Dr. Fabian “Toby” Dayrit is the son of
Conrado Dayrit, a physician and pharmacologist, and Milagros Millar. Early on,
Dr. Dayrit knew he was going to pursue science studies for college. While his
other siblings took business –related courses, he took Chemistry at the Ateneo
de Manila University.
After graduating in 1975, he immediately
took his licensure exam, where he placed in the top ten. He pursued his
graduate studies at Princeton University in the United States under a
scholarship. His specialization was on organometallic chemistry. His findings
were published in several prestigious journals, such as the Journal of the American
Chemical Society, Journal of Organic Chemistry, and Pure and Applied Chemistry.
When Dr. Dayrit returned to the Philippines
in December 1982, he wanted to continue his study on organometallic chemistry.
However, a substantial amount of equipment and resources were needed to do good
research in the field. At that time, the Philippines still lacked them. His
father invited him to join a group of scientists studying medicinal plants,
which he found interesting.
Through the years, Dr. Dayrit, through the
group he joined, has worked on Vitex negundo (lagundi), Momordica charantia
(ampalaya), Moringa oleifera (malunggay), Bixa Orellana (achuete), and others.
The goal of his group, the National Integrated Research Program for Medicinal
Plants or NRIPROMP, is to systematize indigenous research by identifying and
analyzing active compounds in medicinal plants in the hope to boost local
medicinal expertise in the process.
Their research established the effectivity
of lagundi for colds, and through the combined efforts of various Philippine
research institutions, lagundi tablets and syrups were developed and are now
available as medicines in our country. This provides alternatives to synthetic
drugs because plant-based medicines from indigenous Philippine plants to help
treat other illnesses.
Dr. Dayrit’s work on these medicinal plants
helps the growth of phytochemistry in the Philippines. Aside from finding
treatments for illnesses, Dr. Dayrit attempts to prevent diseases by working in
the field of environmental science.
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