Our research group is interested in the use of natural products as therapeutic agents. We are trying to understand howvaroius natural products function in terms of the chemical compounds that are present in th medicinally relevant components of the plant products. We are currently focused on the "cure-all" plant Cola acuminata.
Cola acuminata or Bizzy nut is a bitter, caffeine-containing nut found in the rainforests of Africa. It is used as a stimulant, an appetite suppressant, an aphrodisiac, to restore vitality and to ease hunger pains. In Jamaica, Bizzy nuts are grated and made into a tea by the ETTU people. The Bizzy nut has garnered a reputation as a remedy for a plethora of illnesses and diseases including asthma, menstrual cramps, headache, gout and diabetes, as well as a form of birth control. Due to the direct or indirect hormonal dependence of several of the diseases and illnesses affected by the Bizzy nut, it is believed that the medicinal effects may be a result of the estrogenic and androgenic properties of non-steroidal estrogenic chemicals (phytoestrogens) found in the Bizzy nut.
