Patience Obih, PhD

Professor of Pharmacology

Division of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences

Dr. Obih teaches Medicinal-Chemistry/Pharmacology, Chemical & drug toxicology in the PharmD curriculum and also has an active research laboratory involving PharmD students.  Dr. Obih is the Xavier IACU Chair and a member Xavier University Rank & Tenure Committee.

Dr. Obih received a B.S. in Pharmacology in 1975 and a Ph.D. in Pharmacology in 1981 in the department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics at University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. She became a Research Fellow and later a Lecturer II in the Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics at University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria from 1982 to 1986 where she did research and taught pharmacology. Dr. Obih was a Visiting Assistant Professor and a Fellow of ECFMG, Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates and Teachers of Basic Medical Sciences at the Laboratory of Neuro-Toxicology, Department of Pharmacology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina from 1986 to 1988. Dr. Obih was hired at Xavier University of Louisiana as an Assistant Professor to teach Pharmacology in August 1988 and has risen to the rank of full Professor of Pharmacology with tenure.

Education:

Visiting Assistant Professor /Post-Doctoral Fellowship (ECFMG), Department of Pharmacology, Laboratory of Neuro-Toxicology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina. 1986-1988.

Research Fellow, College of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, from 1982 to 1986.

Ph.D Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. 1981

1. Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. 1975

MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

1. American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
2. American Heart Association
3. American Society of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics
4. American Diabetes Association

Teaching Areas:

PHSC 3910, Medicinal Chemistry-Pharmacology I.     4 credit hours

• Adrenergic Pharmacology: Sympathomimetic and sympatholytic agents
• Histamine/Antihistamines

PHSC 4910, Medicinal Chemistry-Pharmacology II.    4 credit hours

• Cardiovascular agents: Drugs for treating Hypertension, Angina, Antihyperlipidemics, Renin-Angiotensine- System
• Diabetes: Insulin and Endocrine Pancreas
• GI: Acidity, Ulcers, Reflux, Motility, Antiemetics
• Biliary, Pancreatic Enzymes, IBD Agents
• CNS: drugs for treating Alzheimer’s Disease

PHSC 4920, Medicinal Chemistry-Pharmacology III.   4 credit hours

Cardiovascular: Diuretics, Drugs for treating Heart Failure, Antiarrhythmic Agents

PHSC 5910, Medicinal Chemistry-Pharmacology IV.   4 credit hours

• Infectious Diseases: General Considerations of Antimicrobial Therapy

1. Cell Wall Synthesis Inhibitors (Beta-lactam 
2. Protein Synthesis Inhibitors & Others
3. Sulfonamides, Trimethoprim, Quinolones & Agents for Urinary Tract Infection
4. Antifungal agents
5. Antimycobacterial Agents (Tuberculosis, Leprosy, and others)
6. Antiviral Agents (Nonretroviral) & Treatment of HIV infection
7. Chemotherapy of Protozoal Infections: Introduction
8. Chemotherapy of Protozoal Infections: Malaria, Amebiasis, Leishmaniasis, Giardiasis, Trichomoniasis, and Helminthiasis
9. Toxicology: Introduction to Principles of Toxicology

PHCL 5010, Chemical & Drug Toxicology: Course designer and teacher (team teaching)

Research Interests:

Dr. Obih’s research focus currently is in the area of Transcriptional Regulation of Natriuretic Sensitivity in Diabetes Mellitus and Drug Discovery. In her quest for new drugs for diabetes, her laboratory screens medicinal herbs for antidiabetic activities. Projects underway include characterization and purification of the medicinal extracts and examining the samples for inhibition of amylase and alpha-glucosidase as well as Glucose Signaling.  Dr. Obih’s laboratory also includes work on impact of alcohol on the liver, precisely, the effects of vitamin E and nitric oxide on hepatic oxidative stress during alcohol metabolism in rodent liver cell lines.. She has also published papers in these areas. Dr. Obih secured research grants from the following sources: R15 (NIH), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Defense (DOD), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), and SCORE 2 (NIH). Dr. Obih served as the Xavier University PI in the collaborative research with LSUHSC Medical Center (LSU-Xavier Alcohol Research (grant from NIAAA, NIH) and as the National Co-Chair in RCMI for Obesity and Metabolism Cluster. Dr. Obih’s research involves PharmD. students and has mentored over forty students in research. Dr. Obih is the Xavier IACUC Chair and a member of Xavier University Rank & Tenure Committee 

Selected Publications: 

Xiara Day, John-Clifford Obih, and Patience Obih (2018). Investigation of the Mechanism of Action of Garcinia kola (Bitter kola) as an antidiabetic.  International Journal of General Medicine and Pharmacy (IJGMP), ISSN(P): 2319-3999; ISSN(E): 2319-4006 Vol. 7, Issue 6, Oct – Nov. 2018, 1-8.

Michael Ezebuenyi, Akem Jimoh, Evelyn Ambush, Anthony Nguyen, Brittinni Summers, Michelle Ozah, John-Clifford Obih et al 2017: International Journal of General Medicine and Pharmacy, Vol. 6, Issue 5, Aug –Sep 59-64. Evaluation of the antidiabetic Activities of Selected Medicinal Herbs via Alpha-glucosidase inhibition.

Patience O. Obih, Joseph S. Soblosky, Barry J. Potter (2015). Does Ethanol Play a Pro-Oxidant Role during Oxidative Stress in the Liver? Journal of Biosciences and Medicines Vol.3 No.8, Pub. Date: August 5, 2015 

Patience O. Obih, Barry J. Potter (2015) Cell-Specific Effects of Ethanol on Nitric Oxide Synthase Induced by Inflammatory Mediators. Pharmacology & Pharmacy Vol.5 No.13,  Pub. Date: December 31, 2014 

 P.O. Obih, J. Soblosky, and B.J. Potter, (2015). Does vitamin E protect against hepatic oxidative stress during alcohol metabolism in rodent liver cell lines? - An EPR study. Journal of Alcoholism, Drug Abuse and Substance Dependence. 1:002.

Obih, P.O. and Oyekan, A.O. (2014). Proteomic Analysis of Salt-Induced Changes in Protein Expression in PPARα Null Mice. Pharmacology & Pharmacy. Vol. 5, No. 11, PP. 996-1005.

Obih P, Oyekan A.O.  (2008). Regulation of blood pressure, natriuresis and renal thiazide/amiloride sensitivity in PPARalpha null mice. Blood Press. 2008; 17(1):55-63.

Obih, P.O., Igbo, N, Onuh, C.A. and Olubadewo, J.O. (1998). Impact of Ethanol on streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats. Naunyn-Schmeid. Arch. Pharmacol. 258 (Suppl.2), R550, #P19.21

Huang, T.L., Obih, P.O., Jaiswal, R., Hartley, W., and Thiyagarajah, A. (1997). Evaluation of Liver and Brain Esterases in the Spotted Gar Fish (lepisosteidae oculatus) as Biomarkers of Exposure in the Lower Mississippi River Basin. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 58: 688-695.

Reddy, P.S., Nguyen, L.K., Obih, P.O., and Fingerman, M. (1997). Effect of cadmium chloride on the didtal retinal pigment cells of the fiddler crab (Uca pugilator). Bull. Env. Contam. Toxicol. 58: 504-510

Abou-Donia, M.B., Othma, M.A., and Obih, P.O. (1989). Profile and bioavailability of (+, -) Gossypol in male Fisher-344 rats and B6C3F male mice. Toxicology 55: 37-51.

Makinde, J.M.; Bih, P.O. and Jimoh, A.A. (1987). Effect of Solanum erianthum aqueous leaf extract on Plasmodium berghei berghei in mice. Afr. J. Med. Csi. 16: 193-196

Walker, O.., Salako, I.A., Obih, P.O., and Sodeinde (1984). The sensitivity of Plasmodium falciparum to chloroquine in Ibadan, Nigeria. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 78:782-784.

Olatunde, A and Obih, P.O. (1981). Use and misuse of 4-aminoquinoline antimalarials. Tropical Dodctor, 11:97-101.

Olatunde, A., Aderounmu A. F., Mbanefo, P., and Obih, P.O. ( 1979). A comparative Clinical Trial of Atenolol and Methydopa (Tenormin) in the out-patient hypertension. Tropical Cardiology 5, 19:143-154.

Michelle Ozah and Patience Obih, Investigation of Antidiabetic Activity of Vaccinium corybosum (Blueberry). Tenth Annual National Conference on Health Disparities, New Orleans, May 3-6, 2017.

Patience Ogechi Obih, John-Clifford Agbasi Obih, April Brown, and Xiara Day In Vitro Investigations of the Antidiabetic Action of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) FASEB J April 2017 31:lb347 . 

Festival of Scholars, Xavier University:

Sheila  Tchombe and Patience Obih, Ph.D. (2017). Can Brassica oleracea var  Inhibit Alpha-glucosidase Activity in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes? Festival of Scholars April 2017.

Xiara Day, Patience Obih. (2017). Investigations into the Antidiabetic effects of grcinia Kola via Alpha-glucosidase saccharomyces cerevisiae inhibition. Festival scholars April 2017.

International Proceedings

• Evelyn Ambush and Patience Obih (2015). Study into the in-vitro Alpah-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity of Roselle (Hibiscus sabdarifa). 33rd International Symposium on Diabetes and Nutrition, Toronto, Canada. June 10-2 2015.
• Michel Ezebuenyi, Akeem Jimoh, Evelyn Ambush and Patience Obih.17th World Congress in Basic and Clinical Pharmacology, Cape Town, South Africa. July 13-18, 2014.
• Venita Mishra, Patience O. Obih and Barry Potter (2004). Is protection from alcohol-mediated free radical generation dependent on liver cell type? RSOA meeting, Vancouver, Canada. June 26-30, 2004
• Obih, PO., Soblosky, J and Potter, BJ (2004). Nitric oxide may be involved in protection against hepatic oxidative stress during alcohol metabolism in a rat liver cell line. RSOA Meeting, Vancouver, Canada. June 26-30, 2004
• Obih, PO., Igbo, IN., Onuh, CA., and Olubadewo, JO., (1998). Impact of ethanol on streptozotocin-induced-diabetes in rats. Naunyn-Scmeid. Arch. Pharmacol. 258. Suppl.2, T550, Abstr. #P19.21 Munich, Germany. Jul, 1998.
• Obih, PO., Soblosky, JS and Lancaster, JR (2002). Ethanol increases nitric oxide formation in rat hepatoma cell line (FTO2B). 2nd International Conference on Biology, Chemistry and Therapeutic Application of Nitric Oxide (NO 2002). Prague, Czekoslovakia, June 16-20, 2002. 
• Obih, PO (2009). Alternative to Animals in the Teaching of Pharmacology laboratory. Alternative to Animal Experimentation, 7th World congress, Rome, Italy. Vol. 26, Spec. Issue ISSN 1868-596X. August 21-25, 2009.