Science and Development Network
News, views and information about science, technology and the developing world
Source: BBC Online
30 September 2004 | EN
Jars of indigenous herbs
WHO/P. Virot
Scientists have shown that traditional medicines used in parts of Africa and Asia could help treat major diseases such as cancer and diabetes. They say their findings could lead to the identification of new compounds for use in drug manufacture.
The researchers from King's College London showed that extracts from India's curry leaf tree can regulate the release of glucose into the bloodstream, which could help diabetics who lack sufficient insulin to cope with excessive blood sugar. An extract of the climbing dayflower — used by traditional healers in Ghana — turned out be both antibacterial and antifungal. And an aquatic weed from Thailand along with Chinese star anise both inhibited the growth of cancer cells.
Any compounds identified from these plants will need to be investigated further with full clinical trials confirm these initial results, say complementary medicine experts.
Bankruptcy threatens an indigenous sickle cell treatment in Nigeria
Add your comment
All comments are subject to approval and we reserve the right to edit comments containing inappropriate/unsuitable language. SciDev.Net holds copyright for all material posted on the website. Please see terms of use for further details.
You need to be signed in to post a comment or to email a consenting comment author. Please sign in or sign up.