UUsed for decades by traditional healers, this plant would also have pharmaceutical properties to treat the consequences of stroke. Off the Gabon, in the Gulf of Guinea, the archipelago of São Tomé and Príncipe is one of the smallest ofAfrica - less than 200 inhabitants -, consisting of two main islands. This former Portuguese colony isolated from the African continent is home to a unique biodiversity, both in terms of fauna and flora. This wealth is of great interest to scientists and could prove to be a great hope for patients suffering from neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease.
For centuries, local healers have prescribed leaves and bark from a local shrub, Voacanga africana, to reduce inflammation and relieve mental disorders. The power of these plants may well exceed local beliefs. Scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, an American research center, have discovered that one of its compounds seems to protect cells from damage linked to Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and degeneration following stroke. The results have just been published this week in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology.
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Non-Timber Forest Products in Benin :: Marketing of Voacanga africana seeds and implications for its conservation
Is Adult Product | |
Release Date | 2015-03-02T00:00:01Z |
Language | Français |
Number Of Pages | 68 |
Publication Date | 2015-03-02T00:00:01Z |