Fund scientific researches into Nigeria’s underutilized medicinal plants – Don to FG

A Professor of Food and Nutritional Biochemistry at Ekiti State University, EKSU, Folake Lucy Oyetayo has called on the government and University authorities to provide more funds for the purchase of specialized modern equipment to support scientific research into underutilized medicinal plants containing bioactive phytochemicals with promising curative properties.

The Don said this will enable researchers investigate the nutritional, medicinal and toxicological potentials of medicinal plants and save the national expenses on annual procurement of Orthodox medications.

She urged relevant stakeholders to prioritize the education of Health Professionals on the use of lesser-known medicinal plants to address Nutritional deficiencies and certain degenerative disorders.

The Don also highlighted the significance of nutritional information and nutraceutical constituents of lesser-known edible medicinal plants and the need to popularize their inclusion in diet formulations for the management of several emerging disorders .

Professor Oyetayo made the remarks while delivering the university’s 108th inaugural lecture titled, “In Search of the Beautiful Ones: Unravelling Phytoceuticals and Phytonutrients in Sleeping Pharmaceutical Giants.”

She stated that Nigeria is richly endowed with indigenous plants containing bioactive compounds capable of preventing and managing several chronic diseases. added that many of these plants remain underutilised despite their enormous nutritional and medicinal value, and could complement healthcare delivery if adequately researched and developed.

Her words, “Environmental protection agencies should intensify efforts towards preserving the natural habitats of lesser-known medicinal plants to ensure their survival.

“Government should support the idea of growing certain identified medicinal plants for health rather than for food by encouraging their community-based cultivation. Local gardens focusing on medicinal plants should be created to improve accessibility

“Botanical gardens and standard herbaria centers should be established by Government to promote the cultivation, conservation, identification and utilization of indigenous medicinal plants to preserve lesser-known/ endangered medicinal plant species to prevent their total extinction and to develop a data base for medicinal plants that are abundant in Nigeria.”

Speaking after the inaugural lecture, the Vice-Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Professor Joseph Babatola Ayodele, described the lecture as timely and well-researched.

He said the presentation underscored the importance of making effective use of Nigeria’s abundant plant resources to improve nutrition and public health, noting that a balanced diet based on local plants could reduce reliance on medication.

Professor Ayodele reaffirmed the university’s commitment “to supporting quality research and innovation capable of addressing local, national and global challenges.”

Fund scientific researches into Nigeria’s underutilized medicinal plants – Don to FG