Biochemical Insights from Medicinal Plants at the Interface of Human, Environmental, and Ecosystem Health

Abstract

The One Health paradigm, recognizing the inextricable linkages between human, animal, plant, and environmental health, is critical for addressing complex global challenges like zoonotic pandemics, antimicrobial resistance, and pollution-driven diseases. Medicinal plants exist at the nexus of these interconnected systems. This narrative review synthesizes biochemical and pharmacological research on indigenous Nigerian flora through a One Health lens. We present evidence demonstrating how these plants function as multi-faceted health assets: (1) For Human Health, they provide protection against heavy metal hepatotoxicity (e.g., Azanza garckeana vs. manganese), management of chronic diseases (e.g., Vernoniaamygdalina in diabetes), and antimicrobial agents (e.g., Chromolaena odorata); (2) For Environmental Health, their metal-chelating and antioxidant properties suggest a potential role in phytoremediation strategies to mitigate soil and water contamination, while their use as green precursors for nanoparticles offers a sustainable alternative to chemical synthesis; (3) For Ecosystem & Knowledge Health, the scientific validation of these plants underscores the urgent need to conserve biodiversity and indigenous ethnobotanical knowledge as a vital, non-renewable health resource. This synthesis argues that investing in the biochemical study of medicinal plants is not merely a biomedical pursuit but a foundational One Health strategy. It calls for transdisciplinary research programs that simultaneously assess therapeutic efficacy, environmental application, and conservation status, thereby developing integrated solutions that promote resilience across all pillars of health in an increasingly stressed world.