, Kings College London, and the University of Oxford all in the UK; as well as a Pharmacist Preceptor for the Ohio Northern University, Ohio and Roseman University of Health Sciences, Nevada, USA.She was awarded the Africa Oxford Research Development Award (£50,000) in 2020 to collaborate with the University of Oxford, UK on natural product drug discovery to tackle antibiotic resistance and develop new antibacterial agents to fight resistance in tuberculosis (TB). She is also a recipient of the KNUST Research Fund (KREF) Interdisciplinary award and KREF Seed grant, 2019. She is an Affiliate of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS); Country Ambassador for the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) and member of the British Pharmacological Society (BPS). To mark International Women’s Day in 2022, she was awarded the Ghana Women Excellence Award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the Social and Economic Development of Ghana in the category of Tertiary Education and Scientific Research under the auspices of the Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection of Ghana. In 2023, she won the maiden KNUST Vice Chancellor's Award for Creativity and Innovation.Her research area of interests include Natural Product Pharmacology and Toxicology, Natural Product Drug Discovery to tackle Antimicrobial Resistance particularly in Tuberculosis and AMR Stewardship. She has conducted extensive research with peer-reviewed publications, graduated postgraduate students, and participated in several international conferences and workshops across the globe including London, Glasgow, Birmingham, in the UK; Washington DC, San Diego California and Ohio Northern in USA; Copenhagen, Denmark; Chatenay-Malabry, France; Düsseldorf, Germany; Geneva, Switzerland in Europe; Cameroon, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Cote d’ivoire in Africa. She is particularly interested in mentoring young girls to take up courses and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Key Research Themes (37)
Life Sciences

Alkaloids: synthesis and pharmacology

Health Sciences

Allergic Rhinitis and Sensitization

Health Sciences

Andrographolide Research and Applications

Life Sciences

Animal Nutrition and Physiology

Life Sciences

Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria

Life Sciences

Antibiotic Use and Resistance

Health Sciences

Asthma and respiratory diseases

Life Sciences

Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing

Health Sciences

Berberine and alkaloids research

Health Sciences

Cancer-related Molecular Pathways

Physical Sciences

Chemical synthesis and alkaloids

Physical Sciences

Click Chemistry and Applications

Physical Sciences

Computational Drug Discovery Methods

Health Sciences

Drug Transport and Resistance Mechanisms

Life Sciences

Essential Oils and Antimicrobial Activity

Life Sciences

Ethnobotanical and Medicinal Plants Studies

Life Sciences

Garlic and Onion Studies

Health Sciences

Helminth infection and control

Health Sciences

HIV/AIDS drug development and treatment

Health Sciences

Interstitial Lung Diseases and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Health Sciences

Malaria Research and Control

Life Sciences

Mast cells and histamine

Health Sciences

Medical Case Reports and Studies

Health Sciences

Microbial Natural Products and Biosynthesis

Health Sciences

Nail Diseases and Treatments

Health Sciences

Natural Compounds in Disease Treatment

Life Sciences

Natural product bioactivities and synthesis

Health Sciences

Ocular Infections and Treatments

Social Sciences

Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy

Life Sciences

Pharmacological Effects of Natural Compounds

Life Sciences

Phytochemical Studies and Bioactivities

Life Sciences

Phytochemistry and Biological Activities

Life Sciences

Plant-based Medicinal Research

Life Sciences

Rabbits: Nutrition, Reproduction, Health

Physical Sciences

Synthesis and biological activity

Health Sciences

Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology

Health Sciences

Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research

Publications (67)

Mechanisms and Evolution of Antimicrobial Resistance in Ophthalmology: Surveillance, Clinical Implications, and Future Therapies

Open Access

Medicinal plant extracts modulate antibiotic activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria and Candida albicans

Open Access
2025Essential Oils and Antimicrobial ActivityDOI: 10.1007/s44372-025-00315-z

Diosgenin ameliorates silica‐induced tuberculosis in rats

Open Access
2025Phytochemical Studies and BioactivitiesDOI: 10.1002/ame2.70055

Quorum sensing inhibition by South African medicinal plants species: an in vitro and an untargeted metabolomics study

Open Access
2025Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensingDOI: 10.1186/s12906-025-04880-4

Effects of Six-Hour Pre-Incubation Thermal Conditioning and Prolonged Storage on Egg Quality, Embryogenesis, Hatchability, and Post-Hatch Physiology of Plymouth Rock Hybrid Chickens in Tropical Climate of Ghana

Open Access
2025Animal Nutrition and PhysiologyDOI: 10.36380/jwpr.2025.1

Antimicrobial Activity of Some Plant Extracts and Their Interaction with Standard Antibiotics

Open Access
2025Essential Oils and Antimicrobial ActivityDOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6285851/v1

Aurantio‐Obtusin Suppresses Airway Inflammation and Serum ICAM‐1 Expression in Guinea Pig Allergic Asthma Model

Open Access
2025Mast cells and histamineDOI: 10.1002/iid3.70160

Evaluation of the Knowledge, and Attitude of Non-Healthcare Students in Central University Ghana on Antibiotic Resistance

Open Access

Benefits of Statins as Adjunct Therapy in the Management of Tuberculosis in Patients at a Referral Site in Ghana

Open Access
2024Tuberculosis Research and EpidemiologyDOI: 10.1101/2024.12.18.24319254

Anti-implantation and uterotonic properties of Mentha pulegium L. in female Sprague-Dawley rats

Open Access
2024Rabbits: Nutrition, Reproduction, HealthDOI: 10.18203/issn.2454-2156.intjscirep20242693

Antimicrobial resistance modifying effects and molecular docking studies of Affinine, derived from Tabernaemontana crassa

Open Access
2024Alkaloids: synthesis and pharmacologyDOI: 10.1016/j.sciaf.2024.e02382

Betulin, a Compound Isolated from Crinum asiaticum Bulbs Exerted Anti-Silicosis and Pulmonoprotective Effects Through the Inhibition of NF-κB activation in Rat model

Open Access
2024Plant-based Medicinal ResearchDOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4717683/v1

The hydro-ethanolic extract of Scoparia dulcis Linn inhibits allergic airway inflammatory responses in murine asthma models

Open Access
2024Asthma and respiratory diseasesDOI: 10.1016/j.phyplu.2024.100607

Investigation of the antimycobacterial activity of African medicinal plants combined with chemometric analysis to identify potential leads

Open Access
2024Chemical synthesis and alkaloidsDOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65369-7

Discovery and Development of Antimalarial Drug Resistance Reversal Agents

2024Malaria Research and ControlDOI: 10.2174/9781681089348124100004

Diosgenin Demonstrates a Promising Activity By Reducing Biomarkers Related to Silica and Mycobacterium-Induced Lung Inflammation in Sprague Dawley Rats

Open Access
2024Phytochemical Studies and BioactivitiesDOI: 10.2139/ssrn.5036676

In Vitro Antiquorum Sensing Activity of Extracts and Solid Phase Extraction Generated Fractions of South African Medicinal Plants

Open Access
2024Essential Oils and Antimicrobial ActivityDOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4812632

Evaluation of the Knowledge, Attitude and Perception of Healthcare Students on Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance: A Study in Central University, Ghana

Open Access
2023Antibiotic Use and ResistanceDOI: 10.25026/jtpc.v7i2.472

Antibacterial, Resistance Modulation, Anti-Biofilm Formation, and Efflux Pump Inhibition Properties of Loeseneriella africana (Willd.) N. Halle (Celastraceae) Stem Extract and Its Constituents

Open Access
2023Natural Compounds in Disease TreatmentDOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12010007

Aurantio-obtusin alleviates allergic responses in ovalbumin-induced rhinitis

Open Access
2023Allergic Rhinitis and SensitizationDOI: 10.1016/j.sciaf.2023.e02004

Betulin and Crinum asiaticum L. bulbs extract attenuate pulmonary fibrosis by down regulating pro-fibrotic and pro-inflammatory cytokines in bleomycin-induced fibrosis mice model

Open Access
2023Interstitial Lung Diseases and Idiopathic Pulmonary FibrosisDOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16914

African Medicines Agency: How it will change the landscape of medicines in Africa

Open Access
2023Pharmaceutical Economics and PolicyDOI: 10.1002/puh2.96

Acute and Sub-acute Toxicity Studies of Solvent Extracts of Crinum pedunculatum Bulbs R.Br

2023Chemical synthesis and alkaloidsDOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-25998-2_59

Marburg virus in Ghana: A public health threat to Ghanaians and to Africans

Open Access
2022Viral Infections and Outbreaks ResearchDOI: 10.1002/puh2.32

Synthesized Phosphonium Compounds Demonstrate Resistant Modulatory and Antibiofilm Formation Activities against Some Pathogenic Bacteria

Open Access
2022Click Chemistry and ApplicationsDOI: 10.1155/2022/7411957

Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities of Andrographolide in Combination with Antimicrobial Drugs

Open Access
2022Andrographolide Research and ApplicationsDOI: 10.22127/rjp.2022.349694.1935

The Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Tulbaghia, Allium, Crinum and Cyrtanthus: ‘Talented’ Taxa from the Amaryllidaceae

Open Access
2022Chemical synthesis and alkaloidsDOI: 10.3390/molecules27144475

Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and Anti-inflammatory Evaluation of Synthesised Azo Compounds based on β-naphthol, Catechol and Quinol Nucleus

Open Access
2022Synthesis and biological activityDOI: 10.9734/jpri/2022/v34i42b36304

Antimicrobial Activity and In silico ADME Prediction of Synthesised 8-hydroxyquinoline Azo Compounds against Some ESKAPE Human Pathogens and Mycobacterium smegmatis

Open Access
2022Synthesis and biological activityDOI: 10.9734/jpri/2022/v34i42a36296

Clinical characteristics of external bacterial ocular and periocular infections and their antimicrobial treatment patterns among a Ghanaian ophthalmic population

Open Access
2022Ocular Infections and TreatmentsDOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14461-x

Natural Products as Antibiofilm Agents

Open Access
2022Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensingDOI: 10.5772/intechopen.104434

Hydroethanolic stem bark extract of Treculia africana Decne (Moraceae) shows antimicrobial resistance modulatory effects

Open Access
2022Ethnobotanical and Medicinal Plants StudiesDOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2022.05.031

Antitubercular activities of Crinum asiaticum bulb extract using aeroso-linduced Mycobacterium smegmatis in mice model

Open Access
2022Chemical synthesis and alkaloidsDOI: 10.7324/japs.2022.120513

Palmatine Attenuates Metastatic Lung Colonization of Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells

Open Access
2022Berberine and alkaloids researchDOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.853230

Effect of Diclofenac and Andrographolide Combination on Carrageenan-Induced Paw Edema and Hyperalgesia in Rats

Open Access
2022Andrographolide Research and ApplicationsDOI: 10.1177/15593258221103846

Antimicrobial Compounds from Microorganisms

Open Access
2022Microbial Natural Products and BiosynthesisDOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11030285

Clinical Characteristics of External Ocular and Periocular Infections and Their Antimicrobial Treatment Patterns Among a Ghanaian Ophthalmic Population; A Multicenter Study

Open Access
2022Ocular Infections and TreatmentsDOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-1249919/v1

Anti-arthritic activity of solvent extracts of the bulbs of Crinum pedunculatum R.Br.

Open Access
2022Chemical synthesis and alkaloidsDOI: 10.29090/psa.2022.06.22.138

Pyridine‐N‐Oxide Alkaloids from <i>Allium stipitatum</i> and Their Synthetic Disulfide Analogs as Potential Drug Candidates against <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i>: A Molecular Docking, QSBAR, and ADMET Prediction Approach

Open Access
2022Computational Drug Discovery MethodsDOI: 10.1155/2022/6261528

Antibacterial, Resistance Modulation, Anti-Biofilm Formation, and Efflux Pump Inhibition Properties of Loeseneriella Africana (Willd.) N. Halle (Celastraceae) Stem Extract and its New Triterpenoid

Open Access
2022Natural Compounds in Disease TreatmentDOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4298220

In-vitro Anti-Tuberculosis, Anti-Efflux Pumps and Anti-Biofilm Effects of Crinum Asiaticum Bulbs

Open Access
2021Chemical synthesis and alkaloidsDOI: 10.13005/bpj/2289

Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory, and Anti-pyretic Activities of Crinum pedunculatum R.Br. Bulb Extracts

Open Access
2021Chemical synthesis and alkaloidsDOI: 10.5530/pres.14.1.5

Palmatine sensitizes chemoresistant triple negative breast cancer cells via efflux inhibition of multidrug resistant protein 1.

Open Access
2021Drug Transport and Resistance MechanismsDOI: 10.1016/j.sciaf.2021.e01022

Antibacterial, Antibiofilm, and Efflux Pump Inhibitory Properties of the Crude Extract and Fractions from Acacia macrostachya Stem Bark

Open Access
2021Essential Oils and Antimicrobial ActivityDOI: 10.1155/2021/5381993

Synthesis, molecular docking studies and ADME prediction of some new triazoles as potential antimalarial agents

Open Access
2021HIV/AIDS drug development and treatmentDOI: 10.1016/j.sciaf.2021.e00998

Self-Medication and Antimicrobial Resistance: A Survey of Students Studying Healthcare Programmes at a Tertiary Institution in Ghana

Open Access
2021Antibiotic Use and ResistanceDOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.706290

Acute and sub-acute toxicity studies of the chloroform extract of Crinum asiaticum bulbs in mice.

Open Access
2021Chemical synthesis and alkaloidsDOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2021.07.047

Protective effects of andrographolide against diclofenac-induced gastric damage

Open Access
2021Andrographolide Research and ApplicationsDOI: 10.1016/j.sciaf.2021.e00944

Investigating Ghanaian Allium Species for Anti-Infective and Resistance-Reversal Natural Product Leads to Mitigate Multidrug-Resistance in Tuberculosis

Open Access
2021Garlic and Onion StudiesDOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10080902

Palmatine Modulates Triple Negative Mammary Carcinoma by Regulating the Endogenous Function of p53, p21 and Mdm2

Open Access
2021Cancer-related Molecular PathwaysDOI: 10.13005/bpj/2195

Bioactive constituents with antibacterial, resistance modulation, anti-biofilm formation and efflux pump inhibition properties from Aidia genipiflora stem bark

Open Access
2021Essential Oils and Antimicrobial ActivityDOI: 10.1186/s40816-021-00266-4

Anti-infective, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities of the bulb extracts of Crinum jagus (J. Thomps.) Dandy (Amaryllidaceae)

Open Access
2021Chemical synthesis and alkaloidsDOI: 10.1016/j.sciaf.2021.e00723

Public perceptions on the use of antibiotics at a market place in Kumasi, Ghana: A cross-sectional study

2020Antibiotic Use and Resistance

Combating Biofilm and Quorum Sensing: A New Strategy to Fight Infections

Open Access
2019Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensingDOI: 10.5772/intechopen.89227

Antimicrobial Agents: Antibacterial Agents, Anti-biofilm Agents, Antibacterial Natural Compounds, and Antibacterial Chemicals

Open Access
2019Essential Oils and Antimicrobial ActivityDOI: 10.5772/intechopen.82560

Antimicrobial pentacyclic triterpenes and glycosides from the stem bark of<i>Cussonia bancoensis</i>

2018Natural product bioactivities and synthesisDOI: 10.1080/14786419.2018.1503262

Analogues of Disulfides from Allium stipitatum Demonstrate Potent Anti-tubercular Activities through Drug Efflux Pump and Biofilm Inhibition

Open Access
2018Garlic and Onion StudiesDOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-18948-w

Early diagnosis and effective treatment regimens are the keys to tackle antimicrobial resistance in tuberculosis (TB): A report from Euroscicon's international TB Summit 2016

Open Access
2016Tuberculosis Research and EpidemiologyDOI: 10.1080/21505594.2016.1256536

HT‐SPOTi: A Rapid Drug Susceptibility Test (DST) to Evaluate Antibiotic Resistance Profiles and Novel Chemicals for Anti‐Infective Drug Discovery

2016Antibiotic Resistance in BacteriaDOI: 10.1002/9780471729259.mc1708s40

Development of a rapid, reliable and quantitative method — “SPOTi” for testing antifungal efficacy

Open Access
2015Nail Diseases and TreatmentsDOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2015.07.005

Tackling tuberculosis: Insights from an international TB Summit in London

Open Access
2015Tuberculosis Research and EpidemiologyDOI: 10.1080/21505594.2015.1060396

The Anthelmintic Activity of Vernonia Amygdalina (Asteraceae) and Alstonia Boonei De Wild (Apocynaceae)

Open Access
2012Helminth infection and control

Anti-arthritic Effects of an Ethanolic Extract of Capparis erythrocarpos Isert Roots in Freund’s Adjuvant-induced Arthritis in Rats

2011Phytochemistry and Biological ActivitiesDOI: 10.3923/jpt.2011.201.217

Anti-inflammatory and Antipyretic Effects of an Ethanolic Extract of Capparis erythrocarpos Isert Roots

Open Access
2011Phytochemistry and Biological ActivitiesDOI: 10.3923/rjmp.2011.158.168

The indiscriminate use of sex enhancing products among Ghanaians: Prevalence, and potential risk

2011Medical Case Reports and Studies

Antinociceptive Effects of an Ethanolic Extract of Capparis erythrocarpos Isert Roots in the Mice Formalin Test

Open Access
2009Pharmacological Effects of Natural CompoundsDOI: 10.3923/ijp.2009.354.361

Anti-Arthritic Effects of Palisota hirsuta K. Schum. Leaf Extract in Freund’s Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis in Rats

2009Natural product bioactivities and synthesisDOI: 10.3923/ijp.2009.181.190
Academic Metrics
DepartmentDepartment of Pharmacology
Total Publications67
Research Themes37
Open Access Papers59

Department of Pharmacology

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

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