spp. (Aizoaceae) as antidepressants, by virtue of the reported serotonin reup-
take inhibitory activity of a range of alkaloids present in the above-ground
parts of the plant.16,50,51The traditional preparation concerned is known to the
Namaqua people by the vernacular name canna.Its use as a mood enhancer
was first recorded during a VOC-led expedition in 1685, the journal of which
states as follows (see Appendix 1 for original text):
[In lieu of drink] they mostly chew a certain plant which they call
canna, the roots as well as stems being bruised between stones, then
stored up and preserved in sewn-up sheepskins. When we came to the
Coperbergh in October, it was being gathered from the surrounding
hills by everybody (to serve as a supply for the whole year). They use
it as the Indians use betel or areck, being in extremely cheerful mood
most evenings at their gatherings.
Both usage and mode of preparation of cannahave continued almost
unchanged to the present day. Patented (World Patent 9746234, 1997,
Gericke and van Wyk), standardised alkaloid preparations derived from
Sceletium tortuosum(L.) N.E. Brown and other Sceletium species are
currently under investigation for the treatment of psychiatric and psycho-
logical conditions including depression, anxiety, drug dependence and
bulimia. Animal studies have shown promising results.^52
While the results of new drug discovery programmes may serve to high-
light the validity of an ethnobotanical approach, they cannot be said to
104 | Traditional medicine
Figure 5.8 One of the Sceletiumspp. used to prepare ‘canna’.