August 27, 2025
The India Center at UCF welcomed students, faculty, and community members to a lecture on August 27 titled Connecting Ancient Plants to Modern Medicine: Stories Behind the Discovery of Iconic Drugs. The event featured Rani Vajravelu, Ph.D., Senior Lecturer in the Department of Biology, who explored the intersection of traditional healing practices and contemporary pharmaceutical science. Martha Garcia-Stout, PharmD, JD, Associate Lecturer in the College of Health Professions and Sciences, moderated the discussion.
Drawing from global examples, Dr. Vajravelu explored India’s extensive botanical traditions and their lasting impact on modern medicine. She discussed how cultural knowledge, preserved and passed down through generations, has often served as a foundation for scientific advancement.
The lecture traced the evolution of medicinal plants from traditional remedies to their role in developing life-saving drugs, emphasizing the powerful synergy between ancient practices and contemporary research.
Examples shared included well-known drugs with origins in nature:
- Aspirin, derived from willow bark
- Cancer treatments developed from compounds found in the periwinkle plant
These stories illustrated how ancient remedies continue to shape responses to today’s health challenges.
Leila Chacko, Director of Public Affairs for The India Center, reflected on the importance of such interdisciplinary conversations.
“Exploring the intersections of culture, history, and science is important to The India Center’s work,” she said. “Events like this highlight India’s contributions to science.”
The evening concluded with a Q&A session, led by Garcia-Stout, where attendees discussed the potential of ancient practices to inspire future innovations. The event underscored the value of cross-cultural dialogue in advancing medicine and fostering global collaboration.