Dr. Cosmas Okoro

Cosmas O. Okoro
Professor of Chemistry
College of Life and Physical Sciences

Contact Information:
Office Location: Boswell Sc. Complex Room 211
Telephone: 615-963-5332
FAX: 615-963-5326
Email: cokoro@tnstate.edu

Research Areas:

The focus of the Okoro research group at Tennessee State University is on design, synthesis, and structure-based virtual screening of small organic molecules as enzyme inhibitors. We are particularly interested in targets whose x-ray crystal structures are known, such as EGFR-TK, RSK, SARS-Cov-2, and topoisomerase. In most cases, the chemical synthesis involves easily accessible routes, that achieve high atom economy. In addition, computational chemistry methods are an integral part of Okoro’s research.

Teaching

  • General, Organic and Biochemistry (GOB)
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Medicinal Chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Scientific Communication
  • Advanced Organic Chemistry part A
  • Special Topic – Natural Products

 

Publications/Citations
Refereed Journal Articles: 16
Journal Citations: 6
Research Abstracts: 15
Conference Presentations: 15


 Publications

1. Saudat T. Adamson, Olugbeminiyi O. Fadeyi, Elber L. Myles and Cosmas O. Okoro, “The anticancer effects of some West African medicinal plants”. Journal of the Tennessee Academy of Science, Vol 81, No. 3-4, page 89 (2006).
2. Olugbeminiyi O. Fadeyi, Saudat T. Adamson, E. Lewis Myles, Cosmas O. Okoro. Novel fluorinated acridone derivatives. Part 1: Synthesis and evaluation as potential anticancer agents. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters 18 (2008) 4172-4176.
3. Oluropo C. Agbaje, Olugbeminiyi O. Fadeyi, Saudat Adamson Fadeyi, Lewis E. Myles and Cosmas O. Okoro, “Synthesis and in vitro cytotoxicity of some fluorinated hexahydropyrimidine derivatives”. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 21, 2011, 989-992.
4. Cosmas O. Okoro, Tasneem Siddiquee and Olugbeminiyi O. Fadeyi, 5,7-dibromo-3-trifluoromethyl-3,4-dihydroacridin-1 (2H)-one. Acta Cryst., 2011, E67, o2052.
5. Ajala, A. O.; Okoro, C. O., “CoMFA and CoMSIA Studies of Hexahydropyrimidine Derivatives”, Bioorg Med. Chem. Lett. 2011, 7392-7398.
6. Cosmas O. Okoro, Mumiye A. Ogunwale, and Tasneem Siddiquee, ‘Synthesis of some New Fluorinated Hexahydroquinoline and Acridinedione Derivatives in trifluoroethanol. Appl. Sci., 2012, 2, 368-374.
7. Adeayo O. Ajala and Cosmas O. Okoro, 3D-QSAR Topomer CoMFA Studies on 10 N-Substituted Acridone Derivatives. Open J. Med. Chem., 2012, 2, 43-49.
8. Saudat Adamson Fadeyi, Olugbeminiyi O. Fadeyi, Adedeji A. Adejumo, Cosmas O. Okoro and Elber L. Myles, “ In vitro anticancer screening of 24 locally used Nigerian medicinal plants”. BMC Complementary and alternative Medicine 2013, 13:79
9. Cosmas O. Okoro, John Apraku, Elisha O. Okoromoba and Olugbeminiyi O. Fadeyi, Synthesis and Anticonvulsant Activity of Fluorinated Cyclic Enaminones. Letters in Drug Design & Discovery, 2013, 10, 1024- 1031.
10. Lorena Ifante, Alexis Sledge, Amine Laradji, Cosmas O. Okoro, and Neil Osheroff. Novel trifluoromethylated 9-amino-3,4-dihydroacridin-1 (2H)-ones act as covalent poison of human topoisomerase IIα. Bioorg. & Med. Chem. Lett. 27, (2017) 586-589.
11. John Apraku and Cosmas O. Okoro. Design, synthesis and anticonvulsant evaluation of fluorinated benzyl amino enaminones. Bioorg & Med. Chem. 27 (2019) 161-166
12.Cosmas O. Okoro., Mumiye A. Ogunwale, Abiodun S. Oyedele. Facile Synthesis of bis-trifluoromethyl-1,8-dioxo-octahydroxanthene derivatives. International J. of Org. Chem. 2019, 9, 121-129. Program Director/Principal Investigator (Last, First, Middle): PHS 398/2590 (Rev. 06/09)

13. Synthesis and virtual screening of novel acridone derivatives as potential topoisomerase II α catalytic inhibitors Oyedele, Abiodun Samuel S.; Okoro, Cosmas O.Abstracts, 71st Southeastern Regional   Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Savannah, GA, United States, October 20-23 (2019), SERMACS-777. | Language: English, Database: CAPLUS
14. Novel 9-amino acridone derivatives as potential topoisomerase II inhibitors Oyedele, Abiodun S.; Dalvie, Esha D.; Osheroff, Neil; Okoro, Cosmas ObiFrom Abstracts of Papers, 259th ACS National   Meeting & Exposition, Philadelphia, PA, United States, March 22-26, 2020 (2020), MEDI-0205. | Language: English, Database: CAPLUS
15. Synthesis, biological evaluation and virtual screening of some acridone derivatives as potential anticancer agents Oyedele, Abiodun S.; Bogan, Deanna N.; Okoro, Cosmas O. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry (2020), 28(9), 115426. | Language: English, Database: CAPLUS

Teaching:
CHEM 1100/CHEM 1101 – Fundamental of Organic & Biochemistry Lecture/Lab
CHEM 2010/2011 - Organic Chemistry I Lecture/Lab
CHEM 2020/2021 – Organic Chemistry II Lecture/Lab
CHEM 4100 – Scientific Communication
CHEM 4420 – Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry
CHEM 5210 – Advanced Organic Chemistry

Professional Affiliations:
American Chemical Society Division of medicinal Chemistry
Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society
Phi Lambda Upsilon Honorary Chemical Society
Beta Kappa Chi Scientific Honor SocietyAmerican Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists
Tennessee Cancer Coalition
International Who’s Who of Professionals
Chair, Nashville section of the American Chemical Society
Tennessee Academy of Sciences

Education
B.S. Chemistry (1981) –North Carolina Central University, Durham, N. C.
M.S. Organic Chemistry (1986) –North Carolina Central University, Durham, N. C.
Ph.D. Organic Chemistry (1993) –Howard University, Washington, DC
Postdoctoral Research Associate, (1993-1995), Florida A & M College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
NIH Fellow in Medicinal chemistry (1999-2000), University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS

Detailed CV





webpage contact:
Chemistry