Plant in traditional Samoa medicine could be as effective as ibuprofen, study shows

Researchers say leaves of the matalafi plant could also potentially be used to treat cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases

Leaves from a plant which can be found in back yards across Samoa" could be as effective as ibuprofen in lowering inflammation and could even be used to treat illnesses such as Parkinson's and cancer, a new study has found.

For centuries, the leaves of the psychotria insularum plant, known locally in Samoa as matalafi, have been used in traditional medicine to treat inflammation associated with fever, body aches, swellings, elephantiasis, and respiratory infections.