Position : Lecturer
Telephone : 035 902
Email : mmonwam@unizulu.ac.za
Office : Chemestry , Science Building, KwaDlangezwa Campus
Biography:
Dr Mmonwa is a lecturer in the department of chemistry since 2024. He teaches undergraduate and honours organic chemistry modules and supervise postgraduate students in synthetic organic/medicinal chemistry research. He obtained his BSc degree and BSc honours (Chemistry) from University of Limpopo. His MSc and PhD in chemistry were completed at the University of South Africa (UNISA). Dr Mmonwa is a member of South African Chemical Institute (SACI), and he also served as a member SACI student representative on behalf of UNISA from 2013 to 2019. He was also a postdoctoral fellow at H3D centre in University of Cape Town from 2021 to March 2024.
Lecture ‘s the following modules:
- Undergraduate: 4CHM112, 4CHM212, 4CHM311
- Honours: 4CHM503
Qualifications:
BSc degree, BSc Honours in Chemistry (UL ). His MSc and PhD in chemistry (UNISA).
Research interests:
Dr Mmonwa’s research interests stem from his PhD and postdoctoral studies and are motivated by his ambition to contribute towards alleviating the burden of infectious diseases in African continent. His research involves using various approaches to design and synthesize novel small heterocyclic molecules with potential biological activities and acceptable ADMET properties for treatment of infectious diseases such as malaria. He also studies mode of action(s) for the synthesized molecules and study their impact in the biological pathways in cells. He currently supervises and/ or co-supervise postgraduate students in synthetic/medicinal chemistry projects.
Professional membership:
South African Chemical Institute (SACI)
Publications
Articles:
- Dziwornu, G.A.; Mmonwa, M.M. et al. Novel inhibitors of Plasmodium phosphatidylinositol-4-kinase IIIβ with low propensity for resistance: life cycle stage activity and in vivo efficacy in a humanised mouse malaria infection model. Med. Chem. 2025, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5c01417.
- Woodland, J.; Coertzen, D.; Wicht, K.J.; Hidalgo, V.F.; Pasaje, C.F.A.; Godoy, L.C.; Qahash, T.; Mmonwa, M.M.; Dziwornu, G.A. al. The ATM kinase inhibitor AZD0156 is a potent inhibitor of plasmodium phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase (PI4Kβ) and is an attractive candidate for repositioning against malaria. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, e202425206.
- Mphahlele, M.J.; Mmonwa, M.M. Vilsmeier-Haack reaction of the 7-acetyl-2-arylindoles: A convenient method for the synthesis of 6-oxo-6H-pyrrolo[3,2,1‑ij]quinoline‑1,5‑dicarbaldehydes. Biomol. Chem. 2019, 17, 2204.
- Mphahlele, M.J.; Mmonwa, M.M.; Aro, A.; McGaw, L.J.; Choong, Y.S. Synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular docking of novel indole-aminoquinazoline hybrids for anticancer properties. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19, 2232
- Mphahlele, M. J.; Mmonwa, M.M.; Choong, Y.S. Synthesis and evaluation of N-(3-trifluoroacetyl-indol-7-yl) acetamides for potential in vitro antiplasmodial properties. Molecules2017, 22, 1099.
- Mphahlele, M.J; Makhafola, T.J.; Mmonwa, M.M. In vitro cytoxicity of novel 2,5,7‑tricarbo‑substituted indoles derived from 2‑amino‑5‑bromo‑3‑iodoacetophenone. Med. Chem. 2016, 24, 4576.
- Mmonwa, M.M. et al. Synthesis and photophysical properties of the 2-(3-(2-alkyl-6,8-diaryl-4-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinazolin-2-yl)propyl)-6,8-diarylquinazolin-4(3H)-ones. Molecules, 2014, 19, 9712.
Book chapters:
- Mphahlele, M.J.; Maluleka, M.M.; Mmonwa, M.M. Synthesis of Heterocycle-Appended 4-Aminoquinazolines with Antiproliferative Properties and Potential to Inhibit Tyrosine Kinases. In: Ramasami, P.; Gupta, B.M.; Jhaumeer, L.S.; Li, K.W.H. (eds), Chemistry for a Clean and Healthy Planet (Chapter 18). ICPAC 2018. Springer, Cham. 2019, 307.
- Mmonwa, M.M.; Mphahlele, M.J. 2-Amino-5-bromo-3-iodoacetophenone and 2-amino-5-bromo-3-iodobenzamide as synthons for novel polycarbo-substituted indoles and their annulated derivatives. In: Ramasami, P.; Gupta, B.M.; Jhaumeer, L.S.; Li, K.W.H. (eds), ICPAC 2016. Springer, Cham. 2018, 391.