African Ginger Research

About

Registering African ginger as a complementary medicine for allergies

Allergies affect around 30 – 40% of the world’s population and conventional treatments have a wide range of side‐effects.

This study is informed by local community knowledge of the therapeutic effects of Siphonochilus aethiopicus (African Ginger) to treat asthma, colds, influenza and sinus problems. The project has proved the therapeutic effects of the plant through clinical studies and is establishing a community-driven cultivation programme as part of the conservation of African ginger. It will foster job creation, benefit sharing and skills development.

Student

Tina Chunga
University of the Witwatersrand
I am a chemical engineer working in the field of agroprocessing, specifically under the IKS (Indegenous knowledge system) at the CSIR and registered as a student at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa. My work involves investigating different indegenous plant materials and the most effective processing methods that can be used to extract bioactive ingredients as well as quality analysis and identification of the extracted compounds. I am also part of the youth forum committee at the CSIR. more