Underexplored Medicinal Plants from Sub-Saharan Africa

Professor Namrita Lall is truly passionate about evaluating the wonders of medicinal plants and not only concludes her findings on collating information on ethnobotanical usage, but takes it beyond proving their efficacy and eventually resulting in valuable pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical products. Prof Lall is a distinguished scientist in Medicinal Plant Science at the University of Pretoria. Prof Lall is internationally recognised as a leading scholar in the field of Phytomedicine, which is reflected by her recent appointments as an adjunct Professor at the School of Natural Resources University of Missouri, USA (Dept is 1 of the top 15 in the world), a Senior Research fellow at the Bio-Tech R&D Institute, Jamaica and an adjunct faculty at JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, India. She has been placed in the Essential Science Indicators list of the top 1% of publication outputs (citations) in the discipline pharmacology and toxicology. She has international recognition for her research into the potential of medicinal plants for pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical purposes. She has made a significant contribution to the field of Medicinal Plant science. Several medicinal plants with valuable biological activities have been discovered, which led to several national and international patents. She has co-authored about 135 research articles in peer-reviewed journals and 24 book chapters. The book by Prof Lall, entitled ‘Medicinal Plants for Holistic Health and Well-being’, was published by Elsevier in 2018. Among several awards received in recognition for her work, a few are “The Order of Mapungubwe”, South Africa’s highest honour, Distinguished Young Women in Science Award, prestigious United Kingdom Royal Society/National Research Foundation award and UNESCO-L’Oreal Award for Women in Science. Prof Lall has presented numerous keynotes and plenary talks at international conferences. She has demonstrated a commitment to community development by interacting positively with traditional health practitioners and engaging them in advancing traditional medicines towards conventional pharmaceutical products.

1. Acalypha integrifolia subsp. integrifolia Nawraj Rummun, Cláudia Baider, Theeshan Bahorun, and Vidushi S. Neergheen-Bhujun 2. Aloe lomatophylloides Joyce Govinden Soulange, Devina Lobine, Mala Ranghoo Sanmukhiya, Melanie J.R. Howes, and Paul Chazot 3. Aloe macra Joyce Govinden Soulange, Mala Ranghoo Sanmukhiya, Devina Lobine, Christophe Lavergne, Melanie J.R. Howes, and Paul Chazot 4. Aloe purpurea Mala Ranghoo Sanmukhiya, Joyce Govinden Soulange, Devina Lobine, Melanie J.R. Howes, and Paul Chazot 5. Aloe spicata Bianca Fibrich and Namrita Lall 6. Aloe tormentorii Devina Lobine, Mala Ranghoo Sanmukhiya, Joyce Govinden Soulange, Kersley Pynee, Melanie J.R. Howes, and Paul Chazot 7. Bauhinia galpinii Joseph O. Erhabo and Lyndy J. McGaw 8. Bruguiera gymnorhiza Nabilah Sadeer, Nadeem Nazurally, Rajesh Jeewon, and Fawzi Mahomoodally 9. Buddleja saligna Danielle Twilley and Namrita Lall 10. Combretum molle Sunelle Rademan and Namrita Lall 11. Commelina benghalensis Bianca Fibrich and Namrita Lall 12. Elaeodendron transvaalense Emmanual T. Tshikalange and Fatimah Lawal 13. Equisetum ramosissimum Karina Szuman and Namrita Lall 14. Eriosema kraussianum Riana Kleynhans, Ivy Masefako Makena, and Babalwa Matsiliza-Mlathi 15. Erythrophleum lasianthum Sipho Chauke and Quenton Kritzinger 16. Euclea natalensis Carel B. Oosthuizen and Namrita Lall 17. Eugenia crassipetala Mala Ranghoo Sanmukhiya, Joyce Govinden Soulange, Jean-Claude Sevastian, Avinash Budloo, Rachel Brunchault, and Srutee Ramprosand 18. Eugenia tinifolia Nawraj Rummun, Cláudia Baider, Theeshan Bahorun, and Vidushi S. Neergheen-Bhujun 19. Ficus glumosa Analike Blom van Staden and Namrita Lall 20. Ficus lutea Analike Blom van Staden and Namrita Lall 21. Ficus sur Analike Blom van Staden and Namrita Lall 22. Greyia radlkoferi Marco Nuno De Canha and Namrita Lall 23. Haemanthus albiflos Balungile Madikizela and Lyndy Joy McGaw 24. Heteropyxis canescens Dikonketso Bodiba and Namrita Lall 25. Heteropyxis dehniae Dikonketso Bodiba and Namrita Lall 26. Hypericum revolutum subsp. revolutum Analike Blom van Staden and Namrita Lall 27. Juncus effusus Carel B. Oosthuizen, Matthew Fisher, and Namrita Lall 28. Lannea schweinfurthii Fatimah Lawal and T.E. Tshikalange 29. Lippia scaberrima Anna-mari Kok and Namrita Lall 30. Newtonia buchananii Katlego Ellena Motlhatlego and Lyndy J. McGaw 31. Nymphaea caerulea Carel B. Oosthuizen, Matthew Fisher, and Namrita Lall 32. Ocimum labiatum Isa A. Lambrechts and Namrita Lall 33. Phyllanthus phillyreifolius Mohamad Fawzi Mahomoodally, Beebee Noushreen Kissoon, and Sameerchand Pudaruth 34. Plantago longissima Bianca Fibrich and Namrita Lall 35. Plectranthus ecklonii Isa A. Lambrechts and Namrita Lall 36. Plectranthus neochilus Isa A. Lambrechts and Namrita Lall 37. Rapanea melanophloeos Analike Blom van Staden and Namrita Lall 38. Ravenala madagascariensis Shanoo Suroowan and Fawzi Mahomoodally 39. Searsia lancea Murunwa Madzinga and Quenton Kritzinger 40. Siphonochilus aethiopicus Anna-Mari Reid and Namrita Lall 41. Stillingia lineata subsp. lineata Nawraj Rummun, Cláudia Baider, Theeshan Bahorun, and Vidushi S. Neergheen-Bhujun 42. Terminalia bentzoe subsp. bentzoe Nawraj Rummun, Cláudia Baider, Theeshan Bahorun, and Vidushi S. Neergheen-Bhujun 43. Terminalia prunioides Fatimah Lawal and T.E. Tshikalange 44. Vigna unguiculata Sipho Chauke and Quenton Kritzinger 45. Wikstroemia indica Shanoo Suroowan and Fawzi Mahomoodally 46. Zantedeschia aethiopica Karina Szuman and Namrita Lall