African Women in Chemistry

Marie Tawatar

Young, curious, humble and gifted: these are the words that describe the beautiful researcher Marie Tawatar from the University of Ngaoundéré. Originally from the town of Maroua in Cameroon, she is the fifth of seven children and the eldest daughter. From the private Catholic elementary school in Bgakada to the Baba Simon college in Tokonbéré, her motivation has always been to become a pharmacist.

She recently successfully defended her Master’s research thesis on the comparative study of extraction methods for phenolic compounds and kinetic modeling and optimization of extraction from an anti-plasmodial plant, Artemisia annua L. (Asteraceae).

The results of this work were used to formulate an antimalarial syrup based on artemisinin extract, optimized by ultrasound-assisted extraction.

Towards new extraction processes for modern secondary metabolites – ultrasound-assisted extraction

The Ultrasound-assisted extraction is a technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to generate mechanical energy that accelerates the extraction process. The sound waves create acoustic cavitation that enhance solvent penetration into cells, improving the mass transfer rate and solubility of the target compound into the solvent.