treat skin infections such as boils, styes and infected wounds. It has also
been used to treat some respiratory and urinary tract infections (and the
unpleasant odour of the fruit is thought to repel the spirits responsible for
causing certain ailments).^11 Nonu(or ‘noni’, as it is also known) is becoming
increasingly popular in the west as an all-purpose preventive medicine and
is reported by its proponents to have a broad range of therapeutic effects,
including antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antitumour, anthelmintic,
analgesic, hypotensive, anti-inflammatory and immune-enhancing effects.
Many of these effects are supported by in vitro and in vivo studies and,
more recently, by a number of clinical trials.^18 Many more clinical studies
need to be carried out, however, before the claims made for its wide range
of therapeutic efficacies can be substantiated.
Another plant that has been used traditionally – although only occasion-
ally – as an infusion of crushed leaves or bark to treat urinary and gastro-
intestinal infections is mamala, Homalanthus nutans (formerly known as
Omalanthus nutans). This small tree may prove to have a more important
role in the future because it is currently being investigated for its possible effi-
cacy against viral diseases, notably HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.19,20
Although the plant is rarely used in Samoa to treat viral infections, it was
apparently identified by local healers to a visiting American botanist as one
that might be used to treat hepatitis. The active ingredient in the plant was
identified as a protein kinase C compound, prostratin.^21 Subsequently, a
profit-sharing collaboration has been set up between a university and
research institute in USA and the Samoan government, the village and the
families of the two healers who helped in the discovery.^21
Not everyone is happy with the arrangement, however, and the legal
wrangles that are continuing at present serve as a warning that development
and exploitation may be two sides of the same coin.
Other plants that are found mainly in Samoa and used medicinally are
fue manogi(Piper graeffei), a sweet-smelling tree climber that is used to
treat mouth ulcers, sore throats and infected wounds (especially if the latter
have been caused by spirits), and matalafi(Psychotria insularum), which is
used to treat many different conditions, whether these are believed to be
caused by aituor natural means. Infusions of matalafibark are rubbed onto
the skin to treat inflammation and infected wounds and, as indicated by its
botanical name, to alleviate ‘possession’ by driving away the causative
spirits.
Many plants that are used in Samoa are also found in other Pacific island
countries and are generally used for the same purpose in each. Thus Samoan
people, similar to those in Fiji, are also familiar with the actions of Piper
methysticumand Mikania micrantha, although these are known in Samoa as
avaand fue sainarespectively.^17
284 | Traditional medicine