West Indies Mahogany: Facts
With the advancement in science technologies, may medicinal uses of plants are being discovered every day. It is the hope of many scientists that one day we will be able to take substances found in nature and use their chemical properties for healing, preventing and caring for various diseases.
An unexpected entry in a traditional
medicine book from the Republic of Guinea has led a University
of South Carolina cancer researcher to study whether medicinal
properties in the bark of mahogany trees
may hold clues to
understanding colon cancer. Anti-inflammatory compounds in the
bark of the mahogany tree could prevent or treat colon cancer,
or interact to inhibit the growth of cancer tumors. Not much is
known about the link between cancer and inflammation, but this
research could prove to be a major breakthrough in the use of
medicinal plants for cancer.
Mahogany has some antibacterial properties that prove promising for phytotherapy (the use of medicinal plants). One study assessed the antibacterial activity of compounds in S. mahagoni against eight multiple-drug-resistant bacterial strains7. With more studies such as this conducted, the future outlook of western medicine could be forever changed.
Fun Fact: Botanical Earrings? Be the belle of the ball...or should I say, belle of the tribal gathering?
The West Indies mahogany is a large tree of the
Caribbean region with pods that split into woody sections releasing
hundreds of winged seeds. In the Virgin Islands, sections of young
mahogany pods are polished and cleverly crafted into botanical earrings.
Evidence has been found of these accessories being worn by many tribal
women of ages past, in addition to other bracelets and necklaces
fashioned from materials found in nature.
