New from the Selepe group: Phytochemical profiling of the antique wood (Leucosidea sericea) plant revealed it to be a rich source of bioactive compounds relevant to the treatment of diabetes and obesity.

Different parts of the L. sericea plant are used for different ethnobotanical purposes, which include expulsion of parasitic worms of the intestines and treatment of asthma and aspiration mucus (phlegm). The ground paste of the leaves is used to ease severe inflammation of the eyeball. The leaves and stems have been used for the treatment of high blood pressure, cough, herpes, and HIV. The flowers and shoots are grazed by animals.

The aim was to study in detail the phytochemical composition of the leaf and stem extracts of L. sericea. It is hoped that the knowledge of bioactive constituents of L. sericea will help to provide direction on further applications of the plant and aid to unlock its economic potential.

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsomega.2c00096

Dr Mamoalosi Selepe