Professor Yahia Mohamed Elkheir Nugod

Professor Yahia Mohamed ElKheir, born on December 27, 1938, was a pioneering pharmacognosist and a revered figure in medicinal plant research. His academic journey commenced at Alexandria University, where he graduated with First Class Honors in Pharmacy in 1962. He later earned a Master’s degree from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Khartoum in 1966, and a PhD from the School of Pharmacy, University of London in 1970. Professor El Khair was notably the first Sudanese pharmacist to earn a Master’s degree from the University of Khartoum and the first to receive a PhD in Pharmacy.
Returning to Sudan, he joined the University of Khartoum as an Assistant Professor and soon became the Head of the Pharmacognosy Department, a role he held for 14 years. During his tenure, he was instrumental in establishing the department, recruiting staff, supervising postgraduate research, and continually updating the library with the latest resources. His efforts saw the department become one of the most reputable within the Faculty of Pharmacy.
One of his major accomplishments was founding the nucleus of the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Institute (MAPRI) in 1972 within his department, which later evolved into a fully-fledged institute under the National Council for Research. He led the first botanical expeditions in Sudan, significantly contributing to the study of medicinal plants.
Professor ElKheir also made substantial contributions to the study of molluscicidal plants to control schistosomiasis, a significant health issue in Sudan. His work was internationally acknowledged, leading to the adoption of his techniques by the World Health Organization.
Throughout his career, Professor ElKheir was actively involved in various national health committees and played a key role in integrating traditional medicine into Sudan’s primary healthcare programs. He received numerous accolades, including a Silver Medal from Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat in 1984 and a Medal of Merits from Sudanese President Omer Ahmed El Bashir in 2001, for his contributions to pharmacy and education.
Professor ElKheir passed away on May 13, 2017, leaving behind a legacy of excellence in pharmacy education and research. His work continues to influence and inspire generations of pharmacists and researchers.

His notable publications include:

1. El Kheir, Y. M. (1970). The Distribution of Alkaloids and Their Metabolites in Papaver Somniferum (Doctoral dissertation, University of London, The School of Pharmacy).
2. El Kheir, Y. M. (1975). The alkaloids of the stamens of Papaver somniferum. Planta medica, 27(03), 275-280.
3. Khalil, S. W., & Elkheir, Y. M. (1975). Dimethyltryptamine from the leaves of certain Acacia species of northern Sudan. Lloydia, 38(2), 176-177.
4. Kheir, Y. M., & Patel, M. B. (1975). Isolation of (+) usnic acid from Sudanese drug Usnea molliuscula. Planta medica, 27(02), 171-172.
5. El Kheir, Y. M., & El Tohami, M. S. (1979). Investigation of molluscicidal activity of certain Sudanese plants used in folk-medicine. II. Molluscicidal activity of the different morphological organs of Gnidia kraussiana Meisn abu gotna family Thymelaeaceae. The Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 82(11-12), 242-247.
6. El Kheir, Y. M., & Salih, M. H. (1979). Investigation of the alkaloidal content of Solanum dubium L. growing in Sudan. Fitoterapia.
7. El-Kheir, Y. M., & El-Tohami, M. S. (1980). Investigation of molluscicidal activity of certain Sudanese plants used in folk-medicine. III. Macro-and micro-morphology of the leaf, stem, and root of Gnidia kraussiana Meisn. Journal of African Medicinal Plants, 3, 57-71.
8. El Hadi, A. M., Bashir, A. K., & El Kheir, Y. M. (1984). Investigations of molluscicidal activity of certain Sudanese plants used in folk-medicine. Part IV. Planta medica, 50(01), 74-77.
9. Bashir, A. K., Ahmed, G. H. M., Suliman, S. M., & ElKheir, Y. M. (1984). Molluscicidal and other Biological activities of B. aegyptiaca. In The first Arab Conference on Medicinal plants, Cairo, Egypt.
10. Hakim, H. A., Kheir, Y. E., & Mohamed, M. I. (1986). Effect of the climate on the content of a CBD-rich variant of cannabis. Fitoterapia, 57(4), 239-241.
11. El Kheir, Y. M., Mohamed, M. I., & Hakim, H. A. (1986). Stability of Cannabis preparations on storage. Fitoterapia, 57(4).
12. Ahmed, E. M., Bashir, A. K., & El-Kheir, Y. M. (1984). Molluscicidal and other properties of Gardenia lutea fruit pulp. Fitoterapia, 55(5), 273-277.
13. Abdelhadi, A. A., Elkheir, Y. M., Hassan, T., & Mustafa, A. A. (1986). Neuromuscular blocking activity of a crude aqueous extract of Ipomoea fistulosa. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology & Physiology, 13(2), 169-171.
14. Mohamed, M. I., Hakim, H. A., & El Kheir, Y. M. (1986). Environmental and climatic conditions effect on THC and CBD contents of cannabis plants growing in Sudan. Fitoterapia, 57(3), 163-166.
15. Bashir, A. K., Sulaiman, S. M., Sheikh, S. E., & Kheir, Y. E. (1987). Molluscicidal, cercaricidal and miracidicidal activities of Acacia nilotica ssp. nilotica and adansonii. Fitoterapia, 58(1), 51-55.
16. Abdelhadi, A. A., El Kheir, Y. M., & Hassan, T. (1989). A succinylcholine-like action of an Ipomoea carnea jacq subsp. fistulosa (mart. ex choisy) extract. Pharmacological research, 21(4), 431-437.