For hundreds of years, traditional healers in the archipelago of Sao Tome and Principe, off Gabon, Africa, have used certain herbs to provide relief to their patients. According to American researchers from Salk institute for biological studies, the properties of these plants would not be a legend, but would indeed act on neurodegenerative disorders.
A local shrub, the Voacanga africana, particularly caught their attention. Its leaves and bark are used to reduce inflammation and relieve mental disorders. In a study published by the journal Journal of Ethnopharmacology, scientists say they have discovered that one of its compounds protects cells from alterations linked to the disease ofAlzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and post-stroke degeneration.
To achieve this, they worked for three months side by side with local healers, studying three types of plants from Sao Tome and Principe known for their effects on the nervous system. Even at low doses, Voacanga africana gave very promising first results. Its qualities come from one of its molecules, voacamine, a powerful alkaloid and a potential pharmacological treatment.
