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Functional genomics and metabolomics advance the ethnobotany of the Samoan traditional medicine “matalafi”

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Listed:
  • Seeseei Molimau-Samasoni

    (a Plant and Postharvest Technologies, Scientific Research Organization of Samoa, Apia, Samoa;; b School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand;; c Centre for Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand;)

  • Victoria Helen Woolner

    (b School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand;; c Centre for Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand;; d School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand;)

  • Su’emalo Talie Foliga

    (e Division of Environment and Conservation, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Apia, Samoa;)

  • Katharina Robichon

    (b School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand;; c Centre for Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand;)

  • Vimal Patel

    (b School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand;; c Centre for Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand;)

  • Sarah K. Andreassend

    (c Centre for Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand;; d School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand;)

  • Jeffrey P. Sheridan

    (b School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand;; c Centre for Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand;)

  • Tama Te Kawa

    (b School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand;; c Centre for Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand;)

  • David Gresham

    (f Centre of Genomic and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY 10003;)

  • Darach Miller

    (g Department of Genetics, Stanford University Palo Alto, CA 94305;)

  • Daniel J. Sinclair

    (h School of Geography, Environmental and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand;)

  • Anne C. La Flamme

    (b School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand;; c Centre for Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand;; i Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand;)

  • Alexey V. Melnik

    (j Collaborative Mass Spectrometry Innovation Center, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093)

  • Allegra Aron

    (j Collaborative Mass Spectrometry Innovation Center, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093)

  • Pieter C. Dorrestein

    (j Collaborative Mass Spectrometry Innovation Center, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093)

  • Paul H. Atkinson

    (b School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand;; c Centre for Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand;; i Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand;)

  • Robert A. Keyzers

    (c Centre for Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand;; d School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand;; i Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand;)

  • Andrew B. Munkacsi

    (b School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand;; c Centre for Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand;; i Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand;)

Abstract

Medicinal plants with extensive ethnobotanical histories, particularly those from Asia, have contributed to the approval of natural compounds as pharmaceutical drugs. In contrast, Samoan traditional medicine is relatively understudied. Working with traditional healers via an ethical, data sovereignty–driven collaboration led by indigenous Samoan researchers, we elucidate the chemical biology of the poorly understood but often-used Samoan traditional medicine “matalafi,” the homogenate of Psychotria insularum leaves commonly used to treat inflammation-associated illnesses. Our approach unifies genomics, metabolomics, analytical biochemistry, immunology, and traditional knowledge to delineate the mode of action of the traditional medicine rather than by the more common reductionist approach of first purifying the bioactive principles, which can be used to better understand the ethnobotany of traditional medicine.

Suggested Citation

  • Seeseei Molimau-Samasoni & Victoria Helen Woolner & Su’emalo Talie Foliga & Katharina Robichon & Vimal Patel & Sarah K. Andreassend & Jeffrey P. Sheridan & Tama Te Kawa & David Gresham & Darach Miller, 2021. "Functional genomics and metabolomics advance the ethnobotany of the Samoan traditional medicine “matalafi”," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 118(45), pages 2100880118-, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nas:journl:v:118:y:2021:p:e2100880118
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