Staff Profiles

Dr. K’Owino Isaac O

kowinoContact Details
Department: Pure and Applied Chemistry
School: Natural and Applied Sciences (MMUST)
P.O. Box 190-50100 Kakamega, KENYA
Office No: ABA Room 409a
Kakamega-Webuye Road
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2360-8986

ResearcherID:  GMI-2277-2022

Google Scholar:  3WgXDPMAAAAJ&hl=en

Dr. K’Owino Isaac O

Research Statement: Dr K’Owino research interests center on the use of nanostructured materials in a multifaceted approach to reduce levels of toxic contaminants from soils and water sources, a field now known as remediation. It also entails developing novel methods of detecting low levels of contaminants. He started off at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) working with students on degradation pathways of pesticides such as carbofuran in soils within Nzoia River Drainage Basin that resulted in co-authored publications with his peers. He has exploited the supper properties offered by zerovalent iron nanoparticle to study kinetics of degrading metribuzin and paraoxon (a nerve agent simulant) to environmentally benign compounds. The degradation kinetics were extended further to green remediation using naturally derived flavonoids. In this cases, zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using plant extracts from Cissus quadrangularis and used as a composite with activated carbon to degrade dieldrin in aqueous solution and soils in Nyando River Basin. The desire to have cheaper materials to remove contaminants from soils and water led him and his students exploit the use of biochar from Prosopis juriflora in removing methylene blue and indigo red dyes from aqueous media and effluents from textile industries. Working with postgraduate students, he has researched immensely on the use of biochar and nanomaterials amended with phytochemicals to control bacterial wilt menace in tomatoe plant. Examples include studying antibacterial activity against Ralstonia solanacearum by fruit extracts of Solanum incanum L. and essential oils from Tithonia diversifolia leaves and flowers. Closely related to this is characterizing chemical properties of plant extracts from Euclea divinorum hern (ebenaceae), Rosmarinus officinalis, Albizia coriaria and Entada abyssinica, amongst others, against various microbial toxins. Crude acetonic extract of phytochemicals from Prosopis juliflora have equally been exploited in dyeing of various fabrics. The results of the findings can be found in Research Journal of Textile and Apparel co-authored with others. These studies were extended to dyeing of cotton fabric using vilangin synthesized from of embelin extracted from embelin chimperi plant as indicated in publication.
Teaching Philosophy: Dr K’Owino teaching philosophy is a mirror image of his research philosophy. He embraces active discovery learning in which lessons are designed to have students learning through trial-and-error, solving problems, and creating new solutions. At lower undergraduate (first years and second years) classrooms, chalk and blackboard are most effective. He divides his large classes into groups of 3-4 students through which they collaborate in solving challenging problems related to the course content. These small groups have provided synergy for developing curiosity culminating into great ideas, insightful questions, dedication, hard work, perseverance, and the ability to analyze and solve complex problems. The focal point for these problem solving exercises is to encourage students to work together as teams and learn how to solve problems interactively, through effective collaboration and leadership at an early stage of their careers. More importantly, teamwork helps students build up confidence thereby amplifying their interactive classroom experience

Some of his Key Publiocations:

  1. Florence Atieno Opondo, Isaac Odhiambo K'Owino, Sarah Cherono Chepkwony, Viola Jepchumba Kosgei, Njira Njira Pili In vivo antibacterial activity of extracts of Tithonia diversifolia against Ralstonia solanacearum in tomato. published on 3rd November 2023 in Scientific African. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2023.e01962
  2. Veronica A. Okello, Isaac O. K’Owino, Kevin Masika and Victor O. Shikuku. Reduction and Degradation of Paraoxon in Water Using Zero-Valent Iron Nanoparticles.  Sustainability. Published: 2 August 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159451.
  3. C Ondijo, F Kengara, I K’Owino (2022) Synthesis, Characterization, and Evaluation of the Remediation Activity of Cissus quadrangularis Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle-Activated Carbon Composite on Dieldrin in Aqueous Solution Journal of Nanotechnology 2022 Article ID 2055024, https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/2055024.
  4. MP Odero, AK Kiprop, IO K’Owino, M Arimi (2022) Phytochemical screening, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and GC-MS evaluation of crude acetonic extracts of Prosopis juliflora. In: Advances in Phytochemistry, Textile and Renewable Energy Research for Industrial Growth 170-175. CRC Press.
  5. FA Opondo, IO K’Owino, SC Chepkwony, VJ Kosgei (2022) In Vitro Antibacterial Activity of Essential Oils from Tithonia Diversifolia Leaves and Flowers Against Ralstonia Solanacearum European Journal of Applied Sciences 10 (2) 523–539. https://doi.org/10.14738/aivp.102.12172
  6. SB Obakiro, A Kiprop, I K’owino, M Andima, RO Owor, R Chacha Phytochemical, Cytotoxicity, and Antimycobacterial Activity Evaluation of Extracts and Compounds from the Stem Bark of Albizia coriaria Welw ex. Oliver Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2022 Article ID 7148511. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/7148511.
  7. FO Kengara, CO Ondijo, IO K’Owino (2022) Biosynthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles as a potential adsorbent for degrading organochlorines. In: Advances in Phytochemistry, Textile and Renewable Energy Research for or Industrial Growth 1st Edition eBook ISBN 9781003221968 CRC Press.
  8. MC Koske, AK Kiprop, SC Chepkwony, IO K’Owino (2021) Dyeing Properties of Vilangin Synthesized from Embelin on Cotton Fibre European Journal of Applied Sciences 9 (6) 298–309 https://doi.org/10.14738/aivp.96.11308.
  9. SB Obakiro, A Kiprop, E Kigondu, I K’Owino, K Kiyimba, CD Kato (2021) Sub-acute toxicity effects of methanolic stem bark extract of Entada abyssinica on biochemical, haematological and histopathological parameters in wistar albino rats Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2424. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.740305
  10. SB Obakiro, A Kiprop, E Kigondu, IO K’Owino, MP Odero, S Manyim, T Omara, J Namukobe, RO Owor, Y Gavamukulya, L Bunalema (2021) Traditional medicinal uses, phytoconstituents, bioactivities, and toxicities of Erythrina abyssinica Lam. ex DC. (fabaceae): a systematic review Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2021 Article ID 5513484. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/5513484
  11. RCR Lucy Nyambura Karanja, IO K'owino, Phanice T Wangila (2021) Phytochemical Composition and Antibacterial Activity of Fruit Extract of Solanum incanum L. against Ralstonia solanacearum Asian Journal of Applied Chemistry Research 9 (4), 1-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.9734/AJACR/2021/v9i430218
  12. I Mbabazia, P Wangila, IO K’Owino (2021) Comparison of the phytochemical composition of Euclea divinorum Hiern (Ebenaceae) leaves, tender stems and root bark Advanced Journal of Chemistry-Section A 3(3):218-242. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22034/ajcb.2021.289661.1083
  13. W Nassazi, IO K’Owino, J Makatiani, S Wachira (2020) Phytochemical composition, antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of African Basil (Ocimum gratissimum) leaves Asian J Appl Chem Res 6 (4), 1-18 DOI: https://doi.org/10.9734/AJACR/2020/v6i430166
  14. W Nassazi, I K’Owino, J Makatiani, S Wachira Phytochemical composition, antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of Rosmarinus officinalis leaves French-Ukrainian Journal of Chemistry 8 (2), 150-167. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17721/fujcV8I2P150-167
  15. SB Obakiro, A Kiprop, IO K’Owino, E Kigondu, MP Odero, T Omara, (2020) Ethnobotany, ethnopharmacology, and phytochemistry of traditional medicinal plants used in the management of symptoms of tuberculosis in East Africa: a systematic review Tropical Medicine and Health 48 (1), 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-020-00256-1
  16. MP Odero, AK Kiprop, IO K'Owino, M Arimi, S Manyim (2020) Evaluation of dyeing properties of natural dyes extracted from the heartwood of Prosopis juliflora on cotton fabric Research Journal of Textile and Apparel 25(1), 19-30. https://doi.org/10.1108/RJTA-06-2020-0058
  17. I Mbabazi, P Wangila, IO K’Owino (August. 2020) Antimicrobial activity of Euclea divinorum hern (ebenaceae) leaves, tender stems, root bark and an herbal toothpaste formulated from its ethanolic root bark extract International Journal of Research and Reports in Dentistry 3(3), 8-1
  18. IO K’Owino, K Masika, VA Okello (2018) Kinetics of degradation of metribuzin in aqueous solution using zero valent iron nanoparticles Al-Nahrain Journal of Science 21 (2), 1-9. DOI:https://doi.org/10.22401/JNUS.21.2.01.
  19. K'Owino, IO; Agarwal, R; Sadik, OA. Palladium nanoparticles for catalytic reduction of Cr(VI) using formic acid. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental Volume 76, Issues 1–2, 30 October 2007, Pages 158-167.DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2007.05.018.
  20. Isaac O. K'Owino,Omowunmi A. Sadik. Impedance spectroscopy: A powerful tool for rapid biomolecular screening and cell culture monitoring.Published:Dec 2005 in Electroanalysis. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/elan.200503371.
  21. Isaac O. K'Owino, Rahul Agarwal, and Omowunmi A. Sadik. Novel Electrochemical Detection Scheme for DNA Binding Interactions Using Monodispersed Reactivity of Silver Ions. Published:May 2003 in Langmuir. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/la0265272

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