TITLE: PROF.

NAME: MARGARET OLUWATOYIN SOFIDIYA

POSITION: PROFESSOR           SPECIALISATION: Ethnopharmacology, Natural product research and Standardization

EDUCATION/TRAINING

Personal Statement

Professor Margaret Oluwatoyin Sofidiya is an academic and a researcher in the Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos. She has Twenty (20) years of teaching and research experience at university level. In addition to teaching, her research interests are primarily in biological functions of natural products and chemical. Of particular interest are natural products that have anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic properties. 

In line with her research interest, she has published over 70 papers in reputable peered reviewed scientific journals and won academic award including the 2008 Best Researcher Award in Science from the University of Lagos.

She has mentored over 50 undergraduate and postgraduate students and currently has 3 PhD students. She is a member of Nigeria Society for Pharmacognosy, American Society of Pharmacognosy and Society for Medicinal Plant Research and Natural Products.

Positions, Scientific Appointments, and Honours 

• University of Lagos Research Grant- CRC no 2024/11.
• Lagos State Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC) award (2020)- Co-investigator
• Institution Based Research (IBR) Research TETFUND Grant (2023)- Co-investigator
• University of Lagos Central Research Grant (CRC No. M2010/03)
• 2008 Best Researcher Award in Science from the University of Lagos.
• Programme Coordinator, African Centre of Excellence in Drug Research, Herbal Medicine Development and Regulatory Science (ACEDHARS).

Selected Most Recent Publications /Contributions to Knowledge

• Margaret O. Sofidiya, Janet Olaosilo, Dolapo Alarape, Oluwatobi Owolabi, Abayomi M. Ajayi (2025). The leaves of Flabellaria paniculata Cav. (Malphigiaceae) exhibit anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antinociceptive activities in vivo. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 350,120004.
• Isioye, Idris O.; Akindele, Abidemi J.; Aigbe, Flora R.; Olatoye, Francis J.; Olaleye, Olubusola; Sofidiya, Margaret O.; Sowemimo, Abimbola; Akande, Idowu S. (2024). Effects of Hydroethanolic Rhizome Extract of Anchomanes difformis (Blume) in Type 2 (Streptozocin-Nicotinamide-Induced) Diabetic Rats. Tropical Journal of Natural Product Research, 8, Issue 1, p 6016.
• Margaret O Sofidiya, Johnbosco U Ikechukwu, Victoria E Nnah, Olubusola O Olaleye, Kazeem Basheeru, Abimbola A Sowemimo, Abayomi M Ajayi (2023). Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of Daniellia oliveri (Fabaceace) stem bark extract. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 309, 116337.
• Margaret O. Sofidiya, Ayomiposi M. Alokun, Muyiwa S. Fageyinbo, Abidemi J. Akindele (2022). Central nervous system depressant activity of ethanol extract of Motandra guineensis (Thonn) AD. aerial parts in mice. Phytomedicine Plus 2 (1) 100186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phyplu.2021.100186.
• Funmileyi Olubajo Awobajo, Margaret Oluwatoyin Sofidiya, Olayinka Taiwo Asekun and Babafemi Oluwole Familoni (2022). Acute and sub-chronic toxicity assessment and evaluation of the gastro-protective activity of polyherbal formulation “Mystomate4®” against gastric ulcer in experimental laboratory animal. Clinical Phytoscience 8 (10) https://doi.org/10.1186/s40816-022-00343-2.

Collaborators/ Networks  

• African Centre of Excellence in Drug Research, Herbal Medicine Development and Regulatory Science (ACEDHARS), UNILAG.
• van de Venter, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Nelson Mandela University, 6031, South Africa

• Neil A. Koorbanally, School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.