Dr. Salman Zafar
Assistant Professor at Institute of Chemical Sciences, University of Peshawar
HEC Approved PhD Supervisor
Dr. Salman Zafar
Assistant Professor
ADDRESS:
Work: Institute of Chemical Sciences, University of Peshawar, Peshawar-25120, Pakistan
Residence: Moh. Janabad, P.O. Pirpiai, Tehsil & Distt. Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Ph: +92-322-9011701
E-mail: salmanzafar@upesh.edu.pk, salman.hej@gmail.com
Web: ICS, University of Peshawar
LinkedIn
Researchgate
L to R: Samina, Farrukh Sier, Faiz ur Rahman, Taimur Khan
Researchgate
L to R: Samina, Farrukh Sier, Faiz ur Rahman, Taimur Khan
Summary
QUOTE BY HIM ............
I have obtained PhD degree in Bioorganic and medicinal Chemistry from the H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, Karachi University, Karachi, Pakistan, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, in 2012.
I worked in the field of natural product chemistry (medicinal chemistry) during M.Sc. research, working on the phytochemical investigation of medicinal plants and evaluation of their anti-oxidant activities.
During Ph.D., I have worked on the biocatalysis of drugs by using microbial and plant cell cultures. Several new and known metabolites were obtained in the process, some of which were found to be potential enzyme inhibitors, after subjection to a battery of in vitro bioassays. My work has produced research articles, published in peer reviewed international journals of repute.
I have over two years of Post-PhD teaching and research experience at university level offering courses in organic chemistry, natural product chemistry, photochemistry and reterosynthesis at M.Sc., BS and M.phil./Ph.D. level. Besides teaching, I have been involved in supervision of research students in the field of organic synthesis and natural product chemistry (medicinal chemistry), publishing the work in international journals. I have won a research grant from the Higher Education Commission, Pakistan for a research proposal in the field of medicinal chemistry. During my post-doctoral experience, I have published six research articles and one is in press.
I have a hand on experience of working at some of the modern and sophisticated instruments such as HPLC, HPTLC, UV, IR, NMR, MS, GC and GC-MS etc. Interpretation of the data obtained in the form of chromatograms and spectra is one of my strong areas, which is of utmost importance in natural products and medicinal chemistry.
Currently I am working on Biotransformation, Natural Products Chemistry and Organic Synthesis
I worked in the field of natural product chemistry (medicinal chemistry) during M.Sc. research, working on the phytochemical investigation of medicinal plants and evaluation of their anti-oxidant activities.
During Ph.D., I have worked on the biocatalysis of drugs by using microbial and plant cell cultures. Several new and known metabolites were obtained in the process, some of which were found to be potential enzyme inhibitors, after subjection to a battery of in vitro bioassays. My work has produced research articles, published in peer reviewed international journals of repute.
I have over two years of Post-PhD teaching and research experience at university level offering courses in organic chemistry, natural product chemistry, photochemistry and reterosynthesis at M.Sc., BS and M.phil./Ph.D. level. Besides teaching, I have been involved in supervision of research students in the field of organic synthesis and natural product chemistry (medicinal chemistry), publishing the work in international journals. I have won a research grant from the Higher Education Commission, Pakistan for a research proposal in the field of medicinal chemistry. During my post-doctoral experience, I have published six research articles and one is in press.
I have a hand on experience of working at some of the modern and sophisticated instruments such as HPLC, HPTLC, UV, IR, NMR, MS, GC and GC-MS etc. Interpretation of the data obtained in the form of chromatograms and spectra is one of my strong areas, which is of utmost importance in natural products and medicinal chemistry.
Currently I am working on Biotransformation, Natural Products Chemistry and Organic Synthesis
LINKS
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Salman_Zafar2/info
http://chemwonders.blogspot.in/
https://plus.google.com/+SalmanZafarMandoory/posts
https://www.youtube.com/user/salmanhej
https://www.facebook.com/salman.zafar.108
http://chemwonders.blogspot.in/
https://plus.google.com/+SalmanZafarMandoory/posts
https://www.youtube.com/user/salmanhej
https://www.facebook.com/salman.zafar.108
Experience
Assistant Professor
Institute of Chemical Sciences, University of Peshawar, Peshawar-25120, Pakistan
Working on Biotransformation, Natural Product Chemistry and Organic Synthesis
Assistant Professor
Institute of Chemical Sciences, University of Peshawar
Teaching and Research
Assistant Professor
Sarhad University of Science and I.T-Peshawar Pakistan
Teaching Organic Chemistry at M.Sc. level
Demonstration of Organic chemistry practicals
Research Supervision of M.Sc. students
Demonstration of Organic chemistry practicals
Research Supervision of M.Sc. students
Assistant Professor
Abdul Wali Khan University
Currently supervising 5 M.Sc. students on three different projects in the field of organic synthesis and Natural Products Chemistry.
Won a research grant worth 0.5 million PKR.
Won a research grant worth 0.5 million PKR.
Research Fellow
HEJ Research Institue of Chemistry
Ph. D. Thesis Title: "Study of Biotransformation of Most Common Drugs by Microbial and Plant Cell Cultures"
Quality Control Analyst
Bryon Pharmaceuticals Peshawar
Testing of In-Process products at various stages of development and packaging which involved assays, dissolution tests, weight variation, moisture testing, and other related quality control tests
Stability testing of old batches which also involved the above mentioned tests
Method development for launching new products
Stability testing of old batches which also involved the above mentioned tests
Method development for launching new products
Student
Institute of Chemical Sciences University of Peshawar
Student of Organic Chemistry.
Research in the field of Natural Product Chemistry
Title Of Thesis: "Phytochemical Investigation of Bark of Bauhinia Variegate"
Research in the field of Natural Product Chemistry
Title Of Thesis: "Phytochemical Investigation of Bark of Bauhinia Variegate"
Education
H. E. J. Research Institute of Chemistry
Ph. D., Biocatalysis/Biotransformation/Microbial transformation, -
Research scholar at the Biotransformation laboratory
Activities and Societies: Involved in organization of international symposia and workshops. Supervision of junior research fellows. Served as GRE-ETS (Chemistry) instructor. Served as the Biotransformation Laboratory Incharge, keeping record of all the chemicals/instruments, maintainance of the instruments/apparatus, management of lab affairs, and guidance of junior research fellows, giving periodic reports to the Group Incharge
University of Peshawar
Master's degree, Chemistry, A
Master of Science in Chemistry, specialized in Organic Chemistry
Institute of Chemical Sciences, University of Peshawar
Master's degree, Organic Chemistry, A
Master of Science in Chemistry, specialized in Organic Chemistry
Activities and Societies: Editor of the "Alembic"- the chemistry magazine Office bearer-keeping discipline at the department and look after issues related to students.
Govt. Post Graduate College Nowshera, University of Peshawar
Bachelor's degree, Chemistry, Zoology, Geography, B
Bachelor's of Science with Chemistry, Zoology and Geography as majors
Nisar Shaheed Degree College, Risalpur Cantt
F. Sc., Pre-Medical, A
F.Sc with pre-medical subjects
Activities and Societies: I was the Senior Proctor (Incharge of Proctorial Board). Supervised and looked after all disciplinary things and managed proctors to keep discipline at the highest inside college premises.
Army Public School, Armour Nowshera Cantt
Matriculation, Science, A
Matriculation in Science. Remained "Head Boy" of the school.
Publications
In vitro Evaluation of Anti-Microbial Potential of the Leaf Extracts of Acacia modesta(Link)
Journal of the Chemical Society of Pakistan
April 21, 2014
Phytochemical and Biological evaluation of Acacia modesta
Biotransformation of dianabol with the filamentous fungi and β-glucuronidase inhibitory activity of resulting metabolites(Link)
Steroids
April 10, 2014
Biocatalysis and Enzyme inhibitory activities
Biotransformation of androgenic steroid mesterolone with Cunninghamella blakesleeana and Macrophomina phaseolina(Link)
Steroids
April 2014
Biotransformation
Molecular docking simulation studies on potent butyrylcholinesterase inhibitors obtained from microbial transformation of dihydrotestosterone(Link)
Chemistry Central Journal
October 8, 2013
Biocatalysis, enzyme inhibition and molecular docking simulation studies
New metabolites from fungal biotransformation of an oral contraceptive agent: Methyloestrenolone(Link)
Steroids
April 2013
Biocatalysis and Single-Crystal X-ray Diffraction Studies
Biotransformation of oral contraceptive ethynodiol diacetate with microbial and plant cell cultures(Link)
Chemistry Central Journal
September 29, 2012
Biotransformation with microbial and plant cell cultures and Single Crystal X-ray Diffraction Studies
Biotransformation of dehydroepiandrosterone with Macrophomina phaseolina and β-glucuronidase inhibitory activity of transformed products(Link)
Journal of Enzyme Inhibition and Medicinal Chemistry
June 2012
Biotransformation and Enzyme Inhibition Assays
17b-Hydroxy-17a-(hydroxymethyl)estr- 4-en-3-one(Link)
Acta Crystallographica Section E
October 2010
Single Crystal X-ray Diffraction studies
In vitro anti-oxidant potential of new metabolites from Hypericum oblongifolium (Guttiferae)(Link)
Taylor and Francis
February 20, 2015
Anti-oxidant potential of compounds obtained from Hypericum oblogifolium
Conferences/Symposia
1. 11th International Symposium on Natural Product Chemistry (H.E.J.R.I.C., Karachi, 2008)2. 12th International Symposium on Natural Product Chemistry (H.E.J.R.I.C., Karachi, 2010)3. Sao Paulo Advanced School on Bioorganic Chemistry (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UNESP, Araraquara, Brazil, 2013)
Poster Presentation
1. In vitro Models for Mammalian Drug Metabolism: 12th International Symposium on National Product Chemistry (2010, Karachi, Pakistan).
2. Enzyme Inhibitors from Microbial Transformation of Dihydrotestosterone: 2nd Advance School on Bioorganic Chemistry (2013, Araraquara, Brazil)
PROJECTS/GRANTS
1. Start up research grant for research project entitled “Phytochemical investigation of Olea ferruginea” from Higher Education Commission, Pakistan worth 0.5 million.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
RESEARCH INTERESTS
BIOTRANSFORMATION
The transformation of a chemical compound inside the animal body catalyzed by enzymes (biocatalysts) is called biotransformation or Biocatalysis. The process converts hydrophobi
c substances to hydrophilic for easy excretion from the body. It is also termed as metabolism. Drugs taken by us are metabolized to variety of different metabolites inside the body, the term xenobiotic biotransformation is therefore used.
Enzymes obtained from different sources such as, plants, animals, microorganisms have been utilized for studying the biotransformation of different classes of compounds and to draw a comparison between the in vivo metabolism and in vitro biotransformation of these compounds. When enzymes obtained from microorganisms (fungi, bacteria, yeast) are utilized for this purpose, the term microbial transformation is used.
We have been working on the microbial transformation of organic compounds to obtain a library of different products for studying the Structure-Activity-Relationship (SAR) by evaluating the biological activities of these products.This has led to the discovery on new enzyme inhibitors.
The whole process is a quest for the discovery of new and novel lead compounds which can ultimately develop into a potent drug.
Main objectives of this work are:
1. Comparative study of the biotransformation of drugs by microbial and body enzymes, to get an idea about the metabolism of the drug inside the body. 2. Discovery of new sources of enzymes for effective regio- and stereoselective transformations. 3. Synthesis of library of compounds for studying SAR. 4. Drug development
Main objectives of this area of research are:
1. Identify and discover medicinal plants which have not been utilized for the isolation of bioactive compounds
2. Drug discovery and development
ORGANIC SYNTHESIS
Organic synthesis has played a key role in the preparation of novel pharmacophores, responsible for preventing and curing different health disorders. Therefore it has a vital part to play in drug discovery and development.
Main objectives are:
1. Synthesis of new pharmacophores active against different health disorders
2. Method development for the preparation of different classes of compounds
3. Partial synthesis of natural products
4. Preparation of analogues of natural products for studying SAR
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RESEARCH ARTICLES
1. Zafar S.; Khan A.; Khan M.; Parveen Z.; and Khan K. In vitro evaluation of anti-microbial potential of the leaf extracts of Acacia modesta. Journal of The Chemical Society of Pakistan, 2014, 36, 1105-1108.
Visit to Sao Paulo, Brazil, July 2013
Advance School on Bioorganic Chemistry, UNESP, Araraquara, Sao Paulo, Brazil (July 2013)
11TH International Symposium on Natural Product Chemistry 2008 ICCBS, University of Karachi
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