Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry & Natural Products

Biography

Dr Ian Cock obtained his PhD for studies in reproductive biology/immunology into “Early Pregnancy Factor (EPF)” and very early pregnancy detection from Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia in 1994. Following his PhD studies, Dr Cock undertook postdoctoral studies into cytochrome’s P450 and multiple drug interactions in the Department of Biochemistry and in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, both at the University of Queensland. He returned to Griffith University as an academic staff member in 1998 and has taught and developed a number of courses across three campuses of Griffith University since this time. His teaching broadly encompasses biochemistry, biological chemistry, cell biology, immunology, plant biology and biotechnology. Specific areas of expertise and interest include metabolism and its regulation, phytochemistry and natural product discovery, redox biochemistry and redox control systems, protein structure/function, enzymology, biomolecular isolation and characterisation techniques, and drug bioassays. Dr Cock leads a research team in the Environmental Futures Research Institute and the School of Natural Sciences at Griffith University. The Griffith University research team is involved in bioactivity and phytochemical studies into a variety of plant species of both Australian and international origin. The current research interests of this team involve bioactivity, structural and mechanistic studies into the medicinal potential of Aloe vera, South Asian and South American tropical fruits, as well as Australia plants including Scaevola spinescens, Pittosporum phylliraeoides, Terminalia ferdinandiana (Kakadu plum), Australian Acacias, Syzygiums, Petalostigmas and Xanthorrhoea johnsonii (grass trees). This range of projects has resulted in approximately 100 scientific publications in a variety of peer reviewed journals. Dr Cock is also a member of the editorial boards of 10 scientific journals, including being the editor-in-chief and foundation editor of the journal Pharmacognosy Communications.

Research Interest

Dr Cock leads a research team in the Environmental Futures Research Institute and the School of Natural Sciences at Griffith University. The Griffith University research team is involved in bioactivity and phytochemical studies into a variety of plant species of both Australian and international origin. The current research interests of this team involve bioactivity, structural and mechanistic studies into the medicinal potential of Aloe vera, South Asian and South American tropical fruits, as well as Australia plants including Scaevola spinescens, Pittosporum phylliraeoides, Terminalia ferdinandiana (Kakadu plum), Australian Acacias, Syzygiums, Petalostigmas and Xanthorrhoea johnsonii (grass trees). This range of projects has resulted in approximately 100 scientific publications in a variety of peer reviewed journals. Dr Cock is also a member of the editorial boards of 10 scientific journals, including being the editor-in-chief and foundation editor of the journal Pharmacognosy Communications.