As the COVID-19 pandemic strained global healthcare systems, residents of the Awori community in Ojo, Lagos State turned to a more familiar source of relief—traditional medicinal plants.

A new peer-reviewed study by Nigerian researcher Dr. Olubunmi J. Sharaibi revealed that locals relied extensively on plant-based remedies to manage symptoms of the virus in the absence of access to conventional medicine.

The study, published in the Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies and obtained by this medium, documented 50 plant species used by the community to treat COVID-related symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, and fatigue.

Conducted during the height of the pandemic, the research involved interviews with 120 respondents, including traditional healers, elders, and other knowledgeable residents.

Dr. Sharaibi’s findings highlight the deep-rooted cultural practices that shaped local responses to the health crisis.

According to the data, trees made up 36% of the plant species used, followed by herbs at 30 per cent, shrubs at 20%, and climbers at 14 per cent.

Leaves were the most commonly utilized part of the plants, accounting for 60 per cent of the treatments prepared by the respondents.

Among the frequently used plants were Azadirachta indica (Neem), Zingiber officinale (Ginger), Allium sativum (Garlic), Citrus limon (Lemon), and Garcinia kola (Bitter kola).

She noted that the remedies were typically administered through teas, steam inhalation, or direct consumption of raw plant parts, depending on the nature of the symptoms being treated.

It was further learnt that more than 70 per cent of respondents reported that these remedies helped ease their symptoms.

While none claimed that the plants cured COVID-19 directly, many described the treatments as crucial for symptom management when hospitals were overwhelmed or inaccessible.

The study comes at a time when many African communities are being encouraged to preserve indigenous medical knowledge as a complement to modern healthcare.

Dr. Sharaibi, a pharmacognosist with expertise in natural product research, cautioned against the indiscriminate use of traditional remedies without scientific validation.

She emphasised the need for further pharmacological and toxicological studies to confirm the safety and efficacy of the identified plants.

“While the documented plants have demonstrated bioactive properties in prior research, including antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects, they must undergo rigorous clinical testing before being recommended for widespread medical use,” she said.

The research observed a broader point about healthcare accessibility and resilience. In the face of a novel disease and global panic, the Awori community leaned on centuries-old knowledge, reinforcing the value of cultural intelligence in public health emergencies.

Dr. Sharaibi also noted that some of the plants identified have already been spotlighted in earlier studies for their immune-boosting or anti-infective properties, adding weight to the argument that traditional medicine remains an untapped resource for drug development in Africa.

Although the remedies used by the Awori people cannot replace vaccines or hospital-grade care, the study suggests that they served as a first line of defense, especially in low-resource settings. It also calls attention to the need for policy frameworks that support the documentation and regulated use of indigenous medical practices.

The researcher’s work may contribute to Nigeria’s national plan for herbal drug development, which aims to blend traditional and modern medicine in a scientifically sound and culturally respectful manner.

Stakeholders in pharmaceutical sciences and public health are already calling for increased funding for ethnobotanical research in the country.

She pointed out that the study not only preserves the memory of how grassroots communities fought back during a global health crisis but also opens the door for deeper collaboration between scientists and traditional healers.

It also reminds policymakers of the importance of local solutions during global disruptions.

According to her, the plants around the Awori people were not just foliage, they were frontline tools in the battle against an invisible enemy.

The knowledge passed down through generations became a survival strategy in one of the world’s most uncertain periods.

Investigation also further revealed that Dr. Sharaibi’s work represents a growing effort among Nigerian researchers to bridge the gap between indigenous knowledge and scientific inquiry.

Experts submitted that as the world braces for future pandemics, such research may prove invaluable in ensuring inclusive, accessible, and resilient healthcare systems.