Do you know the carpolobia lutea? Nope ? It’s normal: this tropical shrub (which can still grow up to 10 meters in height…) grows on the west coast of the African continent, from Sierra Leone to Cameroon.
Endowed with large leaves and edible fruits, carpolobia lutea is a key ingredient in the traditional pharmacopoeia of Ibibio, a West African ethnic group that lives mainly in south-eastern Nigeria, but also in Ghana, Cameroon and in Equatorial Guinea. Indeed, it is credited with medicinal virtues: its roots, its sap and its leaves are used in the event of gingivitis, ulcers, malaria or even gynecological infections.
Anti-inflammatory and analgesic
Researchers at the University of Nottingham (in England) took a closer look at this plant and they discovered that it could be effective in the context of Alzheimer’s disease. “We must not neglect traditional medicines, which can be our allies in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease,” explained Dr. Wayne Carter, lead author of this work, published in the specialized journal Pharmaceutical Biology.
Scientists have thus validated certain benefits of the African plant: it does indeed have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. “However, Alzheimer’s disease (like many neurodegenerative pathologies) is also linked to an inflammation occurring in certain cells of the brain” adds the specialist. In addition, carpolobia lutea would also help fight free radicals, substances that can aggravate the symptoms of the disease.
“This discovery could lead to the development of new drug treatments” argue the British researchers. Case to follow!
To read :
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