Mompati Vincent Chakale

I am a lecturer at the University of Mpumalanga and a PhD candidate at North-West University, specialising in ethnobotany, ethnopharmacology, indigenous knowledge systems, phytomedicine, functional foods, and computational analysis.

My research bridges Indigenous knowledge and modern science, exploring African flora through a holistic approach that includes documenting indigenous knowledge, bioactivity testing, phytochemical profiling, safety evaluation, conservation, and assessing economic potential, all aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. I conduct ethnobotanical surveys, in vitro screening, and metabolomic analyses to identify bioactive compounds with potential health and environmental applications.

With over 11 publications and an h-index of 7, I have supervised postgraduate students and contributed to leading journals, including The Veterinary Journal, South African Journal of Botany, and Frontiers in Pharmacology. My work has been recognized with awards, including the South African Association of Botanists’ Best Oral Presentation and NWU’s Grow Our Own Timber award. Beyond academia, I am passionate about community service as an active member of the Kopano Youth Club (KYC), empowering youth locally and globally. I am committed to advancing the sustainable use of Southern African flora, promoting wellness, environmental awareness, and sustainable livelihoods for current and future generations.