(Natural News) Nigerians have been eating editan (Lasianthera africana) and utazi (Gongronema latifolium) for thousands of years. It turns out that these locally-available and popular vegetables are rich in natural alkaloids that support the healthy function of the brain and prevent the onset of neurodegenerative diseases. Plants synthesize alkaloids to repel herbivorous animals that graze on them. These phytochemicals often […]

(Natural News) Many of the protective alkaloids produced by plants demonstrate beneficial effects for humans when cooked and consumed as food. A Nigerian study investigated the neuroprotective activity of the phytochemicals in editan (Lasianthera africana) and utazi (Gongronema latifolium), two edible plants that are widely cultivated in Africa. Support for this study came from Federal University […]

(Natural News) Cancer is a highly dreaded disease. A huge portion of the fear that goes with this disease can be attributed to the different side effects associated with – ironically – its treatment. Worse still, conventional cancer treatments have very low success rates so they may be doing more harm than good. Chemotherapy, which is a common cancer […]

(Natural News) Many traditional medicines are now backed by scientific proof for their effectiveness, leading to more treatments that are not only effective but also safe. The Indian Gentian (Gentiana kurroo) is a commonly used plant in Ayurvedic medicine that researchers have experimentally proven to have anti-inflammatory activity. This finding, which was published in BMC Complementary […]

(Natural News) A study by researchers from the University of Sao Paulo and Paulista University in Brazil revealed Annona hypoglauca, commonly known as beriba in the Brazilian Amazon region, contains bioactive compounds with potent anticancer and antimicrobial activity. Their findings, which were published in The Brazilian Journal of Pharmacognosy, were based on the results of various in vitro […]

(Natural News) With five percent of the population worldwide having diabetes mellitus, the disease continues to be a considerable cause of concern. Countless studies have been aimed at finding natural sources for potent antidiabetic agents. One of the plants that researchers from Annamalai University have discovered to have antidiabetic potential is the loop-rot mangrove (Rhizophora […]

(Natural News) The tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) is a pseudocereal crop often milled into flour. Researchers from the University of Kashmir and Jamia Millia Islamia have also discovered that tartary buckwheat can be utilized for its antioxidant effect. From its beginning in China, tartary buckwheat has now spread through most of the world, from the […]

(Natural News) Plants are an invaluable part of disease treatment and management, especially in developing countries. These plants contain bioactive compounds that are responsible for their different medicinal properties. In order to maximize a plant’s potential use for medicinal purposes, it is crucial to determine the phytochemicals involved in its therapeutic activities. This is what […]

(Natural News) Oregon has another reason to be proud of its state flower. The extract of Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium) offers a natural way to alleviate the chronic skin condition psoriasis, according to the American Herbalists Guild. As far back as 1900, there have been cases when an individual suffering from psoriasis made a recovery after regularly taking an […]

(Natural News) “Adapt or die,” said the late Andy Grove, the founder of computer chip maker Intel who escaped Communist Hungary as a young man. A new study suggested plants adhere to the same dictum, adapting and discarding defenses according to what works best for the situation at hand, reported a ScienceDaily article. Researchers from […]