The common name for this invaluable African herb is Cape bushwillow and is commonly found along river banks in Southern Africa.
Medicinal use
The bark of the tree of Combretum afrum possesses a bioactive compound called combretastatin which is a powerful anticancer agent. The compound is able to initiate vascular mediated tumor necrosis i.e. it targets the blood vessels that supply the cancer cells and damages them. Since the proliferation of cancer cells is dependent on the blood vessels that supply them, they die when starved. Research to develop clinical grade combretastatin is in advanced stages in the USA.
Effectiveness
A single dose of combretastatin can cause necrosis (kill) to as much as 95% of a solid tumor.