JOHANNESBURG — For hundreds of years, indigenous South Africans have chewed a plant that they say reduces stress, relieves hunger, sedates and elevates moods. On Friday, South African researchers obtained the first license to study and market it. They want to develop it to sell internationally, over the counter.
Researchers say the plant, called sceletium tortuosum, has great potential and few downsides. Ben-Erik Van Wyk, a professor of botany and plant biotechnology at the University of Johannesburg, said he has researched the plant and found no ill effects or evidence of dependency.When chewed, sceletium tortuosum gives a slight head rush, similar to the effect of smoking a cigarette, Van Wyk said. It also can be made into tea or smoked.
The license was issued to local company HGH Pharmaceuticals, which has an agreement with Morristown, N.J.-based P.L. Thomas & Co., which plans to launch the product in 2011, said spokeswoman Paula Nurnberger. Nurnberger said she does not know whether the product has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
