Indigenous Plants Key to Future Healthcare Solutions

On the occasion of the 108th inaugural lecture at Ekiti State University, Prof. Folak Oyetayo advocated for the utilization of indigenous plants in disease prevention and drug discovery. The lecture, titled "Search for Beauty: Unraveling Phytoceuticals," highlighted the medicinal potential of edible plants and fungi in managing chronic diseases without the adverse side effects associated with synthetic drugs.

Prof. Oyetayo, who has 28 years of experience in teaching and research in food nutrition and biochemistry, noted that despite Nigeria's rich biodiversity, only a fraction of medicinal plants have been scientifically explored. She emphasized the importance of establishing botanical gardens and herbarium centers to preserve endangered medicinal plant species and create a comprehensive database of Nigeria's medicinal flora.

Furthermore, she called for increased funding for research institutions to acquire modern scientific equipment and promote multidisciplinary collaboration to develop plant-based therapeutic products.