SA's 'Viagra' grows wild

2003-09-04 09:30

Annie Olivier

Johannesburg - The indigenous violet tree's strength lies in its roots - and it has the same kick as Viagra.

Researchers at the botany department of the University of Pretoria recently made this discovery with the help of traditional healers.

In the roots of another indigenous tree, the Natal ebony tree, they found a treatment for tuberculosis.

When Christopher Rakuambo had to decide on a research topic, Professor Marion Meyer, head of the department, asked him about effective traditional medicines from the area in Venda where he grew up.

"He immediately said erection problems could be treated very effectively. For a long time, traditional healers had used the roots and bark of the violet tree for this problem.

"Patients chew the roots and it has the same effect as Viagra," said Meyer.

Process could take a few years

The university is in the process of patenting two chemical compounds from the violet tree and wants to develop these in co-operation with traditional healers and communities in Venda.

Meyer said it could take a few years before a product was developed.

Doctor Namrita Lall, another of Meyer's students, discovered a compound in the roots of the Natal ebony tree that works against the tuberculosis bacterium.

It showed a 90% success rate when the Medical Research Council tested it on mice with tuberculosis.

This compound has already been patented.

- Beeld