Question-specific respirometry
Complementary permeabilised-fibre protocols were selected and compared to distinguish respiratory capacity, ADP sensitivity, creatine regulation and respiratory-chain defects.
Research and scientific contributions
From mechanisms to medicines, evidence and responsible use
A research programme connecting cellular energy, oxidative biology and medicinal-plant science through one principle: health claims become useful only when they are measured rigorously, interpreted in context and translated responsibly.
01Measure02Explain03Validate04Standardise05Translate
Research programme 01
Mitochondrial bioenergetics and muscle physiology
This programme examined how skeletal and cardiac muscle mitochondria produce, regulate and adapt ATP supply across tissue types, disease, medication and exercise training.
Tissue-specific fuel strategy
Comparative work showed that heart, oxidative soleus and glycolytic gastrocnemius muscles use substrates differently in relation to their physiological roles.
Context-dependent adaptation
Animal and human studies demonstrated that mitochondrial responses vary with tissue identity, activity, disease, transplantation, treatment formulation and training.
Research programme 02
Oxidative stress and antioxidant pharmacology
The antioxidant programme moved beyond general claims to test when an intervention is beneficial, ineffective or potentially harmful—and whether it supports or interferes with standard treatment.
Selective metabolic effects
Controlled testing of a complex formulation found selected metabolic effects, but not universal antioxidant activity or proof of human weight-loss benefit.
Adjunctive renal protection
Experimental diabetic-nephropathy studies found that alpha-lipoic acid, added to conventional treatment, improved several antioxidant, inflammatory, apoptotic, fibrotic and structural indicators.
Protection versus interference
Glutathione-enhancing interventions protected healthy-cell models in some settings, yet could also reduce chemotherapy cytotoxicity in treatment-resistant cancer cells.
Research programme 03
Evidence-based ethnopharmacology and natural products
Traditional knowledge identifies valuable research leads. Scientific investigation must then establish identity, reproducible preparation, activity, mechanism, safety, interactions, quality and clinical relevance.
Bioactivity and mechanism
Studies of Piliostigma reticulatum established antidiarrhoeal and antisecretory activity, while staged work on Holarrhena floribunda concentrated antidiabetic activity in selected fractions.
Safety across dose and duration
Acute, repeated-dose, mutagenicity and reproductive investigations showed why tolerability at one dose or duration cannot establish complete safety.
Standardisation and product development
Work on Nymphaea lotus and PHYMEPALU connected defined identity and formulation with chemical characterisation, biological activity, toxicology and reproducible product development.
Interactions and real-world use
Natural-product studies examined CYP activity, carbamazepine exposure, affordability, beliefs and adherence—linking product behaviour with the behaviour of people who use it.
An integrated evidence pathway
An integrated evidence pathway
Across the three programmes, the same logic recurs: a biological signal is not yet a health benefit. Confidence grows when complementary methods converge and when findings remain reproducible across preparation, dose, tissue, disease and treatment context.
- 01Biological plausibility starts the question—it does not prove benefit.
- 02No single test establishes efficacy, safety or mechanism.
- 03Dose, formulation, tissue and disease stage can change the result.
- 04Natural products and supplements can interact with conventional medicines.
- 05Translation requires laboratory evidence, quality systems and human context.
Selected publication pathway
Selected publication pathway
The research has progressed through methods, physiology, disease mechanisms, clinical pharmacology, efficacy, safety, standardisation and interaction studies.
Methods
Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry · 2004
Physiology & adaptation
The Journal of Physiology · 2002; AJRCCM · 2003
Clinical pharmacology
Fundamental & Clinical Pharmacology · 2014
Natural-product efficacy
Journal of Pharmacy & Bioallied Sciences · 2015; BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies · 2021
Safety & translation
Journal of Ethnopharmacology · 2021, 2025 and 2026
Antioxidant pharmacology
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy · 2022 and 2025